Can consults be ordered by nurses?

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Specializes in MedSurg/Tele.

Can consults be ordered by nurses or just physicians?

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

Your question actually contains your answer: the word 'ordered.' The doctor writes orders, therefore consults are ordered by doctors.

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I actually think it depends. I did an internship this summer and we couldn't order say a GI consult, but could put in for a wound eval or behavioral/addiction eval.

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

It depends on:

  1. What the state nursing law allows
  2. What the facility the nurse works for allows in their policy
  3. And, in today's world, ultimately, who pays the bill and what their requirements are in order to pay for the services of the consultant. If it's Medicare or Medicaid, there are rules in place that cannot be deviated from.

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