Can NPs delegate to PAs?

Grumble88 · Jun 8, 2016

PyschGuy, I meant delegate in the same way a physician delegates prescriptive authority to NPs in restrictive-practice states and PAs. As in physician contracts with NP, charges a percentage of his/her billing, and in return "supervises" him/her allowing the NP to prescribe legally in that state.

cayenne06, MSN, CNM · Jun 8, 2016

I work in a state where NPs/PAs work very collaboratively....so, would I delegate to a colleague...perhaps, as our practice was very team driven and we all supported one another and the needs of the patient

This is not delegation, it's just teamwork. We help each other out all the time, but asking another clinician to do something is different than delegating a task to someone who is working under your license/supervision. If my colleague gives a depo for me, that is teamwork. If I ask the nurse to give a depo, that is delegation and I am responsible for ensuring it is done correctly.

RockMay · Jun 8, 2016

No, an NP can never be the legal delegator for a PA. That is only ever reserved for MDs or DOs. I wonder why the OP would even ask such a question. Is it an attempt to belittle PAs or does the OP simply know so little about licensure that this is a question one asks when they don't know what they don't know.

In some clinical settings PAs are consider more senior to NPs but that is usually a function of experience and can easily be the NP who is more senior, but in no case can an NP legally delegate clinical roles to a PA.

Alicia777, MSN, NP · Jun 8, 2016

No, the PA and I work together as in teamwork. I help her and she helps me. We do not delegate to our peers..

offlabel · Jun 8, 2016

A CNS isn't a mid level practitioner.

Psychcns · Jun 8, 2016

A CNS is an APRN with prescriptive authority in 36 states. My DEA calls me a mid-level practitioner. In many states CNS and NP are interchangeable.

PG2018 · Jun 9, 2016

PyschGuy, I meant delegate in the same way a physician delegates prescriptive authority to NPs in restrictive-practice states and PAs. As in physician contracts with NP, charges a percentage of his/her billing, and in return "supervises" him/her allowing the NP to prescribe legally in that state.

Then no. You can only delegate functionally supervisory tasks, e.g. what I described. You couldn't hire one yourself. But conversely, if there's a physician involved as the practice supervisor for the PA and you're the de factor supervisor for everyone but the physician then yes you could assign roles and duties. You just can't be who the PA names as a supervisor to the medical board.

Trauma Columnist · Jun 9, 2016

I'm a CNS and believe me, I'm a mid-level with full prescriptive authority and the same exact scope of practice as an NP....and believe me, my practice works me just as hard as the NPs - lol...

Grumble88 · Jun 9, 2016

Then no. You can only delegate functionally supervisory tasks, e.g. what I described. You couldn't hire one yourself. But conversely, if there's a physician involved as the practice supervisor for the PA and you're the de factor supervisor for everyone but the physician

Thanks, and yeah this is what I've gathered from other sources as well. A colleague of mine has the exact situation you've described, only he hires only PMHNPs in lieu of PAs. He owns and runs the practice and contracts with a third party physician to "supervise" himself and the NPs he employs.

Grumble88 · Jun 9, 2016

My DEA calls me a mid-level practitioner.

It's the same in my state. Talk about an uphill battle... When your licensing entity refers to you as a "mid-level." Maybe one day that monocre will be removed, but I think it'll be a long time coming.

PG2018 · Jun 9, 2016

I hate typos and autocorrect.

Granted Fal · Jun 13, 2016

No, but they aren't licensed and can't be independent like an NP. Recognize.