Can NPs prescribe medication?

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In what states can Nurse Practitioners prescribed medication? Can all NPs prescribe medication; Acute Care, Pediatric Care, etc.?

Also, if you further your career from a practitioner to an anesthetist, can you still prescribe medication?

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Specializes in ICU.

most states allow nps some prescribing rights, but each state is different.

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Specializes in PICU, ICU, Hospice, Mgmt, DON.

NPs may prescribe all meds in the state of Florida.

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Also, if you further your career from a practitioner to an anesthetist, can you still prescribe medication?

Thanks.

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Specializes in allergy and asthma, urgent care.

I'm an FNP in MA, and I have the same prescribing privileges as an MD. FWIW, an NP and a CRNA are two totally different career and educational paths. You don't have to be an NP before you become a CRNA. CRNAs can precribe in my state.

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Anyone with Prescriptive Authority or DEA license can prescribe meds..

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A NP and Anesthetist are two different career paths requiring two different education paths and licensing exams. If you become a NP first you will be able to prescribe meds if your state allows. CRNA's or nurse anesthetist do not prescribe meds outside the surgical setting. They only give meds during surgical procedures or post operatively in PACU. If you obtain both licenses you may only prescribe meds working in the role of a Nurse Practitioner. Becoming a nurse practitioner is not a way to further your career to an anesthetist. They are both master prepared nurses with neither being a higher level of education or further down the career path than the other.

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They can prescribe all meds except narcotics, it depends where you live.

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Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.
They can prescribe all meds except narcotics, it depends where you live.

In most areas they can prescribe narcotics.

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Specializes in PICU, ICU, Hospice, Mgmt, DON.

They can definitely prescribe narcotics in Florida..in fact, they can prescribe anything....

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Specializes in allergy and asthma, urgent care.

I can prescribe narcotics in MA....although sometimes I wish I couldn't!

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Specializes in Med-Surg/Neuro/Oncology floor nursing..

I live in NY and when I had my neurosurgery the NP the works with my neurosurgeon prescribed all the discharge meds, including oxycodone(without APAP) which happens to be a CII controlled substance. Also when I was in the hospital after the surgery I was put on a PCA but needed the medication increased(I've been a PM patient for over three years so obviously I have a tolerance for pain medication). To get the PCA increased they had to call the Pain Service and a NP from the pain service came down to access me and ordered the changes and also ordered an increase in the IV benzo(ativan) I was getting. So I guess it varies by state whether or not a NP can prescribe a controlled substance/narcotic.

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