CNS.......confusion

[LtLilRed]

Are CNS's in Ohio now able to get authority to prescribe? The information is conflicting! I am currently getting my BSN and then go directly back to the same college to get dual Master's in Nursing Education and possibly CNS in adult health. However, if CNS's here can't prescribe, I will not pursure either degree at this college and will go somewhere else.

Thanks!

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

It looks like according to this, APNs can prescribe and here is the description of APN:

http://www.oaapn.org/Schedule%20II%20FAQs.pdf

"Services that APNs may provide include:

• Assessment of patients through completion of health histories, procedures and physical

examinations

• Develop a plan of care

• Order and interpret tests and x-rays

• Prescribe medications within the limits of the law

• Coordinate care

• Reassess and revise the plan of care as needed

• Provide family and patient education

• Consult with other members of the healthcare team

Titles of Advanced Practice Nurses

Advanced practice nurse is an umbrella term and encompasses certified registered nurse practitioners

(CRNP), certified nurse midwives (CNM), certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNA) and clinical nurse

specialists (CNS).

Certified registered nurse practitioners (CRNP) collaborate with physicians to provide care to patients of all

ages in a variety of settings. CNPs may specialize in a variety of areas including neonatology, pediatrics,

school health, family and adult care, women’s health, mental health, geriatrics, palliative and acute care.

Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) are advanced practice nurses who provide and manage the care of

individual patients or groups of patients with complex health problems. Through their advanced education,

they become clinical experts in a specific patient population such as acute care, community health,

oncology, women’s health, psychiatry/mental health or adult health."

"Who determines what medications an APN may prescribe?

The collaborating physician and the Committee for Prescriptive Governance (CPG).

What medications can an APN currently prescribe?

Advanced practice nurses, with the exception of CRNA’s, can apply for a certificate to prescribe (CTP) with

additional education and training. This CTP allows APNs to prescribe medications in accordance with the

law from a formulary developed by a Committee for Prescriptive Governance (CPG). The multi-disciplinary

CPG is composed of four physicians, a pharmacist member of the State Board of Pharmacy, a clinical

pharmacist, a certified nurse practitioner, a certified nurse midwife and a clinical nurse specialist and a

member of the Ohio Board of Nursing who is, at a minimum, a registered nurse."

Good luck.

[LtLilRed]

Thank you so much for this information. It is quite helpful! It seems to me it wouldn't hurt to continue as planned and perhaps down the line, I can obtain FNP education if I think I need to broaden my horizons are far as patient population is concerned.

~LtLilRed

[mshultz]

We are both from Ohio, so:

I took pharmacology in Spring 2008. My teacher is an MSN, CNP. I had asked her about her prescribing authority out of curiosity, and for clarification. She does not have the full prescribing authority of a physician, especially when it comes to narcotics and other restricted drugs.

Her prescribing authority is also determined by the contract she has with her employer. She had said that she could not prescribe drugs for off-label uses. However, when I was reading about Azithromycin to her from my Tarascon Pocket Pharmacopoeia, I asked her if she would not be able to prescribe it for nongonococcal urethritis, since this was listed as an unapproved adult usage. She said that she could prescribe it for this usage, so I do not fully understand the limitations of her prescribing authority.

In case you are wondering, I was given a prescription for Azithromycin for an upper respiratory infection, not an STD Although I was not one of her patients, some of my classmates were. Whether they had a pre-existing relationship, or went to her out of convenience, I do not know.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Zithromax can be used for bronchitis as well as URI symptoms...I do it all the time.

As to the poster that wants to get a CNS and then an FNP if they need it. My advice: go straight for the FNP and skip the CNS. I'm in the boat where I can only see adult pts and now I'm looking at doing either an FNP or PNP.