Do Chiropracticors and FNP's ever work together?

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Specializes in Developmental and Intellectual Disabilty.

Hello fellow colleagues,

I am interested to know if anyone has known of Chiropractors ever teaming up with FNP's in family practice style or collaborative practice of any sort (under one roof)? My Chiropractor and I were talking about this recently and I want to know if it seems possible or reasonably possible to any of you for an FNP (possibly with a DNP) to work as a Primary Care Physician and team up with a Chiropractor for a more holistic practice? I graduated recently from Massage Therapy school and am soon to pursue my BSN unto my FNP or DNP. I will possibly also pursue certification in Holistic Nursing at some point if I go that route.

I have considered pursuing my D.O. instead of a MSN or DNP and that brings me to my second question. What would seem more appropriate (and even acceptable in the eyes of those who are pursuing holistic healthcare)? A FNP with holistic training acting a PCP or a D.O. (all considering the proposal of working with a Chiropractor and or other "alternative" health-care providers?

Thank you very much for your feedback,

Abreeden

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The first question that springs to mind is, what are the requirements (if any) for physician supervision of NPs in your state?

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Specializes in Developmental and Intellectual Disabilty.

Yes, that's a good point and I will look into it. It doesn't matter somewhat for me yet because my husband and I are not sure where we are going to settle down yet. But our careers --not the move-- would be a bigger factor in the decision as a whole. So for me I am simply curious to know if it is known whether Chiropractic Doctors work with FNP's and/or D.O.'s and what the general viewpoint on the subject of the partnership itself from those who might be familiar with this type of partnership. If it seems like a promising and potentially rewarding avenue then I would look further into what states support FNP's that are in private practice.

Thank you for your input.

Abreeden

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It has been a while since you posted this, but my sister is a Chiropractor. I am about to start nursing school and she mentioned to me that some Chiro's do hire NP's to take patients off meds, to get them on a supplement -based plan of care.

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Specializes in Developmental and Intellectual Disabilty.

That's awesome! I'm so glad you responded. What state does your sister practice?

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She is in Texas while she tries to sell her house, and hoping to move to North Carolina as soon as possible. I think she was telling me this because she knows I am looking for something in which to specialize (after I complete my BSN, of course). I am not sure I would have the confidence to take patients off medications, but maybe by then I would be more comfortable with it.

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Hi-in response to your post about NPs working with Chiropractors: I know that in California, a DC cannot be the medical director for a nurse practitioner. Any NP who is practicing medicine (whether taking patients off meds, putting them on meds, doing assessments, diagnosing, ordering diagnostics) must have a medical director who is either a medical doctor or a doctor of osteopathy (both of whom are physicians) the MD or DO does not need to be present in the clinic, but the NP has to have standardized procedures for all her or she will do and that MD or DO will have agreed to those procedures. In Oregon and Washington a nurse practitioner does not need a medical director.

You mentioned a DO. As i said, DOs are physicians they go to medical school and learn even more regarding the structure of the body and manual techniques to normalized the structure. Unfortunately, most DOs do very little manual therapy and primarily do regular conventional medicine. There are DO's/osteopaths in Canada/UK/Europe/New Zealand who do all manual therapy. They are not physicians.

Hope this helps!

kathy

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Specializes in critical care.

In light of the PCP shortage, I have heard a lot about certain NP specialties being able to "design" their own jobs. Specifically, I'm thinking of psych NPs who sell themselves (in a good way!) to family docs, OB/GYNs, pediatricians, etc. Find a specialty where you would enjoy practicing, and carve out your own niche! If you want to work in tandem with a chiro, then make it happen. You might need to work something out with an MD or DO outside of your practice, but do whatever you need to make it work.

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Specializes in Developmental and Intellectual Disabilty.

Thank you! That's great advise. In a way it's still sinking :idea: in that as a nurse I really can carve out a niche in any area where my heart is if I just commit to it! I believe what you said is very true.

Thank you for your encouragement and advise! :yeah:

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Stay away from the DC NP arrangement as enticing as it appears.

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If someone asks you to be Medical Director, run.... - Michael H Cohen Law Group | Healthcare Law | Life Sciences | FDA & FTC Law

If someone asks you to be Medical Director, run.... - Michael H Cohen Law Group | Healthcare Law | Life Sciences | FDA & FTC Law

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The key to all of this is knowing exactly what the State Board of Nursing says where you are going to practice. Follow the Nurse Practice Act in your state and you will be fine. Generally speaking nurses do not take orders from a DC. However there is nothing stopping the formation of an integrative clinic, which includes a staff physician (DO or MD), DC, a NP, LMT, AP, and an ND if you are in one of the 17 states where NDs practice, etc. Anyone can own the clinic but nurses cannot take orders from DC at least not in the state where I practice.

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