Massachusetts and NP restriction

Specialties NP

Published

Greetings.

I was accepted into Simmons College online FNP program this week and noticed on a Simmons website an article which lists Massachusetts as one of the top 5 most restrictive states for NP autonomy. And that they must always work under an MD. Is this true?

i live in Rhode Island where NPs can open their own practice and have full prescription authority. So if Mass is one of the MOST restrictive Its news to me.

Also I have been told a few times at my hospital that rhode Island does not accept NP degrees from online programs even if they have didactics and clinical training like any other NP program. Does anyone know if that's true? If so I may not attend Simmons. I have searched online in RI law but cannot find answer. I plan to call dept of health to get answers.

Thanks for any knowledge u provide

Jules A, MSN

8,864 Posts

Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

I'm surprised you have already applied and now are asking these questions! Hopefully you didn't have to pay an application fee. I'm not sure what the health department will be able to tell you so my suggestion would be to contact your state's board of nursing.

KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN

1 Article; 2,675 Posts

Specializes in ICU, LTACH, Internal Medicine.

How to Become a Nurse Practitioner in Rhode Island - RI | APRN Certification and Jobs

Unless I do really miss something, there is nothing in particular about online or distant learning programs. It says that the program needs to have "regional or national accreditation" .

So, I think that if your college accredited by CCNE, it should be ok whether it is online or not.

Specializes in Adult Nurse Practitioner.

You can go the AANP website and look at the individual state policies here: AANP - State Practice Environment. Another excellent resource is through Barton Associates here: Nurse Practitioner Scope of Practice Law Guide | Barton Associates. Barton's is a nice wheel that has all the states listed with the regulations. Hope these help,

Psychcns

2 Articles; 859 Posts

Specializes in Psychiatric Nursing.

I worked in MA for a few years as an APRN and physician collaboration was required. However, per the BON, this meant a minimum of one meeting every three months. Different worksites had different requirements and I can't say it felt particularly restrictive. I did some work in NH, an indep state and my worksite wanted me credentialed at their hospital and the hospital would not credential APRNs. I do some work in MN which is an indep practice state. However the bylaws of my facility have something about physician delegation and I do have a prescriptive agreement with two psychiatrists at my facility as part of my credentialing. Although it is indep practice the psychiatrists think Jcaho mandates some oversight and they interpret this as they think.

Independent practice can mean different things. It seems to be personality and facility driven..

gospa

34 Posts

How to Become a Nurse Practitioner in Rhode Island - RI | APRN Certification and Jobs

Unless I do really miss something, there is nothing in particular about online or distant learning programs. It says that the program needs to have "regional or national accreditation" .

So, I think that if your college accredited by CCNE, it should be ok whether it is online or not.

Katie I read that website also and concluded the same. I haven't finalized what I am going to do. I'm still split between acute care and family. I work in ER and love it. But some of the NPs I know recommend against ACNP because FNPs have more job possibilities.

Yesterday was the first time I'd ever heard that Rhode Island may not accept online NP degrees. Simmons is a great program from everything I hear, fully accredited so I don't know why it wouldn't be recognized by my state, online or not. I'm going to ask to speak to faculty on Monday. Until now I've dealt only with admission counselor.

AtomicWoman

1,747 Posts

Definitely research this more. I was looking at online programs and Rhode Island was listed as one of the states that doesn't accept online NP programs (I can think of osu.edu and jhu.edu right off the bat as places where I saw this). It's very confusing. Online programs have to pursue approval for their programs state-by-state, at least that's how I am reading it. It's just like the way that curriculums have to be approved by the BON of the state in which the school is physically located, only now there are 49 other BONs to deal with. There are also issues with doing clinicals in other states, from what I have read. I don't have an answer for you, but definitely get this issue settled before making plans to go to Simmons.

Here's an example from OSU, where you can see which states they are authorized to accept online students in: State Authorization | Ohio State Online Programs

allnurses Guide

BostonFNP, APRN

2 Articles; 5,581 Posts

Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
Greetings.

I was accepted into Simmons College online FNP program this week and noticed on a Simmons website an article which lists Massachusetts as one of the top 5 most restrictive states for NP autonomy. And that they must always work under an MD. Is this true?

i live in Rhode Island where NPs can open their own practice and have full prescription authority. So if Mass is one of the MOST restrictive Its news to me.

Also I have been told a few times at my hospital that rhode Island does not accept NP degrees from online programs even if they have didactics and clinical training like any other NP program. Does anyone know if that's true? If so I may not attend Simmons. I have searched online in RI law but cannot find answer. I plan to call dept of health to get answers.

Thanks for any knowledge u provide

The brick and mortar NP program is one of the best respected program in one of the world's most elite medical regions. MA is a restrictive "red" state surrounded by independent practice states; MA will be one of the last states to adopt independent practice because of a prestigious and antiquated medical community. A requires a collaborative agreement for practice but this does not mean that NPs in Ma do not function independently, most do, the same as most physicians work under the direction of a practice.

Your RI information sounds like a facility policy rather than a legislative policy; you will have to address that with your facility.

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