Patient Orders...help!

Hi All. I have exclusively worked in the hospital setting my entire career (12 years). I am transitioning to a county mental health clinic so I can get experience prior to beginning my mental health NP.

There is a BIG difference in what is considered appropriate and I am mostly being advised/supervised by non-medical professionals. I have been told to use the MD Progress Note as an order (meds, labs, tox screens), which presents some concerns/questions. I would never use a MD note as an order in the hospital, but I am being told that "we have never had anyone have a problem with this before."

I have also been told that I do not need to have verbal orders signed by a provider??? The rationale is mostly that this is not a hospital, but as far as I am concerned I am a RN no matter where I go and scope of practice is the same. Verbal orders are definitely a thing of the past in the hospital, but I am trying to explain this to people who aren't nurses. Am I being overly fastidious? I have been known to be a black and white thinker, so I'd love some input!