almostRN117

I thought that there were certain states - a very small number - where NPs can practice completely independently, no collaborating MD. WA state is the only one that comes to mind - I read an article about an all-NP practice there a few months ago. maybe I'm wrong though...

Hi all, What's the scope of practice like for a nurse practitioner in NZ? My husband and I have been planning to try to move to NZ once I finish my MSN program in the US (adult & women's health NP), but recently heard the scope of practice for NPs is much more limited than it is in the States. Is independent practice possible? Do you have complete prescriptive authority? I did visit the Nursing Council of NZ website, but would like to get the real story from actual nurses and NPs... thanks!

I'm a nursing student going through my peds clinical at Bridgeport right now, so although I don't know much (not actually working there), as far as I can tell its a nice floor. My only problem with it (as a student) is that the census is often reeeeeeeally low so there's usually very little to do! Also, I believe the floor's in a bit of a state of flux right now since they're looking for a new manager and lost some other staff rather suddenly. And they all just switched to a brand new computer-based charting system that seems to be driving everyone completely nuts. But hopefully those wrinkles will be ironed out by the time you get there. :) Since I don't live in Bridgeport, I can't tell you too much about the city itself, other than as far as its reputation goes.

Hi Gen, You sound just like me! I decided to go a with a direct entry program where I'll end up trained as both an ANP and WHNP. My interest is really in community health primary care and teaching, and I decided that the best way to serve this goal was through this track. But then, being an NP - diagnosing, prescribing, all that - was an important part of it for me, so I didn't look closely at public health nursing. (This is mostly because in the clinics where I worked before I went to school, the people doing what I wanted to do were NPs!) So my experience with PH nursing, as it might differ from an ANP track, is limited.

Boston College also just started a direct-entry MSN program this year - I considered it, but decided to go with a program that had been around a little longer (and I had no ties to Boston). Good luck!