Psych CNS - Independent Practice in S. Florida?

[adaptation]

Are there any psych CNS' in private practice out there who could be kind enough to share your experiences here in South Florida?

I recently moved here. I have previous experience as a successful psych CNS in private practice. I do not have prescriptive authority (and do not know about eligibility or how to go out getting it), nor was I educated as an NP.

I would appreciate hearing about what will need to be done in order to get established (including the nitty-gritty), keep going, and what you think the income potential might be for independent practitioner like myself.

Thank you!

[elkpark]

I don't know if you'll get any responses here, but you might try contacting the FL Nurses' Association or BON and see if they can put you in touch with psych CNSs in that area -- I know that I got a telephone call several years ago and it was someone I'd never met, but she was a psych CNS in another state who was thinking of moving to my area and wanted to know what the "climate" was like for psych CNSs. She had gotten my work number from either my state BON or state Nurses' Association -- I forget which one, now. I was happy to speak with her as a colleague. That might work for you, as well.

[core0]

Are there any psych CNS' in private practice out there who could be kind enough to share your experiences here in South Florida?

I recently moved here. I have previous experience as a successful psych CNS in private practice. I do not have prescriptive authority (and do not know about eligibility or how to go out getting it), nor was I educated as an NP.

I would appreciate hearing about what will need to be done in order to get established (including the nitty-gritty), keep going, and what you think the income potential might be for independent practitioner like myself.

Thank you!

http://www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/nursing/nur_CNS_info.html

Not an APRN and no prescriptive authority. Not sure what CNS is allowed to do in Florida. Florida does not allow NPs to practice independently. They have to practice under a protocol with a physician.

This white paper goes into a little more detail but still really doesn't define the scope of practice.

http://www.floridanurse.org/Resources/documents/ARNPWhitePaper.pdf

David Carpenter, PA-C

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

I'm a psych CNS in Indiana. I've had patients move to Florida who found that their prescriptions, written by me before they moved, were not honored in Florida. The reason was that CNSs in Florida don't have prescriptive authority (or didn't in 2007 at least). If CNSs don't have prescriptive authority, I think they probably can't practice independently either, unless they have a way of maintaining a collaborative agreement with a psychiatrist. It could also be that they have to have a psychiatrist "on-site" in order to bill Medicare and other insurance companies.

[deb18]

Hi. Just moved out of a private practice in north florida. CNS's cannot prescribe in Florida unless they were grandfathered in when there was no difference betweeen nurse practitioners and cns's in Florida ( this was a long time ago). CNS's can do therapy in Florida and bill for it I believe, but you need provider numbers. Prescribing nurse practitioners work under protocol with a doctor. I am unsure if a CNS needs to be under protocol if you are not prescribing. Independent practice is rough, no benefits, collecting from insurances, referal sources and providing psychiatric care that is often provided by psychologists, counselors etc. It does have its perks, such as you are your own boss, no institutional guidelines, not having to deal with administrators. Weigh the pros and cons. Good luck.

[robateau]

I am interested in this subject, can you contact me.