I have a question for anyone that is operating as a Nurse Coach or Health Coach, or anyone that can answer for sure.
I have been thinking about doing freelance health coaching for clients, not contracting with a company but on my own. I have always been under the impression that an RN could not operate and call herself an RN outside of the direct supervision of a Physician.
However, while looking at the Texas BON website and Nurse Practice Act I come across this Position Statement #15.28 "The registered nurse Scope of practice"... It states:
"The RN takes responsibility and accepts accountability for practicing within the legal scope of practice and is prepared to work in all health care settings, and may engage in independent nursing practice without supervision by another health care provider."
My question is regarding that last statement "... and may engage in independent nursing practice without supervision by another health care provider."
Does this mean like in a practice while a doctor is not physically there or does this mean, on your own without reporting to anyone?
I looked on the BON website and can't find anything else. Anyone know who to ask about this type of thing?
Anyone working as a freelance health coach directly to "clients"?
Yes you can work independently of physicians....BUT remember that you are still limited to your scope of practice. By that I mean that you won't be able to prescribe or administer meds or anything that would require a doctors order. I know that sounds obvious but I just wanted to mention that the scope of practice allows you to practice independently as long as you keep in mind what a nurse is actually allowed to do independently. Think of all the times that people ask questions on this board and get told "sorry, we can't give out medical advice..."
Yes you can work independently of physicians....BUT remember that you are still limited to your scope of practice. By that I mean that you won't be able to prescribe or administer meds or anything that would require a doctors order. I know that sounds obvious but I just wanted to mention that the scope of practice allows you to practice independently as long as you keep in mind what a nurse is actually allowed to do independently. Think of all the times that people ask questions on this board and get told "sorry, we can't give out medical advice..."
The ability to prescribe or administer medications independently is state regulated and there are some states that do allow non-advanced practice registered nurses to prescribe and administer medications in certain limited circumstances. Birth control and standing procedural policy practice being examples.
To be fair, we do not give out medical advice on this board due to legal implications for the company that owns and manages the website, not due to our licensure.
Got it, I need to see where over the counter meds fall into that. If all else fails I assume you could tell the "client" call your doctor and ask if you can take "This"...
I do believe your main issue will be with payment. If your clients are cash only, that's one thing. But billing insurance or a governmental payer for your services as an RN is, I believe, an issue.
Julius Seizure
1 Article; 2,282 Posts
Yes you can work independently of physicians....BUT remember that you are still limited to your scope of practice. By that I mean that you won't be able to prescribe or administer meds or anything that would require a doctors order. I know that sounds obvious but I just wanted to mention that the scope of practice allows you to practice independently as long as you keep in mind what a nurse is actually allowed to do independently. Think of all the times that people ask questions on this board and get told "sorry, we can't give out medical advice..."