So nurses can only work under the MD's or DO's orders?

[Inspired By Silence]

Are you not allowed to work for dentists, optometrists, or podiatrists?

Podiatry seems very similar to medicine, except that podiatrists treat patients directly rather through nurses. Can a nurse work for a podiatrist in surgery or in the clinic?

Can a nurse pass meds a dentist or podiatrist has given orders to administer?

Lot's of questions that I'd appreciate answers to.

[Boog'sCRRN246, RN]

We have two podiatric surgeons practicing at my clinic. They each have two LPNs working for them. We also have 4 ophthamologists and 1 optometrist who have numerous LPNs working for them. Not sure about dentistry though.

[GilaRRT]

Sure, why not. Nurses can administer treatments, modalities, and medications ordered by midlevel providers, the same will be true of "non physician" providers who are qualified and licensed to prescribe different modalities.

However, I am not sure nursing has a significant role in a dental practice?

[mamamerlee, LPN]

I have worked with orders from a podiatrist, in the home care setting. This is usually doing dressing changes, not debridement.

Can't imagine why a dentist or an optometrist would need a nurse instead of a dental tech/assistant.

In most states only an Opthamologist can write most prescriptions.

[Inspired By Silence]

I have worked with orders from a podiatrist, in the home care setting. This is usually doing dressing changes, not debridement.

Can't imagine why a dentist or an optometrist would need a nurse instead of a dental tech/assistant.

In most states only an Opthamologist can write most prescriptions.

Notice, please, how I said dentists and podiatrists when referring to administering prescriptions. I did not imply optometrists could prescribe medication.

[TiffyRN, BSN, PhD]

Curious to know this too. Back years ago we couldn't take an order from a Nurse Practitioner rounding for one of our cardiologists. I believe the order was for some NSAID for some inflammatory symptoms the patient was having.

Since I've worked in NICU we routinely take verbal and written orders from NNP's (neonatal NP's). My understanding is that the MD has to co-sign their orders within a designated time period. But we can act immediately on their orders. There might be restrictions on what they can order, like I think they can't start narcotics/benzo's, but I'm pretty sure we've called them for increases or extra doses of those when the infant needed it.

We have a rare PA that rounds for a doc and I don't believe they've ever written orders themselves.

[Medic/Nurse, BSN, RN]

An RN has a unique place in some dental practices. As dentists move toward "fear free" practices - they are using sedation techniques that should require a RN for monitoring the patient.

Some dentists/oral surgeons are doing near moderate sedation in many cases with various medications given IV - most all that I am aware of also do full monitoring and "recovery" of these same patients.

I think that these practices have many risks and the prudent dentist would have a trained, professional licensed professional to do nothing but safely/correctly administer the medication and monitor/recover the patient.

I once answered a rescue call to a dental practice that had over sedated the patient, the "dental tech" has disabled the o2 sat alarm and the patient was unresponsive when we arrived - the dentist gets busy and depending on untrained/unlicensed staff to provide safe care to these patients is a move that will have certain catastrophic consequences.

So - I think an RN would be a valuable addition to dental practices that offer sedation to their patients.

Oh - and in the hospital - if the provider has staff privileges the nurse staff are able to provide care in compliance with legitimate orders (providing the orders are in the nurse scope of practice).

Practice SAFE!

[SharonH, RN]

Are you not allowed to work for dentists, optometrists, or podiatrists?

Podiatry seems very similar to medicine, except that podiatrists treat patients directly rather through nurses. Can a nurse work for a podiatrist in surgery or in the clinic?

Can a nurse pass meds a dentist or podiatrist has given orders to administer?

Lot's of questions that I'd appreciate answers to.

By the way, nurses do not work "for" doctors and we do not work "under" them except in certain circumstances. For example, a nurse may be employed by a physican practice, in that case the nurse would indeed work for the physician (assuming the physician owned the practice-they don't always). Remember, we are separately licensed, we have our own scope of practice, and we are accountable for the work we do. The profession of nursing itself is autonomous although individual autonomy in our everyday practice may vary based on practice setting. Just FYI.....

[OrionQuiltsRN]

Our family dental office hires RNs because they use conscious sedation and general anesthesia for dental surgeries and extended procedures. Of course, they have their dental hygenists for dental care, and the RNs only work in the sedation/anesthesia room.

[Inspired By Silence]

Our family dental office hires RNs because they use conscious sedation and general anesthesia for dental surgeries and extended procedures. Of course, they have their dental hygenists for dental care, and the RNs only work in the sedation/anesthesia room.

I'd love to get my dental needs there. I hate pain.