What you can say to patients as a NP.

[Jo Dirt]

I know as a nurse, I'm limited in what I can tell patiernts and family about diagnoses and prognoses. Do you have any limitations in what you can discuss as a NP? Or, do you speak with them as a doctor would?

[DaisyRN, ACNP]

it would make sense to me, that as pcp's a np would have the authority to discuss these types of things in place of the doctor, but i wasn't sure.

for me, being in texas and having a supervising doc with established protocols, this ability to discuss diagnoses, results, etc. with the patient is due to "delegation." in my protocol with my supervising doc, making a diagnosis is listed as a delegated task... meaning that he has delegated that task to me and it is understood that i am allowed to tell patients what their diagnoses is and how to manage it. just because it is delegated, does not mean that i take the place of him... but i am able to do that task also. does that make sense?

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Yes, Daisy makes perfect sense.

I work in nephrology so frequently I am the one to refer a pt for a renal or renal/pancreas workup for subsequent transplant. On the flip side, I must also tell patients if they are not a candidate for transplant and why. This is just an understood part of my job. Like Daisy, this was delegated to me by the physician practice.

[ANPFNPGNP]

Yes, Daisy makes perfect sense.

I work in nephrology so frequently I am the one to refer a pt for a renal or renal/pancreas workup for subsequent transplant. On the flip side, I must also tell patients if they are not a candidate for transplant and why. This is just an understood part of my job. Like Daisy, this was delegated to me by the physician practice.

I understand completely. I just ordered a CT of the thorax and bone scan today on a patient with bone pain and history of cancer. None of this was discussed with the doctor, in fact, he would wonder why I would even bother him with any of this if I had consulted him.