Some nurse practitioners may want the best and most complicated piece of equipment that comes out for patient care.  Others may focus on sticking with the most essential pieces of equipment for their patient care.  Neither way is incorrect and what type of practice a nurse practitioner is engaged in…

Every professional in the state of North Carolina has the right to judicial review of an occupational licensing board decision as stipulated in North Carolina General Statute §150B-43.  What this means is that the licensee can appeal any Board or government agency decision concerning his/her license after she/he has had…

#1:   NURSE PRACTITIONERS ARE EXPECTED TO OFFER THE SAME  STANDARD OF CARE AS THEY NORMALLY WOULD A nurse practitioner must be as competent a professional virtually as she/he is required to be in person. A nurse practitioner must perform her/his job to the same standards as other persons in the…

#1:   CREATE A POLICY AND PROCEDURE FOR IF YOUR PRIMARY SUPERVISING PHYSICIAN IS UNAVAILABLE DUE TO AN EMERGENCY Emergencies sometimes happen. However, nurse practitioners must have a supervising physician available when they are seeing patients Your policies and procedures should start with the supervising physician being required to notify the…

  #1:   OBTAIN YOUR OWN MALPRACTICE INSURANCE, POSSIBLY Okay, so this is more of advice in case you have a complaint or lawsuit filed against you. It’s still good advice. Check with your employer to see if their medical malpractice insurance covers you. If your employer says you’re covered, then…

#1:   INCLUDE PRESCRIBING/DISPENSING AUTHORITY IN THE COLLABORATIVE PRACTICE AGREEMENT The collaborative practice agreement (CPA) must specify that the nurse practitioner is going to be prescribing and/or dispensing medication If the nurse practitioner is going to be prescribing controlled substances, then it must be clear in the CPA which controlled substances…

#1:   YOU MUST HAVE A PRIMARY (PARTNER) PHYSICIAN In order for a nurse practitioner to obtain approval to practice from the NC Medical Board and the NC Board of Nursing, he/she must work with a licensed NC physician under a collaborative practice agreement Ideally, this primary physician should be someone…

Nursing Patient Abandonment in North Carolina and How to Avoid It

The health care industry and workers have always been an integral part of functional society.  In today’s world, that is truer than ever.  Nurse practitioners do important work with greater oversight than other licensed professionals in their field.  Nurse practitioners (NPs) are regulated by two licensing Boards and must be…

Yes, this is yet another COVID-19 article.  However, this article focuses on family law matters in North Carolina.  My aim is to help you understand issues pertaining to child custody, child support, alimony, post-separation support, and domestic violence.  You may also have a court date that will be rescheduled.   …