Bill Would Let Nurses Prescribe Medicine On Their Own, Without Consulting Physicians

Measure could help ease shortage of primary care doctors, limit impact of federal healthcare reform.

S-2354 is a bill that is currently working its way through the New Jersey state legislature that would allow Nurse Practitioners to prescribe medicine on their own without the joint protocol from a physician. Because of this, the bill makes it easier for NPs to establish their own private practice.

As of recent NPs have taken a much larger role in primary care and are assumed to have their role grown as a result of the Affordable Care Act. This is because more people are now available with medical coverage through Medicaid and at the same time a high volume of doctors do not see patients on Medicaid.

The objection holding back this bill is that physicians believe that NPs establishing their own health care practices will affect the quality of patient care even though NPs have the proper training and school to give proper healthcare.

Historically NPs are more conservative towards writing prescriptions. As such they help to lower malpractice rates. Studies have been conducted through New Jersey that state that the level of care that NPs provide is equal if not better than the care given by physicians across the state. In addition, the cost of providing care is 20 to 35 percent cheaper than a physician.

As the bill currently stands NPs with less than 24 months or 2,400 hours of practice will still need to have joint protocol with a physician.

The bill is not a perfect solution for the NP and physician paradigm but it is on the right track for giving NPs equal privilege to physicians in New Jersey.

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Written by Brandon Kassof

More nurse practitioners visit home care patients

More and more Nurse Practitioners are providing home care for elderly or other patients with limited care access. Over time this type of care has shifted from physicians to NPs. As the population ages there is an increased need to care and NPs are now in a position to fill that role at the convenience of the patient.

Hospitals are even involving themselves in home care by sending out their NPs to local residences like the ones near Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York.

The benefit of home care is understanding and analyzing the home environment of the patient and make corrections to better ensure that their sustainability and recovery are done in an environment that is indicative of a situation where health is at the forefront and proper care can be implemented in the most direct way.

NPs are the proper agents for this type of care because of their predisposition for warmth and understanding towards their patients. By being in the patients home an NP can custom tailor their treatment to fit the exact needs and surroundings that the patient lives in and thus engineer the perfect health care paradigm for the patient.

All of this allows anyone to receive the proper care they deserve even if they were in a situation where they normally would not be able to reside in a hospital or long term care facility.

There are still flaws in the system currently. While NPs can write prescriptions for patients  they cannot sign home care certifications, as this must be done by a physician. Other problems exist in the communication between home care and hospitals in terms of Medicare reimbursement, but as time goes on and more home care is needed NPs are positive that the needed change will occur.

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Written by Brandon Kassof

Nurse Practitioners See Rise in Full-time Salary Rates

Since the beginning of the decade nurse practitioners have earned an increased salary every year. Experts say that the reasoning for this is that people are recognizing the value of nurse practitioners. Depending on their location and their skill NPs can earn as much reimbursement as a physician. Employers are understanding the value of nurse practitioners and are thus willing to pay them more. 

An online survey found out that NPs were earning $90,770 compared to $89,579 from two years ago. Nurse practitioners working in emergency situations made the most at $104,549. Nurse Practitioners working in cardiology earned the biggest change in income, 11.9 percent increase, from $90,195 to $100,881. Interestingly male NPs earned 12.8 percent more than females. 

In 2011 Indeed.com listed the average income of NPs at $90,000 and trending upwards.

Marsha Siegel, former president of the American College of Nurse Practitioners says that even though there is a significant pay increase, the responsibilities and requirements are much more advanced than an RN. She notes that the life of a NP is not for everyone but at the same time it is very rewarding.

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Written by Brandon Kassof