Advanced Practice Registered Nurses
- Certified Nurse Midwife Practice and Prescriptive Authority
-
Full independent practice and prescriptive authority.
Nurse midwives shall practice within a health care system and have clinical relationships with obstetrician-gynecologists that provide for consultation, collaborative management or referral, as indicated by the health status of the patient. Nurse midwifery care shall be consistent with the standards of care established by the American College of Nurse Midwives.
Nurse midwives may engage in prescriptive practice without guidelines or supervision. Code Mass. Reg. §244-4.06; Code Mass. Reg. §244-4.07
- Learn more about Certified Nurse Midwife Practice and Prescriptive Authority
- Nurse Practitioner Practice and Prescriptive Authority
-
Full practice authority but transition to independent prescribing authority.
A NP will only practice in the clinical category(s) for which the CNP has attained and maintained certification. NPs with less than two years of experience need guidelines for prescriptive practice and will be supervised by a Qualified Healthcare Professional (physician or NP with independent practice authority). After this period, the NP may independently prescribe. Code Mass. Reg. §244-4.07
- Learn more about Nurse Practitioner Practice and Prescriptive Authority
- Nurse Practitioner Authority to Sign POLST Forms
-
Although not codified, NPs are authorized to sign medical orders for life-sustaining treatment (MOLST) forms. Please see the Massachusetts MOLST website for more information.
- Learn more about Nurse Practitioner Authority to Sign POLST Forms
- Nurse Practitioner as a Primary Care Provider
-
NPs are recognized in state policy as primary care providers. If a health care carrier requires the designation of a primary care provider, the carrier must provide its insured with an opportunity to select a participating provider nurse practitioner as a primary care provider or to change its primary care provider to a participating provider nurse practitioner at any time during their coverage period. Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. tit. 22 ch.176R §4
- Learn more about Nurse Practitioner as a Primary Care Provider