NR565 Week 2 Study Guide (Page 1)
Chapter 1: The Role of the Nurse Practitioner as Prescriber
Roles and Responsibilities of APRN Prescribers
APRN prescriber is responsible for the final decision on which drug to use and how to use it. Degree of
autonomy in this role and the breadth of drugs that can be prescribed vary from state to state based on the nurse
practice act of that state. Nurse practitioner prescriptive authority is regulated by the State Board of Nursing for
each state.
• Advanced Knowledge
o Additional knowledge, critical thinking, and assumption of a higher level of legal responsibility
are required to assume the prescriber role
o Knowledge of medicine, pharmacology, and nursing intertwine in the NP role
o As a prescriber, it becomes the role and responsibility of the NP to determine the diagnosis for
which the drug will be ordered, prescribe the appropriate drug, monitor the expected outcome of
the drug, and incorporate a holistic assessment of the impact of disease and therapy on patient
lives
• Benefits of an APRN as Prescriber
o Alternative treatment options are also part of the armamentarium that can be used to treat a given
disorder and may interact with the pharmacotherapeutic intervention
o APRN look at the big picture and consider alternative treatment options and lifestyle changes
o Patients are looked at in a holistic approach and include the patient in decision making regarding
their care.
o NP practice may thrive under healthcare reform because of the demonstrated ability of nurse
practitioners to control costs and improve patient outcomes
Clinical Judgment in Prescribing
• Prescribing drug results from:
o Clinical judgment based on a thorough assessment of the patient and the patient's environment
o Determination of medical and nursing diagnoses
o A review of potential alternative therapies, and specific knowledge about the drug chosen and
the disease process it is designed to treat
o NPs factoring in the cost to the patient of the medication prescribed
• Is there a clear indication for drug therapy?
o In the age of health-care reform and increased awareness of the limitations of drugs, whether a
medication is the best option for treatment has become an important question.
• What drugs are effective in treating this disorder?
o Several drugs may be effective in treating a condition, so which one is best for a particular
patient?
▪ Even if only the most effective class of drug is considered, few classes of drugs include
only one drug
o How does one determine “best”; what are the criteria? Are there nationally recognized guidelines
that can be used?
▪ The Agency for Health Care Quality (AHCQ), the National Institutes of Health (NIH),
and many specialty organizations publish disease-specific treatment guidelines that
include both pharmacological and nonpharmacological therapies
▪ Consult nationally recognized guidelines for disease management
• What is the goal of therapy with this drug?
o What is the best drug to achieve treatment goals?
Chapter 1: The Role of the Nurse Practitioner as Prescriber
Roles and Responsibilities of APRN Prescribers
APRN prescriber is responsible for the final decision on which drug to use and how to use it. Degree of
autonomy in this role and the breadth of drugs that can be prescribed vary from state to state based on the nurse
practice act of that state. Nurse practitioner prescriptive authority is regulated by the State Board of Nursing for
each state.
• Advanced Knowledge
o Additional knowledge, critical thinking, and assumption of a higher level of legal responsibility
are required to assume the prescriber role
o Knowledge of medicine, pharmacology, and nursing intertwine in the NP role
o As a prescriber, it becomes the role and responsibility of the NP to determine the diagnosis for
which the drug will be ordered, prescribe the appropriate drug, monitor the expected outcome of
the drug, and incorporate a holistic assessment of the impact of disease and therapy on patient
lives
• Benefits of an APRN as Prescriber
o Alternative treatment options are also part of the armamentarium that can be used to treat a given
disorder and may interact with the pharmacotherapeutic intervention
o APRN look at the big picture and consider alternative treatment options and lifestyle changes
o Patients are looked at in a holistic approach and include the patient in decision making regarding
their care.
o NP practice may thrive under healthcare reform because of the demonstrated ability of nurse
practitioners to control costs and improve patient outcomes
Clinical Judgment in Prescribing
• Prescribing drug results from:
o Clinical judgment based on a thorough assessment of the patient and the patient's environment
o Determination of medical and nursing diagnoses
o A review of potential alternative therapies, and specific knowledge about the drug chosen and
the disease process it is designed to treat
o NPs factoring in the cost to the patient of the medication prescribed
• Is there a clear indication for drug therapy?
o In the age of health-care reform and increased awareness of the limitations of drugs, whether a
medication is the best option for treatment has become an important question.
• What drugs are effective in treating this disorder?
o Several drugs may be effective in treating a condition, so which one is best for a particular
patient?
▪ Even if only the most effective class of drug is considered, few classes of drugs include
only one drug
o How does one determine “best”; what are the criteria? Are there nationally recognized guidelines
that can be used?
▪ The Agency for Health Care Quality (AHCQ), the National Institutes of Health (NIH),
and many specialty organizations publish disease-specific treatment guidelines that
include both pharmacological and nonpharmacological therapies
▪ Consult nationally recognized guidelines for disease management
• What is the goal of therapy with this drug?
o What is the best drug to achieve treatment goals?
