Is an NP obligated to treat a patient outside of the NP's certification, if an employer tells the NP to do it?

Nurse practitioners (NPs) should evaluate and manage only those patients who fall within the NP's scope of practice; that is, within the NP's education and certification. Adult NPs shouldn't treat children; geriatric NPs shouldn't treat young adults; family nurse practitioners shouldn't treat the mentally ill; and women's health NPs shouldn't treat orthopedic problems. But when an employer, who may or may not be a physician "collaborator," tells the NP to do it, things get complicated.

In my view, NPs should not treat patients outside the NP's education, experience and certification, even if the employer says so. It could jeopardize the NP's license. It is very difficult to defend, if the patient suffers and injury and sues. And, it could be dangerous for the patient.

So, if asked to see a patient outside your scope of practice, decline, and say you'd need to get approval from the Board of Nursing before doing it. The Board of Nursing is the "boss" on such matters. Unless they give the go-ahead, don't do it.

Source: Carolyn Buppert, NP,JD www.buppert.com