Nurse practitioners play a vital role in providing high-quality healthcare across the United States. With advanced education, training, and clinical experience, nurse practitioners can diagnose, treat, and prescribe medication for patients.
However, whether a nurse practitioner can write a prescription without physician supervision depends on the laws and regulations in each state.
In Illinois, nurse practitioners have a reduced scope of practice compared to states that allow full practice authority. While nurse practitioners in Illinois can prescribe medication, they must have a written collaborative agreement with a supervising physician to do so.
What is a Nurse Practitioner?
A nurse practitioner (NP) is an advanced practice registered nurse who has obtained a Master’s or Doctoral degree in one of several nursing specialties. Common types of nurse practitioners include family nurse practitioners, pediatric nurse practitioners, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners, and more.
Nurse practitioners complete advanced coursework and hundreds or thousands of clinical hours beyond the education and training required to become a registered nurse. This equips them with the skills and knowledge to provide comprehensive healthcare services in both primary and specialty care settings.
Scope of Practice for Nurse Practitioners in Illinois
The “scope of practice” refers to the services, procedures, and medical decisions that nurse practitioners are legally permitted to perform within their role. This is governed by state laws and regulations that dictate the level of autonomy NPs have.
Illinois grants nurse practitioners a reduced scope of practice. This means state laws restrict their ability to engage in at least one element of NP practice.
Specifically, Illinois requires a written collaborative agreement between the nurse practitioner and a supervising physician. The working relationship between the physician and the nurse practitioner is described in the collaborative agreement, along with protocols for prescriptive authority, referral, and consultation.
Additionally, the collaborating physician must be available for in-person consultation at least once per week if requested by the NP. Restrictions are also in place regarding the number of NPs a physician can collaborate with at one time.
Can a Nurse Practitioner Prescribe Medication in Illinois?
Yes, nurse practitioners in Illinois can prescribe medication. However, their prescriptive authority depends on having a written collaborative agreement with a supervising physician.
According to Illinois law, the collaborative agreement must specify guidelines for prescriptive authority. This includes limitations on schedules and types of medication the nurse practitioner can prescribe.
Nurse practitioners in Illinois can prescribe Schedule II through V controlled substances with appropriate physician collaboration. However, additional restrictions may be outlined in the collaborative agreement.
For instance, the physician may limit the nurse practitioner to prescribing only certain scheduled drugs or require consultation prior to prescribing controlled substances. The supervising physician can also restrict the number of refills allowed on prescriptions written by the nurse practitioner.
Requirements for Nurse Practitioner Prescriptive Authority in Illinois
Here are some key requirements nurse practitioners in Illinois must meet to have prescriptive authority:
- Hold an active registered professional nurse license and advanced practice registered nurse license in Illinois
- Complete an accredited Master’s or Doctoral nurse practitioner program
- Pass a national nurse practitioner certification exam
- Maintain national certification through ongoing continuing education
- Secure a written collaborative agreement with a licensed physician
- Collaborating physician must be onsite at least once weekly if requested
- Complete 10 hours of continuing education in pharmacology each license renewal period
- Enroll in the Illinois Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP)
- Follow all prescription guidelines outlined in state laws and collaborative agreement
Additionally, nurse practitioners must include the name, signature, and contact information of the collaborating physician on all prescriptions they write. This helps ensure adequate physician oversight.
Limitations on Nurse Practitioner Prescriptive Authority in Illinois
The written collaborative agreement dictates the prescriptive authority of the nurse practitioner in Illinois. However, state laws prohibit nurse practitioners from prescribing Schedule II controlled substances for more than a 72-hour supply.
Schedule II drugs have a high potential for abuse and dependency. They include medications like morphine, oxycodone, fentanyl, Adderall, Ritalin, and more. The 72-hour supply limit aims to curb the overprescribing of these controlled substances.
Beyond the restrictions in the collaborative agreement and this 72-hour limit, the Illinois Nurse Practice Act does not impose additional constraints on the types of medication NPs can prescribe. Still, prudent prescribing practices are essential, and nurse practitioners should consult as needed with physicians.
The Case for Full Practice Authority in Illinois
While progress has been made, nurse practitioners in Illinois still lack full practice authority. This creates barriers to patients accessing timely care from the provider of their choice.
Multiple studies confirm the safety and effectiveness of nurse practitioners in delivering comprehensive primary care with excellent patient outcomes. Granting full prescriptive authority to nurse practitioners in Illinois would further benefit public health, especially in rural and underserved communities.
Both the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) and the American Nurses Association (ANA) advocate for all states to allow nurse practitioners to evaluate, diagnose, treat, and prescribe medication to the full extent of their education and training.
Currently, 22 states plus DC grant nurse practitioners full practice authority. Illinois lawmakers should consider following suit to modernize practice regulations and improve healthcare access across the state.
Consulting a Nurse Practitioner Practice Attorney in Illinois
Navigating the complex regulations around nurse practitioner practice and prescriptive authority can be challenging. Illinois nurse practitioners are encouraged to consult with a nursing license defense attorney to ensure they comply with all state laws.
The experienced healthcare license defense attorneys at 1818 Legal in Chicago provide guidance to nurse practitioners and other licensed professionals on regulatory and compliance matters.
