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Featured Practice Question

Can I practice as an NP hospitalist even though my education was as an FNP?

In California, there is not a "legislative" mandate at this time of where you can work. If the FNP could show that he/she has the didactic and clinical experience in acute care, the FNP could conceivably practice in acute care. The FNP, wanting to or performing as a hospitalist, should be able to demonstrate competency or ongoing competency for the designated practice area (experiential learning may not be enough and national certification / proof of additional education may be necessary to affirm one has achieved this competency). Also, the employer will establish professional credentialing requirements for the NPs whom are granted practice privileges in the facility.

Essentially, you'll have to determine if you can demonstrate competency to practice in the NP hospitalist role.

Featured Legal Question

I have the NP drug furnishing number but do not have an NPI number and won't be getting it, as I missed the opportunity to sign up for it when a Master's wasn't required, which I don't have. Can I prescribe with just the furnishing number? Will my prescriptions without it be turned away? My physician employer has my name on his prescription pad with my furnishing number on it and all of his info as well. Can I sign a prescription and give to a patient? Can I sign the physician’s name with my name after his if unable to prescribe without him? If a patient pays out of pocket for the prescription I write, will the pharmacy fill it? Is it just that the insurance company won't fill a prescription without an NPI number? Is there any other information I should know about this? Any pertinent questions I didn't ask?

That is a bit of a problem. You cannot bill Medi-Cal or Medicare under your name. All billing would be incident-to under the physician’s NPI. The pharmacy does not require your NPI on the prescription pad. The pharmacy is more interested in the DEA number. Until pharmacies require NPI numbers, you can continue to furnish.

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