I recently received the following inquiry:
I hold two jobs. My primary position is in a clinic staffed primarily by physicians. I also work in the office of a nurse practitioner.
I have been told that my scope of practice under a physician may be different from my scope of practice under a nurse practitioner. That seems unusual. Could you please tell me whether this is the case?
What this medical assistant has been told is correct.
When medical assistants work under the authority of physicians, their scope of practice is determined by the medical practice act and the regulations of the board of medical examiners in their state. When working under the authority of a nurse practitioner, their scope of practice is determined by their state’s nurse practice act and the regulations of the board of nursing.
For further assistance with this complicated question, email me at DBalasa@aama-ntl.org or comment on this post.