Protocols for Nurse Practitioners in Gynecologic Settings

Nurse practitioners in any area of practice need to consider the issues surrounding the use of protocols. Increasingly, states are mandating that nurse practitioners practice under written protocols. There is growing support for such legislation; some agencies and institutions already require the use of protocols by nurse practitioners, and may even specify by whom the protocols are to be developed. Furthermore, protocols or practice guidelines are being required in some states where nurse practitioners have prescription writing privileges in order for nurse practitioners to be approved to do so.