Prescribing guidelines based on a flexible scope of practice.

Nurse practitioners (NPs) are in demand nationwide as primary care providers both in the inpatient and outpatient settings. Lack of prescriptive privileges and/or a narrow scope of practice can be practice limiting. This article provides a written template for prescribing authority, generic scope of practice, and furnishing policy, including evaluative process, for nurse practitioners who wish to obtain prescriptive privileges. Developed at the Palo Alto Veterans Affairs Health Care System, these documents can be used by NPs nationwide. They can be adapted to each provider's unique practice, whether in the hospital, clinic, or private practice setting.