Which type of authority do Nurse Midwives and Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners have in Virginia?

In Virginia, Nurse Midwives and Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners possess limited and dependent prescribing authority. This means that they are authorized to prescribe certain medications while still adhering to regulations and restrictions that are defined by their collaborative agreements or protocols with physicians. This collaborative practice model ensures that while Nurse Midwives and Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners can offer a range of services, including the management of certain medications, they are still working in conjunction with medical doctors to maintain patient safety and care quality.

This limited authority typically involves the prescription of certain types of medications, which may include standard medications relevant to their scope of practice, while more complex or higher-risk medications may require additional consultation or supervision from a physician. This arrangement thus balances the Nurse Midwives' and Nurse Practitioners' expertise with the overarching safety framework established in the healthcare system.

In contrast, other options such as having no prescribing authority or full prescribing authority for all medications do not accurately reflect the regulation within Virginia. Nurse Midwives and Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners can prescribe medications, but they do so within a defined scope that ensures collaborative care with physicians.