Nurse Practitioner how-to
How to Prescribe Safely
Safe prescribing prevents harm.
Quick answer
Safe prescribing prevents harm. In short: confirm; check; choose, then complete the remaining steps below.
Step by step
Confirm diagnosis.
Check allergies and interactions.
Choose dose by kidney and liver function.
Check the state drug monitoring database when required.
Explain benefits and side effects.
Plan follow-up.
Safety reminders for nurse practitioners
- Follow infection control
- Verify allergies and interactions
- Use prescription monitoring databases
- Know when to refer or escalate
Key terms
APRN · MSN · DNP · FNP · Full practice authority · Collaborative agreement: see the full nurse practitioner glossary.