Can a Georgia NP prescribe medication independently?

No. A Georgia NP cannot prescribe medication independently. In Georgia, NP prescriptive authority exists only when delegated by a physician through a written nurse protocol agreement that authorizes specific medical acts, including ordering drugs and devices¹².

The nurse protocol must specify the delegated acts and the parameters for prescription drug orders, provide for immediate physician consultation, and require quarterly physician evaluation of any patient receiving a controlled substance prescription³. Prescription orders must be signed by the APRN and include the names of both the APRN and the delegating physician, along with other required elements⁴⁵.

Additional limits apply to controlled substances: NPs may not order Schedule I or II controlled substances⁶. These requirements confirm that Georgia NPs exercise prescriptive authority only under a physician-delegated nurse protocol agreement, not independently¹.