How many nurse practitioners can a physician supervise in Pennsylvania?
In Pennsylvania, there is no statutory maximum number of nurse practitioners a physician may supervise; Pennsylvania law does not limit the number of CRNPs with whom a physician may enter into collaborative agreements1. Collaborating physicians must be immediately available to the CRNP via direct communication or telecommunications2.
To collaborate, the physician must hold a current Pennsylvania medical license3. For prescriptive authority, the prescriptive authority collaborative agreement must identify the collaborating and substitute physician(s), include license numbers and CRNP specialty, and specify how often the physician will personally see patients to whom the CRNP is prescribing4. The collaborative agreement must also provide for chart review and protocols5.
Maintain compliance by keeping the prescriptive authority collaborative agreement available for inspection, notifying the Board of updates or termination, and reviewing/updating it at least every two years678.
Citations
- Advanced Practice Clinician Guidance (Pennsylvania): Maximum Number of Supervisees — “Pennsylvania law does not limit the number of CRNPs with whom a physician may enter into collaborative agreements.”
- 49 Pa. Code §21.251
- 49 Pa. Code §21.282a(a)
- 49 Pa. Code §21.285(a)(1–8)
- 49 Pa. Code §21.251
- Advanced Practice Clinician Guidance (Pennsylvania): “The prescriptive authority collaborative agreement must be made available for inspection by anyone upon request.”
- 49 Pa. Code §21.285(b)
- 49 Pa. Code §21.285(a)(7)
.png)
Find a Collaborating Physician Today
Find Your Collaborator Now.png){kind=small}