What is a Connecticut NP's scope of practice?

A Connecticut NP’s scope of practice includes advanced-level nursing functions: diagnosing and treating alterations in health status; providing supportive and restorative care; health counseling and teaching; case finding and referral; and collaborating in the implementation of the total health care regimen¹. APRNs may also determine and pronounce death and are recognized as primary care providers in Connecticut²³.

Within this scope, APRNs may prescribe, dispense, and administer medical therapeutics and corrective measures and may sign for, receive, and dispense professional sample drugs⁴. They also have authority to prescribe controlled substances in Schedules II, III, IV, and V, and prescription forms must list the APRN’s name, address, and telephone number⁵⁶.

For the first three years after initial Connecticut licensure, APRNs practice under a written collaborative agreement with a Connecticut-licensed physician that sets consultation and referral parameters and, among other items, the level of Schedule II and III prescribing⁴. After completing three years (at least 2,000 hours) of collaborative practice, an APRN may elect to practice independently by notifying the Department of Public Health and must maintain documentation of meeting the collaborative requirement⁷.