With regard to "prescribing" medications or over-the-counter products or
treatments: Each state has its own Board of Nursing which governs such
practices. Many states allow nurses with "advanced practice" titles (nurse
practitioner, Clinical nurse specialist, nurse midwife, and so forth) to
prescribe medications and devices. The board regulates whether the Advanced
practice nurse must have a collaborating physician as back-up.

In the NJ Nurse Practice Act,. there are NO provisions for someone OTHER than
an advanced practice nurse to "prescribe", i.e., a "regular" RN cannot!!!
Most of the states that I looked up had similar language in their nurse
practice acts. I have the NJ practice act, if anyone would like their
statement.

Since IBCLCs who are not RNs are not governed by the Nurse Practice Act, it
is up to the individual (and the state Board of Medical Examiners, if it
should come to that) to decide whether what they are doing might constitute
"practicing medicine without a license". Some guidelines offered by the
Arkansas Board of Nursing may help you to decide what your own "scope of
practice" should be. (repalce the word "nurse" with LC)

"The parameters of the practice scopes are defined by basic licensure
preparation and advanced education. Within this scope of practice, all nurses
should remain current and increase their expertise and skill in a variety of
ways, e.g., practice experience, in-service education, and continuing
education. Practice responsibility, accountability, and relative levels of
independence are also expanded in this way.
The licensed nurse is responsible and accountable, both professionally and
legally, for determining his/her personal scope of nursing practice. Since
the role and responsibilities of nurses, and consequently the scope of
nursing practice, is ever changing and increasing in complexity, it is
important that the nurse makes decisions regarding his/her own scope of
practice."

See this website for an algorithm that may help you to decide for yourself
whether you should be "prescribing" anything!!!

http://www.state.ar.us/nurse/model.html

As far as herbals go, I recommend that clients do their own research into
this, as it is not an area of MY expertise. I also remind them that
"digitalis is from a plant" so that they remember that herbs can be dangerous
if they do not know what they are doing.

Good luck!!
Kathy in NJ IBCLC RN C APN C

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