Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Exam

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Prepare for the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Exam. Review critical concepts with quizzes and flashcards, each with hints and detailed explanations. Boost your confidence for the exam!

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Since what decade have nurse practitioners (NPs) and certified nurse midwives (CNMs) been able to write certain prescriptions?

  1. 1960s

  2. 1970s

  3. 1980s

  4. 1990s

The correct answer is: 1970s

The ability for nurse practitioners (NPs) and certified nurse midwives (CNMs) to write certain prescriptions emerged in the 1970s. This decade was pivotal as it marked a significant expansion of the roles and responsibilities of NPs and CNMs in the United States, particularly in response to a growing recognition of their capabilities and contributions to healthcare. During the 1970s, many states began to amend their regulations to allow NPs and CNMs to prescribe medications, reflecting a shift in healthcare policy and an effort to address the shortage of primary care providers. This legislative change not only enhanced the practice of NPs and CNMs but also improved access to prescription medications for patients, particularly in underserved areas. The movement toward allowing these healthcare professionals to prescribe medications continued to evolve in subsequent decades, but the foundational change began in the 1970s.