The Process Protocol Workbook
For Nurse Practitioners

Develop your own legally required standardized procedures and protocols quickly and easily, with

THE PROCESS PROTOCOL WORKBOOK.

Written by a Nurse Practitioner for Nurse Practitioners, The Process Protocol Workbook will take you step by step through the development of your own customized standardized procedures and protocols. Practical, concise, and adaptable for virtually any setting or specialty, Process Protocols meet regulatory requirements and also provide an excellent framework for defining your collaboration with the MD’s in your practice.


WHAT ARE PROCESS PROTOCOLS?

From the Preface to The Process Protocol Workbook:

"Many states require nurse practitioners to have some kind of written description of the limits of their practice. These have been referred to variously as guidelines, agreements, standardized procedures and/or protocols. Process protocols are simply one style of protocol. Disease-oriented or procedure oriented protocols are two other styles. Process oriented protocols identify the activities or processes involved in practicing as a nurse practitioner. ...Once identified, the functions are described and policies and rules are written to define the circumstances in which the nurse practitioner can perform these functions. ...Pretty simple really." WHY ARE PROCESS PROTOCOLS BETTER?

Process Protocols are simpler, easier to use and more adaptable than other types of protocols. Disease-oriented protocols - where conditions and diagnoses are listed and corresponding treatment plans are prescribed - can be lengthy, cumbersome, and quickly outdated. It can also be difficult to get all the practitioners and physicians to agree on treatment plans or medications. In contrast, rather than listing conditions and treatment plans, Process Protocols establish the general framework for your practice and then incorporate your preferred medical texts and resources by reference. The protocols themselves become simple and practical.

WHAT IS THE PROCESS PROTOCOL WORKBOOK?

The Process Protocol Workbook is a set of protocols for most of the typical functions a nurse practitioner performs. Each protocol has a corresponding Work Page with commentary about the various issues raised by the protocol and asks you questions pertaining to your particular setting and practice. As you go through the Workbook, you fill in the blanks and make whatever changes might be necessary. When you’re done, you have a customized document that reflects you and your practice.

There is a California Edition and a more generic National Edition. The California Edition addresses the particulars of California regulations and is necessary for any practice within the state. The National Edition has the same format, concepts and basic policies, but without the details of California law. National Edition users still need to get any specifics directly from their state's NP regulatory body. The California Edition is updated whenever significant changes occur in California law, the latest edition being 2005.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?

In workshops led by the author, nurse practitioners have created complete protocols in less than a day. However, various people within the practice  NP's, supervising physicians, administrators - must formally agree to the protocols, and this is what usually takes the most time.

WHO IS USING THE PROCESS PROTOCOL WORKBOOK?

The Workbook is being used by offices, clinics, HMOs, hospitals, and public and government agencies of all sizes and specialties - basically, anywhere there are nurse practitioners. Nurse Practitioner degree programs in several states include the Workbook as a text. The basic concept and format has even been the basis for some NP regulations. The bottom line is, if you are a nurse practitioner and your state requires some type of standardized procedures or protocols, the Workbook can help you develop those protocols.

A SAMPLE PROTOCOL (FROM THE NATIONAL EDITION)

The numbers in parentheses refer to discussion on the Work Page, following.

HEALTH CARE MANAGEMENT - PRIMARY CARE

POLICY (1)  [Use A. or B.]

  1. Primary Care conditions are common acute and episodic conditions such as ___________________________________________________________, chronic conditions such as _________________________________________________________________, AND health care maintenance. The nurse practitioner is authorized to diagnose and manage Primary Care conditions under the following Protocols:

    OR

  2. Primary care is defined as the management of common acute, chronic stable or health care maintenance conditions as listed in this document. The nurse practitioner is authorized to diagnose and treat primary care conditions under the following Protocols:

PROTOCOLS

  1. A treatment plan is developed based on the resources listed in this document.(2)
  2. All other applicable Protocols in this document are followed during health care management. (3)
  3. All General Policies regarding Review, Approval, Setting, Education, Evaluation, Patient Records, Supervision and Consultation in these Protocols are in force.
(18)

PRIMARY CARE WORK PAGE

This section should state as simply as possible that you are going to be independently providing primary care.

  1. If you need or want to give examples, use the first phrase. For acute conditions, I use pharyngitis, otitis and vaginitis, and for chronic conditions, hypertension, asthma or hormone treatment. If you are required to list all the diagnoses and conditions you can treat, see the sample list in the Appendix and look at the discussion in Resources.
  2. You may not have to state what your treatment plan will be for the different conditions you see. If you are not required to state it, then leave this one out. If you are required to, then consider using standard texts, periodicals and algorithms rather than writing your own disease based treatment plan. These standard resources will then get listed at the end of this document. See Resources Work Page for more discussion.
  3. This statement and the next will be on all of the Health Care Management Protocols. It makes it clear that all of the General Policies in the rest of the document apply in each of the Health Care Management protocols, without having to be repeated. Perhaps it goes without saying.
NOTES

(19)

CD INCLUDED FOR WORD PROCESSING

Once you have developed your protocols using the Workbook, you will be ready to produce your formal Standardized Procedures and Protocols document. To simplify your word processing in this task, a CD is included with the text of the protocols but without the Work Pages and commentary.

HOW TO ORDER THE PROCESS PROTOCOL WORKBOOK

Order The Process Protocol Workbook directly from the author with the Order Form, or via Mail, E-mail, Phone or FAX. Orders are usually shipped the next business day after receipt. Standard shipping is First Class Mail or we can ship US Express Main for an additional charge. Payment is required with your order We accept checks, VISA or MasterCard. Group orders of five or more books shipped to the same address and with a single payment will receive a 20% discount and reduced shipping charges. We guarantee your satisfaction - if for any reason you wish to return the Workbook, we will promptly refund your money. Bookstores and institutions may send a purchase order and we will provide an invoice for payment.