Final answer:
Pediatric nurse practitioners in North Carolina do have the right to prescribe medications. Research indicates a rise in parental expectations for antibiotics among Medicaid-insured children, while expectations among commercially insured children's parents are more stable.
Step-by-step explanation:
In North Carolina (NC), pediatric nurse practitioners do have prescribing rights, which include the authority to prescribe medications for the patients they serve. They are required to follow state-specific regulations and may need to collaborate with a supervising physician depending on the medication and the circumstances.
The notion that parents may seek antibiotic prescriptions even when they are not medically necessary is a growing concern. According to research, among parents of Medicaid-insured children, there is an increasing trend in the expectation for antibiotics. In contrast, expectations have remained more stable among parents of children with commercial insurance. This difference could suggest that parents with commercial insurance are potentially better informed about the appropriate use of antibiotics.