Final answer:
Nurse practitioners in North Carolina have dispensing authority but it requires a license from the North Carolina Medical Board and adherence to specific regulatory requirements.
Step-by-step explanation:
In North Carolina (NC), nurse practitioners do have dispensing authority, but it is regulated. NC nurse practitioners can dispense medication as long as they meet specific requirements. To dispense medications, NC nurse practitioners must obtain a license from the North Carolina Medical Board. This authority aligns with collaborative practice agreements that NPs must have with supervising physicians. The scope of such dispensing practices varies and may involve restrictions on the types or amounts of medications that can be dispensed.
Nurse practitioners not only have to maintain a full practice agreement with a supervising physician to prescribe medications but they also need to adhere to state-level regulations concerning the dispensing of medications. These regulations are in place to ensure the safety and efficacy of medication management in the healthcare system.