Having a guided pathway available to protect oneself and staff from unfortunate patient situations will result in better patient outcomes, better delivery of care, and better business overall. Embracing established steps to terminate a patient relationship can help prevent vulnerability to claims of abandonment. Finally, being aware of an existing alternative to staying in a negative patient-provider relationship will offer the NP and PA increased autonomy in practice.
Roslyn Walden, MSN, FNP-BC, is a family nurse practitioner in Las Cruces, N.M.
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This article originally appeared on Clinical Advisor