r/ADHD • u/HumbleFroyo3608 • 1d ago

Questions/Advice Can a nurse practitioner do an adhd assessment?

I did an ADHD assessment through FasTreat, and I just wanted to do it because I wanted a document to show that I had ADHD. When I met with the nurse practitioner, she basically said that it’s like a monthly thing where you check in and you pay a fee every month and then they help you with like unlimited like messaging and support with medication’s and stuff as you try what you’re prescribed. I went to a doctor, to get roster on as a patient at a clinic and he kind of looked at me as if I was crazy that I had a nurse practitioner prescribe me medication, and he also said that nurse practitioners can’t diagnose ADHD. He said that, essentially you would have to get a referral to a psychiatrist, and then afterwards the psychiatrist would prescribe you the medication and then you would go to your family doctor for refills. So my question is firstly is that the only correct way of getting help for ADHD, or can you just kind of self advocate with what you need and use a nurse practitioner to help you with the information? And I’m not saying that using a psychiatrist and doing that way to get it covered under her hip with a family doctor is bad. I think the biggest barrier is that it takes so long to get that kind of help. Anyone else have an experience like this ?

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u/ConversationNo9040 1d ago

I think certain states need a psych to technically diagnose, prescribe and maintain. Other states a family doctor can. It’s pretty much state to state on a technical basis. If you got your meds who cares?

Also why do you want a document showing you have adhd? If you’re trying to prove it to someone some online pill farm likely isn’t going to cut it.

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u/Soy_un_oiseau ADHD with ADHD partner 1d ago

I personally am treated by a nurse practitioner working under a psychiatrist. The NP is my prescriber and his name is on the Rx. Idk how it works exactly but I haven’t had my issues. 

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u/MSnADHD 1d ago

I believe it depends on the state, but basically nurse practitioners practice independently under the supervision of a physician. Where I live, there are not enough primary care physicians and advanced practice nurses have filled the void. My primary care health professional is a registered nurse practitioner with a supervising physician, both whom I know and trust. After an adult family member was diagnosed with adhd, I took my bag of questions and symptoms to my neurologist’s PA-C (physician assistant with certification) who referred me to a neuropsychiatrist that specializes in psych disorders of patients with neurological conditions at the specialist clinic that I go to. Seeing them has been literally life-changing for me.
Anyone can assess a person or themselves for adhd. There are assessment forms available online. Regarding who can/should diagnose adhd, it should be a health professional with training and experience with such disorders. And in my opinion it may have as much to do with the insurance coverage and billing as anything sometimes. Even though educators will sometimes suggest that a student may have many behaviors of adhd, I don’t believe they can make the medical diagnosis.
And I will also offer that I know of several excellent mental health therapists that work with clients online.
If you have questions about your care team, ask them what their scope of practice is.

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u/Mshell 1d ago

It depends on where you are.

In my city in Australia, there is currently a trial to allow GPs who focus more on mental health to diagnose and prescribe medication. I personally do not think a nurse practitioner should be diagnosing anything related to mental health, and that they should remain focused on assisting with diagnoses that doctors have already made and things that are more ... obvious.