An Analysis on the Ability of Nurse Practitioners to Prescribe Controlled Substances

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According to the Pearson Report, there is a total of 147,295 Nurse Practitioners throughout the United States (Pearson, 2009). However, for NPs in some states the battle continues over some forms of prescriptive authority or physician involvement in NP prescribing, such as the state of Pennsylvania. State regulatory approaches to NP prescribing range from no authorization for prescribing (in Georgia, 2006 legislation passed which recognized NPs as prescribers, but the rules have not been approved at the time of this writing) to unencumbered prescriptive authority (Arizona, DC, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming) (Lugo, O’Grady, Hodnicki & Hanson, 2007).

Lugo et al. (2007) writes that NPs in 47 states can prescribe controlled substances, although some states restrict the quantities prescribed or place additional restrictions on NPs' prescribing. In 4 states (Alabama, Florida, Hawaii, and Missouri), NPs' ability to prescribe are limited to legend drugs (no controlled substances), with or without restrictions. In 42 states, the NP prescriber's name must remain on all medication bottles, whereas in 6 states, regulation does not allow the prescribing NP's name to remain on the label. This latter situation creates a patient safety violation because neither the pharmacist nor the patient can easily access or determine the prescriber.

According to the Pennsylvania Code, Section 18.54, restrictions on CRNP prescribing and dispensing practices are that a CRNP can write scripts for control substances, but limited to a 72 hour dose. The CRNP must notify the collaborating physician as early as possible but in no event longer than 24 hours. Also, they may write for a Schedule III or IV controlled substance, however limited to 30 da...

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