SAFE AND EFFECTIVE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE PRESCRIBING PRACTICES FOR WISCONSIN ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSES (2 PHARMACOLOGY HOURS)

Course overview

This course is intended for Wisconsin Advanced Practice Nurses and meets the state’s requirement for coursework related to safe and effective prescribing practices for controlled substances. Opiate abuse has been declared a public health epidemic. Nurse practitioners who prescribe controlled substances have a great responsibility to ensure patients receive the care they need, while also preventing their prescriptions from becoming a source of abuse or diversion. This course serves to provide an overview of the safe and effective prescribing of controlled substances, and three of the most common disease states that warrant more frequent prescribing of controlled substances. LEARNING OBJECTIVES: -Describe the concepts of prescription drug abuse, misuse, addiction, and diversion, including their recognition, risk factors, and prevention. -Explain the laws pertaining to the prescribing of controlled substances, including the medication schedules, prescription-filling rules, registration requirements, and Wisconsin-specific rules. -Discuss the treatment of pain, including evaluation, treatment, and medications used. -Describe steps to take to ensure safe and effective prescribing of controlled substances, including professional documentation, patient-provider agreements, and informed consent.