SAFE AND EFFECTIVE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE PRESCRIBING PRACTICES FOR ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSES (2HR)

Course overview

This course is intended for Advanced Practice Nurses and all nurses who are responsible for the safe and effective prescribing practices for controlled substances. Opiate abuse has been declared a public health epidemic. In 2012, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration determined that the use of prescriptions for non-medical purposes has increased significantly. 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: 1.Describe the concepts of prescription drug abuse, misuse, addiction, and diversion, including their recognition, risk factors, and prevention. 2.Explain the laws pertaining to the prescribing of controlled substances, including the medication schedules, prescription-filling rules, registration requirements, and Florida-specific rules. 3.Discuss the treatment of pain, including evaluation, treatment, and medications used. 4.Describe steps to take to ensure safe and effective prescribing of controlled substances, including professional documentation, patient-provider agreements, and informed consent. Prescription drug abuse is a growing problem in the United States. “In 2012, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) examined the use of prescriptions for nonmedical purposes and estimated that for ages 12 and older, 1.8 million persons initiated use of pain relievers, 1.4 million initiated tranquilizers, 676,000 initiated stimulants, and 166,000 initiated sedatives for nonmedical purposes” (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 2014). Opiate abuse has been declared a public health epidemic, and prescription drug abuse rates continue to rise. 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.