West Virginia Nurses: Preventing Drug Diversion and Prescribing Controlled Substances

Course overview

The West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Nurses requires all RNs in West Virginia to complete an initial three-contact-hour course in drug diversion training and best practice prescribing of controlled substances. This course meets those requirements. Learning outcomes Upon completing this course, nurses will be able to: -Define the term diversion as it relates to prescription medications. -Recognize the extent of medication diversion. -Illustrate two responsibilities of the Drug Enforcement Administration. -Give an example of a Schedule III controlled substance. -Identify one legal method to dispose of unwanted controlled substances. -Describe three potential characteristics of addicted patients. -Present two general principles of responsible controlled substance prescribing. -Offer an example of behavior that may help to identify an impaired nurse. -Describe two interventions that may be helpful in preventing controlled substance diversion. -Characterize one element critical to an appropriate response to a confirmed case of diversion.