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1. Issues with Prescriptive Authority of Controlled Substances
Issues with Prescriptive Authority of Controlled SubstancesIssues with Prescriptive
Authority of Controlled SubstancesWhen it comes to preventing misuse of controlled
substance and the risk of a substance use and addiction disorder, we as future APRNs with
prescriptive privileges can follow several clinical practices and prescribing practices that
can minimize or prevent these consequences. Most importantly, it is essential to understand
drug Schedules and to know which drugs are classified according to the Schedules of
Controlled Substances. We must also be familiar with the laws and guidelines surrounding
prescription of substances within each Schedule (“Florida Board of Nursing » Important
Legislative Update regarding HB 423 – Licensing, Renewals & Information,” n.d.).When
writing a prescription, the provider should write the script legibly to reduce the risk for
forgery of the document. Sloppy or illegible writing of a prescription can result in a patient
or another person altering the dose or number of pills without it being noticed. Because the
drugs within Schedule II/IIN require written prescriptions, protection of the actual
prescription pad is essential to prevent theft. By keeping it locked up and in a safe place, it is
less likely to be stolen and used to forge a prescription for a controlled substance. In cases
where electronic prescriptions can be written instead of paper prescription pads, the
provider should try to write an electronic prescription or use e-prescribing software to
reduce the risk of forgery and falsification (“Florida Board of Nursing » Important
Legislative Update regarding HB 423 – Licensing, Renewals & Information,” n.d.).A nurse
practitioner who prescribes controlled substances needs a DEA number associated with a
license to practice. The provider should monitor the DEA number to ensure that no one else
has tried to use it and that prescriptions written associated with that number were only
written by the provider. Often, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians can check a
prescriber’s DEA number through the database to verify prescriptions and to determine
whether a prescriber has been prescribing controlled substances appropriately. In
understanding policies regarding number of refills allowed according to each Schedule, the
prescribing provider should follow these guidelines closely, educating staff and colleagues
about policies for refills, if necessary (“Florida Board of Nursing » Important Legislative
Update regarding HB 423 – Licensing, Renewals & Information,” n.d.).When considering
whether a specific patient needs a prescription for a controlled substance, the nurse
practitioner can also potentially prevent misuse and substance abuse by performing
thorough patient examinations that assess the patient’s medical history, history of
substance use and abuse, and assessing for patient pain levels. The types and amounts of

2. concomitant medications the patient is taking should also be documented. When possible,
alternative therapies, including those medications that are not controlled substances or
nonpharmacological adjuvant therapies should be employed instead. In extreme
circumstances, such as when the patient is acutely intoxicated with a controlled substance
or demonstrating an inability to safely utilize a prescription for one of these drugs, the
prescribing provider should consult with a specialist for substance abuse treatment and
avoid writing the prescription for the controlled substance (Chedekel, 2015). Issues with
Prescriptive Authority of Controlled SubstancesPeer 2Issues that May Arise with
Prescriptive Authority of Controlled SubstancesThe prescription of controlled substances
by nurses is often one of the controversial issues that leads to the revoking of licensure only
after the realization of already damaging effects of the same. The CS/CS/CS/SB 614, for
instance, is a Florida 2015 law that grants APRNs the freedom to administer, dispense, or
prescribe any drug including the controlled substances such as opioids (The Florida Senate,
2020). One of the issues that may arise from this prescriptive authority is the delegation of
these duties by APRNs to other individuals or lack of direct examination of the patients
before administration, which may lead to licensure revoking (Osborne, 2017). In the case of
Heather Alfonso, a Derby APRN, her licenses were revoked and was almost imprisoned for
three years for misusing her freedom of prescribing controlled substance (Chedekel, 2015).
From the report about Alfonso, there was evident that she would prescribe patient
medication even without proper examination by a licensed healthcare giver, and this led to
many patient abnormalities until she was noticed (Chedekel, 2015).How One Can Avoid
these SituationsOne can avoid these issues by performing comprehensive patient
examination before any prescription activity. Also, there is need to follow the strict
regulations of using these controlled substances, such as using some of the opioid
medications only in the cancer treatments of pain (Soelberg et al., 2017). Lastly, a
healthcare giver should always consult extensively if they are unsure that some of the
medications they are giving to the patients are the best alternatives.above is the original
homework in case you needed: Issues with Prescriptive Authority of Controlled
SubstancesCS/SB 614 authorizes an ARNP to prescribe, dispense, administer, or order any
drug, which would include controlled substances.ARNP disciplinary sanctions are added to
the bill in s. 456.072, F.S., (Section 5) to mirror a physician’s sanctions for prescribing or
dispensing a controlled substance other in the course of professional practice or failing to
meet practice standards. Additional acts for which discipline may be taken against an ARNP
relating to practicing with controlled substances that are added to the Nurse Practice Act
(Section 10) include:? Presigning blank prescription forms.? Prescribing a Schedule II for
office use.? Prescribing, dispensing, or administering an amphetamine or sympathomimetic
amine drug, except for specified conditions.? Prescribing, dispensing, or administering
certain hormones for muscle-building or athletic performance.? Promoting or advertising a
pharmacy on a prescription form unless the form also states that the prescription may be
filled at the pharmacy of your choice.? Prescribing, dispensing, or administering drugs,
including controlled substances, other than in the course of his or her professional
practice.? Prescribing, dispensing, or administering a controlled substance to himself or
herself.? Prescribing, dispensing, or administering laetrile.? Dispensing a controlled

3. substance listed in Schedule II or Schedule III in violation of the requirements for
dispensing practitioners in the Pharmacy Practice Act.? Promoting or advertising controlled
substances.After reading the following news article http://c-hit.org/2015/04/06/high-
prescribing-nurse-surrenders-drug-licenses/Identify what issues may arise with
prescriptive authority of controlled substances and how you may avoid these
situations?ORDER NOW FOR ORIGINAL, PLAGIARISM-FREE PAPERS