ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: Two years after the Florida legislature expanded APRN prescribing to include schedule II-IV drugs in 2017, we studied APRN utilization of this prescriptive authority. Study results reveal that Florida APRNs are meeting the educational requirements to prescribe and apply the use of these drugs in practice, improving patient access to care.
Subject(s)
Advanced Practice Nursing/legislation & jurisprudence , Controlled Substances , Drug Prescriptions/nursing , Drug and Narcotic Control/legislation & jurisprudence , Practice Patterns, Nurses'/legislation & jurisprudence , Florida , HumansABSTRACT
Prior to statutory changes in prescriptive authority for controlled substances, this study examined the knowledge gaps and prescribing limitations of Florida advanced registered nurse practitioners regarding opioids. Study results revealed statistically significant knowledge gaps in the areas of federal and state guidelines; opioid classes and proper doses; risk assessment skills; monitoring of treatment; and confidence in dealing with challenges of opioid prescribing.
