Discussion # 4

 There are three issues that may results from prescriptive authority of controlled substances in relation to Heather Alfonso case. These includes prescription of controlled substances for reasons other than related to ones professional practice, the promotion of controlled substances and prescription of substances that are controlled and in Schedule II listing without following the practitioners requirements in Pharmacy Practice Act. The nurse was alleged to have received kickbacks from the manufacturer of a controlled substance for speaking engagements which was violated the provision of not prescribing such substance for the purpose of promoting it (Chedekel, 2015). In addition, the nurse administered Schedule II drugs like Opioids without following the laid down procedures or requirements for such a prescription. She, therefore, prescribed the drugs for the reasons other than those related to her professional practice. The violation of the Pharmacy Practice Act by the nurse led to authorities’ withdrawal of federal and state licenses (Chedekel, 2015).

The APRN are not required to have physicians to co-sign orders and even their prescription for drugs or substances that have been controlled, and this seems to have led to the issues of violation of regulations that have been laid down on the same. However, prescribing authority is essential in caring for patients in different places including offices , homes and hospitals. The solution for such a case is to have an extent of prescription authority to be limited to physicians, since this primarily is the responsibility of the physicians (In Blair & In Mirr, 2015). In other cases, the leadership of under which the APRN operates should be offered more responsibility over the practices of the nurses to avoid such cases.

References

Chedekel , L., (2015).High-Prescribing Nurse Surrenders Drug Licenses. Retrieved from: http://c-hit.org/2015/04/06/high-prescribing-nurse-surrenders-drug-licenses/

In Blair, K. A., & In Mirr, J. M. P. (2015). Advanced practice nursing: Core concepts for professional role development.197-199