Advanced Practice Nurse Prescriptive Practice- Essential Principles

Module 1 Overview

Introduction

Prescriptive authority varies for advanced practice nurses from state to state, as well as their scope of practice and the meaning of the term “collaborative practice.” It is essential that the graduate level nurse understand the various intricacies of prescriptive ability at the APRN level. This week we will explore some of the topics related to prescriptive authority, evidence-based pharmacotherapeutic practice, and some essential principles of pharmacotherapy.

Learning Objectives

After completing this module, you will be able to:

Determine nursing prescriptive privileges, parameters and scope of practice, and restrictions as delineated in federal and state laws and regulations, including state nurse practice acts
Differentiate between therapeutic and adverse effects of pharmacological interventions and inappropriate use patterns, such as polypharmacy and polysubstance abuse interactions.
Evaluate common side effects and interactions associated with the major classes of drugs.
Describe innovative methods to collaborate with the interprofessional team in the treatment of skin disorders across the lifespan.

Reading & Resources

Read Chapters 1, 11-16 in Arcangelo, V. P., & Peterson, A. M. (2017). Pharmacotherapeutics for advanced practice: A practical approach (4th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Learning Activities

Introductions: Introduce yourself in the introductions forum.
Discussion: Participate in Discussion 1.
Assignment: Complete & Submit Assignment 1. Click on the Assignment 1 link for more details.

Discussion 1

Locate your state’s nurse practice act (NPA) and associated regulations governing prescribing by advanced practice nurses (CNPs, CRNAs, CNMs, CNSs). Answer and discuss the following in this forum:

Does your NPA require the APRN to have a collaborative agreement with a physician? Discuss whether you think the NPA should or should not require the APRN to have a collaborative agreement, and explain why/why not.
Does your NPA require the APRN to have a prescribing agreement with a physician? Discuss whether you think the NPA should or should not require the APRN to have a prescribing agreement, and explain why/why not.
Does your NPA permit APRNs to prescribe all classes (schedules) of medications? Discuss whether you think the NPA should or should not permit APRNs to prescribe all classes of medications, and explain why/why not.
Describe collaborative approaches to treating rashes across the lifespan. Should the CNP treat without a collaborator or consultant? Support your statements based upon evidence.