The 1998 Curriculum Guidelines and Regulatory Criteria for family nurse practitioners seeking prescriptive authority: What should we be teaching nurse prescribers today?

Abstract

In order to prepare NPs of the future it is important to acknowledge the implications of increased autonomy, scope, and depth of practice that explicitly includes broad prescriptive authority.

Nurse Practitioners and Controlled Substances Prescriptive Authority: Improving Access to Care

“…It is important for nurse leaders to advocate for a comprehensive, national guideline that addresses prescribing practices so that nurse educators can prepare students to become safe prescribers anywhere they may work in Canada (Kaplan et al 2010). This approach has also been recommended in the United States, as there is a recognized need for nurse practitioner students to learn how to prescribe CS safely (Klein 2012).…”

“…NPs require ready access to these resources in their practice settings through, for example, an online resource such as UpToDate. Klein (2012) offers recommendations on ways in which pharmacology education for NPs in the United States might change to better reflect the current climate of prescription utilization, because there is an identified discrepancy between curricular design and actual regulatory requirements. For example, although prescription drug marketing directly to the public is illegal in Canada, in reality consumers have ready access to pharmaceutical advertising on US television stations, written materials and the Internet.…”

“…For example, although prescription drug marketing directly to the public is illegal in Canada, in reality consumers have ready access to pharmaceutical advertising on US television stations, written materials and the Internet. Evidence has shown that this exposure has influenced the purchasing and prescribing habits of Canadians (Klein 2012). Thus, NP students should be educated to understand the influences of pharmaceutical marketing and learn how to engage their clients in conversations with regard to safe and effective prescribing (Klein 2012).…”

“…Evidence has shown that this exposure has influenced the purchasing and prescribing habits of Canadians (Klein 2012). Thus, NP students should be educated to understand the influences of pharmaceutical marketing and learn how to engage their clients in conversations with regard to safe and effective prescribing (Klein 2012). In this way, client expectations are aligned with best prescribing practices.…”

“…Other areas of prescribing that are important in NP curricula include the practice of off-label prescription safety, compounding medications and ethnopharmacology, the study of how genetic and cultural factors influence the use of and response to pharmaceutical treatments (Klein 2012). The goal of education is to limit the impact of adverse effects of drugs.…”