Topic: Policy Analysis Paper

Order Description Policy Brief SB 210 Farah G. Bustes Nova Southeastern University Health Care Policy/ NSG 5130 Issue Summary Florida State Senate bill SB 210 wants to allow advanced-practice nurse practitioners (APRNs) and physician assistants (PAs) to prescribe controlled substances to patients. Physicians have long lobbied against expanded drug-prescribing powers for APRNs. In addition, this bill also seeks to apply existing penalties for violations related to the dispensing or prescribing of controlled substances by APRNs and PAs. This bill also includes a provision that recommends a formulary of controlled substances that APRNs would not be able to prescribe or could prescribe only for very specific uses or in limited quantities. Background Florida State Senate Bill SB 210 is yet to be entitled and is sponsored by Senator Denise Grimsley (R) representing District 21. For years Physicians have been strongly opposed to the expansion of drug-prescribing powers for APRNs and PAs. Now, with there being such a shortage of Physicians, it has become necessary at times that APRNs help in offering services usually reserved for Physician which is an undertaking that doctors have come strongly against (Mason, Leavitt & Chafee, 2014). The bill was filed on November 1, 2015 and on November 15, 2015 it was referred to Health Policy; Banking and Insurance; Rules. The stakeholders of this bill are APRNs, PAs, and healthcare patients. Alternatives To allow and fund extra training courses for APRNs that will help prepare them and give them additional training that will allow them to function at the same level as physicians. Engage doctors in an amicable manner and ask them to offer extra training to APRNs and ask them to share professional experiences and evaluate them on a standard program (Grimsley, 2015) The government to come up with bills and policies that will promote and redefine the health practitioners and nurses docket through the healthcare system (Mason, Leavitt & Chafee, 2014) Advantages Nurse practitioners being able to prescribe narcotics will contribute to efficient and effective patient care and will also improve the quality of the continuity of care. More importantly, this would allow NPs to make the most out of their professional skills, increase their autonomy and it would help save time for both medical practitioners and their patients (Gielen, Dekker, Francke, Mistaen, & Kroezen, 2014). Disadvantages The possible conflict between APRNs and physicians may compromise the quality of healthcare (Mason, Leavitt & Chafee, 2014). Recommendation I recommend that APRNs should be allowed to prescribe controlled substances because they are already trained to do so and this would help alleviate a physician shortage and will also improve patient access to services and relieve pressure on physicians thereby preserving limited medical resources for the most seriously ill patients. Nurse practitioners need to maintain awareness of the issues relating to prescribing narcotics to ensure they remain updated and contribute to the development of the role (Creedon, Byrne, Kennedy, & McCarthy, 2015). References Gielen, S., Dekker, J., Francke, A., Mistiaen, P., and Kroezen, M. (2014). The effects of nurse prescribing: A systematic review. International Journal of Nursing Studies. Retrieved October 29, 2015, from http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2013.12.003 McCarthy, S., Kennedy, J., Byrne, S., and Creedon, R., (2015). The impact of nurse prescribing on the clinical setting. MA Healthcare Limited, 24(17), 878-885. Retrieved October 29, 2015, from http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxylocal.library.nova.edu/ehost/detail/detail?vid=3&si d=b8b5bb6b-f11c-4811-8039-a91b9972f559%40sessionmgr4001&hid=4214&bda Grimsley, S. (2015). Florida Senate. Retrieved from, http://m.flsenate.gov/session/bill/2016/0210/billtext/filed/pdf Mason, D., Leavitt, J. & Chafee, M. (2014). Policy & Politics in Nursing and Health Care. New York: Elsevier Health Sciences