Preparing the Paper:

1. The State Specific Guidelines for Prescribing Controlled Substances paper is worth 50 points and will be graded on the quality of the content, use of citations, use of Standard English grammar, sentence structure, and overall organization based on the required components as summarized in the directions and grading criteria/rubric.
2. Submit the paper as a Microsoft Word Document, which is the required format at Chamberlain University. You are encouraged to use the APA Academic Writer when creating your assignment.
3. Follow the directions below and the grading criteria located in the rubric closely. Any questions about this paper may be posted under the Q & A Forum or emailed to your faculty.
4. The length of the paper should be 2-4 pages, excluding title page and reference page(s). The title and reference pages should be in APA format.
5. Sources should be obtained directly from the state’s regulatory organization(s) and must be cited appropriately.
6. It is recommended that you keep a copy of this paper to provide to potential employers or your Board of Nursing in order to demonstrate your knowledge of your state laws.

Requirements:

I. Guidelines and recommendations for your state:

In response to the opioid epidemic, individual states have developed and adopted voluntary guidelines or recommendations for the treatment of acute and chronic non-cancer pain. Based on research done on the state where you will practice clinically, include the following:

1. Provide the name of your practicing state’s organization, group or task force that created guidelines or recommendations for pain management therapies and education.
2. Briefly describe an overview of its development and include a web address where this information can be found. If your state does not have guidelines, discuss a federal guideline. (Note: you may need to contact your state’s board of nursing, pharmacy or medicine if you cannot locate it on your own).
3. Some states have multiple organizations or initiatives (ex: Ohio) in place to combat the opioid epidemic and advocate for safer opioid prescribing. Discuss whether or not your state has other resources, groups or organizations where prescribers can reference best practices for pain management treatment. If applicable, provide a brief overview of the group’s recommendations or initiatives. If your state does not have another state-specific resource, discuss the guidelines published by the American Pain Society.

II. State specific laws on controlled substance prescribing for the nurse practitioner:

Research your state laws on advanced practice nurses’ authority to prescribe controlled substances. Based on research done on the state where you will practice clinically, include the following:

1. Identify the law, rule, code or statute that describes the advanced practice nurse’s authority to prescribe controlled substances in your state.
2. Discuss the provisions of the law, rule, code or statute with regard to the following:
   • Conditions or limits on prescribing schedule I-V controlled substances.
   • Requirements (if any) in documentation for treating acute and chronic pain.
   • Are there specific requirements for advanced practice nurses to reference the state’s prescription drug monitoring database before prescribing a controlled substance?  If so, what are they?

III. State Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP):

Research your state’s PDMP* and provide the following information:

1. Name of the state’s program.
2. Website for the state PMDP.
3. Discuss the registration requirements and process.
4. Discuss the standards and procedures for the access and review of database information.

Solution:

Guidelines and Recommendations for Kentucky

As the opioid crisis increasingly dominates, most of the states are enacting rules relating to prescribing opioids. Similarly, guidelines for the treatment of acute pain have also been developed. In Kentucky, Kentucky’s Controlled Substances Act guides the prescription of a controlled substance. For instance, the law, HB 333, which was effective in 2017 was implemented to ensure that  Schedule II drugs are limited to a 3-day supply in case prescription intends to treat pain as an acute medical condition (Office of the Drug Control Policy,  2020). However, the prescriber may exceed three day supply if the pain is from cancer diagnosis,  for hospice, or end-of-life treatment. The ODCP was established in 2004 to help in coordinating the State response to…Please click the icon below to purchase full solution at $10