Controversy in the Nursing Profession: NPs and the Right to Write Prescription Medications, Essay Example

Abstract

The controversy surrounding the expansion of the role of Nurse Practitioner is a controversy that both sides hold strong beliefs about whether it be the proponents or opponents of the expansion of NP roles.  This brief study examines the work of Beaulieu (2010) entitled “Expanding Roles of Nurse Practitioners Stir Controversy” as well as examining the work of Anne Zieger which examines the issue of NPs in the state of Florida and their battle for the right to prescribe medications – a battle against the Florida Medical Association.

Introduction

The controversy surrounding the expansion of the role of Nurse Practitioner is a controversy that both sides hold strong beliefs about whether it be the proponents or opponents of the expansion of NP roles.  This brief study examines the work of Beaulieu (2010) entitled “Expanding Roles of Nurse Practitioners Stir Controversy” as well as examining the work of Anne Zieger which examines the issue of NPs in the state of Florida and their battle for the right to prescribe medications – a battle against the Florida Medical Association.

The Controversy

There is a great deal of controversy in the nursing profession in relation to the role of nurse practitioners  undergoing expansion. The role expansion of NPs is credited to have occurred as a matter of necessity and this is emphasized in the work of Beaulieu (2010) in which stated is that 28 U.S. states are presently giving consideration to expansion fo the role of nurse practitioners for the purpose of:

“…fill[ing] the void left by physician shortages.” (p. 1) Beaulieu reports that the difference “between NPs and physicians is not a matter of qualifications, but rather approach…[in that]…NP practice is based on the nursing model of care – not the medical model. Nursing teaches us that we should not reduce human beings to mere signs and symptoms, place a disease label on someone, give them a pill and send them off.” (Beaulieu, 2010, p. 1)

Variation in State Laws

State laws are varied as to what the NPs can and cannot do. Examples stated are: (1) in Montana NPs do not need a doctor involved with their practice in any way; (2) NPs in the states of Florida and Alabama are under prohibitions from prescribing controlled substances; and (3) recent legistlation in Maryland states there is presently an eed for NPs to collaborate with physicians but does however, shorter the process of credentialing to approximately one month. (Beaulieu, 2010, p. 1)

NPs Battle for Right to Write

Zieger (2009) writes that even thought the legislature in the state of Florida has filed a bill for the past 14 years straight that w2ould allow NPs to write prescriptions for medication, “resistance from the Florida Medical Association has helped to shoot it down each and every time.” (p. 1) NPs in the state of Florida state a dogged determination to get the bill passed this time and state that if it does not pass they are likely to “file a restricvtin of trade lawsuit against the medical association.” (Zieger, 2009, p. 1) NPs stated that they presently spend in excess of eight hours each week tracking down physicians to procure prescriptions for patients. In addition, for those individuals hwo reside in rural areas and the uninsured who utilize free clinics, the attending physician is generally in the form of a NP who has to send patients to hospital emergency rooms if the patient is in need of a controlled medication. According to NPs in the state of Florida, physicians do not want them to write prescriptions for patients because the physicians are threatened and feel that they may suffer a loss of income however, physicians hodl that NPs simply should  not write prescriptions due to their lack of experience.

Summary and Conclusion

Because there is such a shortage in physicians as compared to the population of individausl who require the services of a physician and because of the nursing shortage, the ability of NPs to write prescription medication will likely result in savings in terms of time, costs, and even savings in terms of human life. For those in rural areas the ability of NPs to write prescription medications means that they will receive the effective treatment necessary to address their health issues much quicker which wil serve to mitigate other health care complications due to lack of expediently delivered treatment because patients are required to wait several days  of beginning their medication which will only serve to lengthen the recovery time of these patients. NPs should be provided the capacity to write medication prescriptions toward the end of expediting and optimizing health care services.

References

Zieger, Anne (2009)FL Nurse Practitioners Fight for Right to Prescrbe Controlled Substances. Fierce Healthcare. 4 Mar 2009. Retrieved from:  http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/fl-nurse-practitioners-fight-right-prescribe-controlled-substances/2009-03-04

Beaulieu, Debra (2010) Expanding Roels of Nurse Practitioners Stir Controversy. Fierce Healthcare. 14 Apr 2010. Retrieved from: http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/expanding-roles-nurse-practitioners-stir-controversy/2010-04-14