NR565 Week 2 State Specific Guidelines for Prescribing Controlled Substances & Medical Devices

NR565 Week 2 State Specific Guidelines for Prescribing Controlled Substances & Medical Devices – Step-by-Step Guide

The first step before starting to write the NR565 Week 2 State Specific Guidelines for Prescribing Controlled Substances & Medical Devices, it is essential to understand the requirements of the assignment. The first step is to read the assignment prompt carefully to identify the topic, the length and format requirements. You should go through the rubric provided so that you can understand what is needed to score the maximum points for each part of the assignment. 

It is also important to identify the audience of the paper and its purpose so that it can help you determine the tone and style to use throughout. You can then create a timeline to help you complete each stage of the paper, such as conducting research, writing the paper, and revising it to avoid last-minute stress before the deadline. After identifying the formatting style to be applied to the paper, such as APA, you should review its use, such as writing citations and referencing the resources used. You should also review how to format the title page and the headings in the paper.

How to Research and Prepare for NR565 Week 2 State Specific Guidelines for Prescribing Controlled Substances & Medical Devices

The next step in preparing for your paper is to conduct research and identify the best sources to use to support your arguments. Identify the list of keywords from your topic using different combinations. The first step is to visit the university library and search through its database using the important keywords related to your topic. You can also find books, peer-reviewed articles, and credible sources for your topic from PubMed, JSTOR, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, and Google Scholar. Ensure that you select the references that have been published in the last words and go through each to check for credibility. Ensure that you obtain the references in the required format, for example, in APA, so that you can save time when creating the final reference list. 

You can also group the references according to their themes that align with the outline of the paper. Go through each reference for its content and summarize the key concepts, arguments and findings for each source. You can write down your reflections on how each reference connects to the topic you are researching about. After the above steps, you can develop a strong thesis that is clear, concise and arguable. Next you should create a detailed outline of the paper so that it can help you to create headings and subheadings to be used in the paper. Ensure that you plan what point will go into each paragraph.

How to Write the Introduction for NR565 Week 2 State Specific Guidelines for Prescribing Controlled Substances & Medical Devices

The introduction of the paper is the most crucial part as it helps to provide the context of your work, and will determine if the reader will be interested to read through to the end. You should start with a hook, which will help capture the reader’s attention. You should contextualize the topic by offering the reader a concise overview of the topic you are writing about so that they may understand its importance. You should state what you aim to achieve with the paper. The last part of the introduction should be your thesis statement, which provides the main argument of the paper.

How to Write the Body for NR565 Week 2 State Specific Guidelines for Prescribing Controlled Substances & Medical Devices

The body of the paper helps you to present your arguments and evidence to support your claims. You can use headings and subheadings developed in the paper’s outline to guide you on how to organize the body. Start each paragraph with a topic sentence to help the reader know what point you will be discussing in that paragraph. Support your claims using the evidence conducted from the research, ensure that you cite each source properly using in-text citations. You should analyze the evidence presented and explain its significance and how it connects to the thesis statement. You should maintain a logical flow between each paragraph by using transition words and a flow of ideas.

How to Write the In-text Citations for NR565 Week 2 State Specific Guidelines for Prescribing Controlled Substances & Medical Devices

In-text citations help the reader to give credit to the authors of the references they have used in their works. All ideas that have been borrowed from references, any statistics and direct quotes must be referenced properly. The name and date of publication of the paper should be included when writing an in-text citation. For example, in APA, after stating the information, you can put an in-text citation after the end of the sentence, such as (Smith, 2021). If you are quoting directly from a source, include the page number in the citation, for example (Smith, 2021, p. 15). Remember to also include a corresponding reference list at the end of your paper that provides full details of each source cited in your text. An example paragraph highlighting the use of in-text citations is as below:

The integration of technology in nursing practice has significantly transformed patient care and improved health outcomes. According to Smith (2021), the use of electronic health records (EHRs) has streamlined communication among healthcare providers, allowing for more coordinated and efficient care delivery. Furthermore, Johnson and Brown (2020) highlight that telehealth services have expanded access to care, particularly for patients in rural areas, thereby reducing barriers to treatment.

How to Write the Conclusion for NR565 Week 2 State Specific Guidelines for Prescribing Controlled Substances & Medical Devices

When writing the conclusion of the paper, start by restarting your thesis, which helps remind the reader what your paper is about. Summarize the key points of the paper, by restating them. Discuss the implications of your findings and your arguments. End with a call to action that leaves a lasting impact on the reader or recommendations.

How to Format the Reference List for NR565 Week 2 State Specific Guidelines for Prescribing Controlled Substances & Medical Devices

The reference helps provide the reader with the complete details of the sources you cited in the paper. The reference list should start with the title “References” on a new page. It should be aligned center and bolded. The references should be organized in an ascending order alphabetically and each should have a hanging indent. If a source has no author, it should be alphabetized by the title of the work, ignoring any initial articles such as “A,” “An,” or “The.” If you have multiple works by the same author, list them in chronological order, starting with the earliest publication. 

Each reference entry should include specific elements depending on the type of source. For books, include the author’s last name, first initial, publication year in parentheses, the title of the book in italics, the edition (if applicable), and the publisher’s name. For journal articles, include the author’s last name, first initial, publication year in parentheses, the title of the article (not italicized), the title of the journal in italics, the volume number in italics, the issue number in parentheses (if applicable), and the page range of the article. For online sources, include the DOI (Digital Object Identifier) or the URL at the end of the reference. An example reference list is as follows:

References

Johnson, L. M., & Brown, R. T. (2020). The role of telehealth in improving patient outcomes. Journal of Nursing Care Quality, 35(2), 123-130. https://doi.org/10.1097/NCQ.0000000000000456

Smith, J. A. (2021). The impact of technology on nursing practice. Health Press.

NR565 Week 2 State Specific Guidelines for Prescribing Controlled Substances & Medical Devices Instructions

Purpose

The purpose of this assignment is to provide the student with an opportunity to explore the most recent guidelines and recommendations in the student’s state of practice for pain management therapies and education; as well as to understand specific state regulations governing controlled substance prescriptions and medical devices. Have a look at NR565 Week 3 Collaboration Cafe Discussion.

Activity Learning Outcomes

Through this assignment, the student will demonstrate the ability to:

Identify and describe at least one current state specific guideline for pain management therapy and education.

Explore other organizations or pain initiatives that are offered by the state (if applicable) and federal bodies.

Describe state specific laws that apply to the authority to prescribe controlled substances and medical devices.

Explore the state’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP).

Preparing the Assignment:

The State Specific Guidelines for Prescribing Controlled Substances & Medical Devices assignment is worth 125 points and will be graded on the quality of required components as summarized in the directions and grading criteria/rubric.

Follow the directions and the grading criteria located in the rubric closely. Any questions about this assignment may be posted under the Q & A Forum or emailed to your faculty.

The document provided should be used and your answers provided within the table provided on this document

· Links to an external site..

· Sources/links should be obtained directly from the state’s regulatory organization(s).

· It is recommended that you keep a copy of this assignment to provide to potential employers or your Board of Nursing to demonstrate your knowledge of your state laws.

Requirements:

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:

Provide the name of your practicing state’s organization, group or task force that created guidelines or recommendations for pain management therapies and education.

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).

Some states have multiple organizations or initiatives (ex: Ohio) in place to combat the opioid epidemic and advocate for safer opioid prescribing. Explore whether 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 OR Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Discuss when the use of opioids is appropriate and for what duration should they be prescribed? Provide a reference for your response. (This question is worth 13 points. 5 points for when opioids are appropriate, 5 points for a safe duration of use, and 3 points for a current edition APA formatted reference.)

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:

Identify the law, rule, code, or statute that describes the advanced practice nurse’s authority to prescribe controlled substances in your state.

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?

State Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP):

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

Name of the state’s program.

Website for the state PMDP.

Discuss the registration requirements and process.

Discuss the standards and procedures for the access and review of database information.

State specific laws on medical devices prescribing for the nurse practitioner:

Research your state laws on advanced practice nurses’ authority to prescribe medical devices. These are also called Durable Medical Equipment (DME). Based on research done on the state where you will practice clinically, include the following:

Identify the law, rule, code, or statute that describes the advanced practice nurse’s authority to prescribe medical devices or DME in your state.

Discuss the provisions of the law, rule, code, or statute regarding the following:

Conditions or limits on prescribing medical devices or DME.

Requirements (if any) in documentation needed to support order of medical devices or DME.

Week 2 Template

Student Name:  Type your name here

State of Planned NP Clinical Practice:    Type your state here

Complete the following table with information specific to the state where you plan to practice as a nurse practitioner. Please refer to the rubric in the course to identify how much each prompt is worth.  Most are worth 5 or 6 points with one question being worth 10 points.  The 10 point question is noted in the table.

• Sources should be obtained directly from the state’s regulatory organization(s) and must be cited appropriately.
• 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.

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:
Provide the name of your practicing state’s organization, group or task force that created guidelines or recommendations for pain management therapies and education.	Organization, group, or task force name Type your answer here	Where you found this information (weblink): Paste the link here
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).	Overview of your state’s guideline development with web address. Type your answer here	Locate federal guidelines and provide a link to federal guidelines you could use in practice as a NP Paste the link here
Some states have multiple organizations or initiatives (ex: Ohio) in place to combat the opioid epidemic and advocate for safer opioid prescribing. Explore whether 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 OR Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.	Provide a brief overview of the group’s recommendations or initiatives (provide link to where you found information). Type your answer here	Provide a brief overview of the guidelines published by the American Pain Society OR Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (provide link to where you found information). Type your answer here
Discuss when the use of opioids is appropriate and for what duration should they be prescribed? Provide a reference for your response. (This question is worth 10 points. 4 points for when opioids are appropriate, 4 points for a safe duration of use, and 2 points for a current edition APA formatted reference.)	Type your answer here
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:
Identify the law, rule, code, or statute that describes the advanced practice nurse’s authority to prescribe controlled substances in your state.	Link to where you found law, rule, code, or statute for your state. Paste the link here	What does the law, rule, code, or statute say? Type your answer here
Discuss the provisions of the law, rule, code, or statute regarding the following:	Conditions or limits on prescribing schedule I-V controlled substances. Type your answer here	Requirements (if any) in documentation for treating acute and chronic pain. If your state has no requirements for this, confirm with a link of where you found this information. Type your answer here
Are there specific requirements for advanced practice nurses to reference the state’s prescription drug monitoring database before prescribing a controlled substance?	Yes or No Type your answer here	If yes, what are they? If not, how would they be helpful? Type your answer here
State Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP): Research your state’s PDMP* and provide the following information:
Name of the state’s program.	Type your answer here
Website for the state PMDP.	Type your answer here
Discuss the registration requirements and process.	Type your answer here
Discuss the standards and procedures for the access and review of database information.	Type your answer here
State specific laws on medical devices prescribing for the nurse practitioner: Research your state laws on advanced practice nurses’ authority to prescribe medical devices.  These are also called Durable Medical Equipment (DME).  Based on research done on the state where you will practice clinically, include the following:
Identify the law, rule, code, or statute that describes the advanced practice nurse’s authority to prescribe medical devices or DME in your state.	Link to where you found law, rule, code, or statute for your state regarding prescribing DME in your state.   Paste the link here	What does the law, rule, code, or statute say regarding prescribing DME in your state? Type your answer here
Discuss the provisions of the law, rule, code, or statute regarding the following:	Conditions or limits on prescribing medical devices or DME. Type your answer here	Requirements (if any) in documentation needed to support order of medical devices or DME. Type your answer here

NR565 Week 2 State Specific Guidelines for Prescribing Controlled Substances & Medical Devices Example

Student Name:  Type your name here

State of Planned NP Clinical Practice:    Virginia State

Complete the following table with information specific to the state where you plan to practice as a nurse practitioner. Please refer to the rubric in the course to identify how much each prompt is worth.  Most are worth 5 or 6 points with one question being worth 10 points.  The 10-point question is noted in the table.

• Sources should be obtained directly from the state’s regulatory organization(s) and must be cited appropriately.
• It is recommended that you keep a copy of this paper to provide to potential employers or your Board of Nursing to demonstrate your knowledge of your state laws.

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:
Provide the name of your practicing state’s organization, group, or task force that created guidelines or recommendations for pain management therapies and education.	Organization, group, or task force name Discuss when the use of opioids is appropriate and for what duration they should be prescribed   Virginia follows the guidelines and recommendations for pain management provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)	Where you found this information (weblink): https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.rr7103a1
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).	Overview of your state’s guideline development with web address. Virginia does not have its guidelines for pain management and instead relies on the guidelines provided by the CDC, a federal organization. The most recent CDC guidelines for pain management and prescribing opioids for outpatients aged 18 and over were published on November 4th, 2022, as an update to the CDC’s 2016 guidelines for prescribing opioids for chronic pain. These guidelines cover the management of acute, subacute, and chronic pain but do not apply to pain related to sickle-cell disease or cancer. The CDC used the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) framework to develop the guidelines, which are based on systematic reviews of the scientific evidence and take into account benefits and harms, patient and clinician values and preferences, and resource allocation. The CDC also received input from a range of groups, including the Board of Scientific Counselors of the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, the public, and peer reviewers. The CDC advises that the recommendations should not be used as inflexible standards of care for all patients but rather should be considered and adapted based on each patient’s unique circumstances.	Locate federal guidelines and provide a link to federal guidelines you could use in practice as an NP As a nurse practitioner, I would refer to the CDC guidelines on pain management in my practice. The guidelines can be accessed through the attached link. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.rr7103a1
Some states have multiple organizations or initiatives (ex: Ohio) in place to combat the opioid epidemic and advocate for safer opioid prescribing. Explore whether 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 OR Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.	Provide a brief overview of the group’s recommendations or initiatives (provide a link to where you found information). In recognition of the negative impact of the opioid epidemic on health and communities, Virginia has developed a valuable resource called the Virginia Framework for Addiction Analysis and Community Transformation (FAACT). In 2019, FAACT was named the best in its class among the Government Innovation Awards (Bittner, 2020). FAACT is a data platform that combines datasets from various organizations, including law enforcement, the judiciary, and the healthcare system, to provide insights into the factors contributing to opioid abuse and to develop effective strategies for addressing the epidemic. The data collected includes information on opioids, criminal activity, and illegal drug use. By analyzing this data, first responders can gain a better understanding of the patterns of opioid abuse in their communities and develop targeted interventions to prevent and reduce abuse (Bittner, 2020). For example, data visualization may reveal that drug abusers in a particular county are more likely to use drugs on certain days of the week. If this pattern is identified, officials can plan outreach initiatives or other interventions for those specific days to try to prevent opioid abuse (Bittner, 2020). Additionally, the data can be used to improve treatment for those struggling with opioid addiction. Suppose the data show that there is a link between childhood trauma and later drug addiction. In that case, healthcare providers can use this information to make recommendations to help prevent future addiction and misuse of opioids.	Provide a brief overview of the guidelines published by the American Pain Society OR Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (provide a link to where you found information). The CDC recommends considering the following when prescribing opioids for pain management: deciding whether or not to initiate treatment with opioids, choosing appropriate opioids and dosages, determining the length of the initial prescription, and evaluating the risks and potential harms of opioid use. These recommendations can be found on the CDC’s website. https://www.cdc.gov/opioids/patients/guideline.html
Discuss when the use of opioids is appropriate and for what duration should they be prescribed. Provide a reference for your response. (This question is worth 10 points. 4 points for when opioids are appropriate, 4 points for a safe duration of use, and 2 points for a current edition APA formatted reference)	The CDC recommends a cautious approach to the use of opioids for pain management. For acute pain, the CDC recommends that healthcare providers try non-pharmacological interventions and non-opioid medications first, and only consider using opioids in cases of Severe traumatic injuries, such as crush injuries and burns (Dowell et al., 2022). Invasive surgeries associated with moderate to severe postoperative pain (Dowell et al., 2022). Severe acute pain where nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or other therapies are contraindicated or are likely to be ineffective (Dowell et al., 2022). Opioids may also be considered for the management of subacute and chronic pain, but the CDC advises that the benefits and risks of using opioids in these cases should be carefully weighed. The CDC recommends that healthcare providers evaluate the benefits and harms of opioid therapy within 1 to 4 weeks of starting the medication and re-evaluate the benefits and harms of continued therapy with patients every 3 months or more frequently (Dowell et al., 2022). If the benefits of using opioids do not outweigh the risks, the CDC advises healthcare providers to optimize other therapies and work with patients to taper their opioid doses or discontinue the medications. However, the CDC advises against abrupt discontinuation of opioids, as this can lead to acute withdrawal symptoms, serious psychological distress, exacerbation of pain, and thoughts of suicide. Instead, the CDC recommends a gradual tapering process to minimize these risks.
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:
Identify the law, rule, code, or statute that describes the advanced practice nurse’s authority to prescribe controlled substances in your state.	Link to where you found law, rule, code, or statute for your state. https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title54.1/chapter29/section54.1-2957.01/	What does the law, rule, code, or statute say? The law titled 54.1-2957.01. Prescription of certain controlled substances and devices by licensed nurse practitioners” outlines several provisions related to the prescribing authority of nurse practitioners in Virginia. According to the law, licensed nurse practitioners (NPs) have the authority to prescribe schedule II through schedule VI controlled substances and devices. NPs who do not meet the requirements for practice without a written or electronic practice agreement must prescribe controlled substances or devices only if such prescribing is authorized by a written or electronic practice agreement with a patient care team physician or if the NP is licensed as a clinical nurse specialist, with a licensed physician. The law also directs the Boards of Medicine and Nursing to promulgate regulations governing the prescriptive authority of NPs as necessary to ensure an appropriate standard of care for patients. There are no limits on the functions and procedures of certified RN anesthetists or NPs who are otherwise authorized by law or regulation. Additionally, the law includes restrictions on NPs who are authorized to prescribe drugs and devices, including the requirement to disclose their NP status to patients at the initial encounter and the requirement that physicians do not serve as patient care team physicians for more than six NPs at a time.   The information was obtained from the Virginia General Assembly website and the link to the source is provided on the left.
Discuss the provisions of the law, rule, code, or statute regarding the following:	Conditions or limits on prescribing schedule I-V controlled substances. According to Virginia state law, nurse practitioners who are licensed to practice have the authority to prescribe Schedule II through Schedule VI controlled substances and devices (Virginia General Assembly, 2023a)	Requirements (if any) in the documentation for treating acute and chronic pain. If your state has no requirements for this, confirm with a link to where you found this information. The Virginia state law on the treatment of acute pain with opioids includes provisions on the initiation of opioid treatment for patients with acute pain, including the use of short-acting opioids and limits on the supply of controlled substances containing opioids that can be prescribed. The law also requires practitioners to consider and document the reasons for prescribing doses of opioids that exceed 50 MME per day and to consult with a pain management specialist or document reasonable justification for doses exceeding 120 MME per day (Virginia General Assembly, 2023b). The law also requires the prescription of naloxone for certain patients at risk of overdose and limits the co-prescribing of opioids with certain other medications due to the increased risk of fatal overdose (Virginia General Assembly, 2023c). Buprenorphine is generally not indicated for acute pain in the outpatient setting, except in cases where a prescriber with a SAMHSA waiver is treating a patient with a primary diagnosis of addiction. When treating patients with chronic pain, Virginia state law requires healthcare practitioners to consider non-pharmacologic and non-opioid treatment options before prescribing opioids. When initiating and treating with opioids, practitioners must carefully consider and document the reasons for prescribing doses exceeding 50 MME per day, consult with a pain management specialist or document reasonable justification for doses exceeding 120 MME per day, prescribe naloxone for certain patients at risk of overdose, and document the rationale for continuing opioid therapy every three months (Virginia General Assembly, 2023b). Buprenorphine mono-product in tablet form is not to be prescribed for chronic pain, and co-prescribing of opioids with certain other medications is generally not allowed due to the increased risk of fatal overdose. Practitioners must also regularly evaluate patients for opioid use disorder and initiate treatment, consult with an appropriate healthcare provider, or refer the patient for evaluation and treatment if indicated.
Are there specific requirements for advanced practice nurses to reference the state’s prescription drug monitoring database before prescribing a controlled substance?	Yes, or No Yes	If yes, what are they? If not, how would they be helpful? In Virginia, advanced practice nurses and other practitioners who are authorized to prescribe controlled substances are required by law to register with and use the state’s Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) database when prescribing controlled substances. This includes consulting the PMP before prescribing a controlled substance to a patient for the first time, before prescribing a controlled substance for the treatment of chronic pain, and before prescribing a controlled substance for a patient who is receiving a prescription for a benzodiazepine or an opioid (Virginia Prescription Monitoring Program, 2021). For patients receiving a controlled substance prescription for chronic pain, practitioners must also consult the PMP at least once every 90 days unless the prescription is for a schedule III or schedule IV controlled substance that is not an opioid (Virginia Prescription Monitoring Program, 2021)
State Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP): Research your state’s PDMP* and provide the following information:
Name of the state’s program.	Virginia Department of Health Professions Prescription Monitoring Program
Website for the state PMDP.	Login – VA PMP AWA℞E (pmpaware.net)
Discuss the registration requirements and process.	To complete the registration process, the following requirements and procedures are followed Complete the PMP registration form: Practitioners can request a PMP registration form by contacting the PMP at 877-473-4858 or by visiting the PMP website at Login – VA PMP AWA℞E (pmpaware.net) Submit the completed form: Practitioners should submit the completed form to the PMP by email, fax, or mail. Wait for approval: Once the PMP receives the completed registration form, it will review the form and determine whether the practitioner is eligible to register. If the practitioner is approved, the PMP will send a notification with instructions on how to access the PMP database. Activate the account: Once the practitioner receives the notification from the PMP, they can follow the instructions provided to activate their account and begin using the PMP database.
Discuss the standards and procedures for the access and review of database information.	Access to the Virginia Department of Health Professions PMP database is restricted to authorized practitioners who are registered with the PMP and meet certain requirements, such as being licensed to prescribe controlled substances in Virginia and having a DEA registration number or a Virginia-specific controlled substances registration number. To access and review the database, practitioners must follow certain procedures and maintain the confidentiality of the information contained within it. The PMP may also conduct audits and reviews of practitioners’ use of the database to ensure compliance with laws and regulations.
State-specific laws on medical devices prescribing for the nurse practitioner: Research your state laws on advanced practice nurses’ authority to prescribe medical devices.  These are also called Durable Medical Equipment (DME).  Based on research done on the state where you will practice clinically, include the following:
Identify the law, rule, code, or statute that describes the advanced practice nurse’s authority to prescribe medical devices or DME in your state.	Link to where you found law, rule, code, or statute for your state regarding prescribing DME in your state. https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title54.1/chapter29/section54.1-2957.01/	What does the law, rule, code, or statute say regarding prescribing DME in your state? According to Virginia state law, advanced practice nurses have the authority to prescribe medical devices or durable medical equipment (DME) in addition to Schedule II to Schedule VI controlled substances.
Discuss the provisions of the law, rule, code, or statute regarding the following:	Conditions or limits on prescribing medical devices or DME. The law requires advanced practice nurses to meet certain requirements to prescribe controlled substances or devices, including entering into a written or electronic practice agreement with a patient care team physician or licensed physician.	Requirements (if any) in documentation needed to support the order of medical devices or DME. There are no specific requirements for documentation to support the ordering of medical devices or DME in Virginia

References

Bittner, J. (2020, February 27). How Virginia communities fight the opioid epidemic. GCN. https://gcn.com/data-analytics/2020/02/how-virginia-communities-fight-the-opioid-epidemic/291177/

CDC. (2022, November 2). Summary of the 2022 clinical practice guideline for prescribing opioids for pain. Cdc.gov. https://www.cdc.gov/opioids/patients/guideline.html

Dowell, D., Ragan, K. R., Jones, C. M., Baldwin, G. T., & Chou, R. (2022). CDC clinical practice guideline for Prescribing Opioids for pain – United States, 2022. Recommendations and Reports: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 71(3), 1–95. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.rr7103a

Virginia General Assembly. (2023a). § 54.1-2957.01. Prescription of certain controlled substances and devices by licensed nurse practitioners. Virginia.gov. https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title54.1/chapter29/section54.1-2957.01/

Virginia General Assembly. (2023b). 18VAC85-21-70. Treatment of chronic pain with opioids. Virginia.gov. https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title18/agency85/chapter21/section70/

Virginia General Assembly. (2023c). 18VAC90-40-160. Treatment of acute pain with opioids. Virginia.gov. https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title18/agency90/chapter40/section160/

Virginia Prescription Monitoring Program. (2021). 2021 annual report Virginia prescription monitoring program. Virginia.gov. https://www.dhp.virginia.gov/media/dhpweb/docs/pmp/reports/PMPAnnual_2021.pdf