N677 Study Guide for the Controlled
Substances Examination Guide
Based on your research from your planned practice state, what drugs and devices can
NPs prescribe, furnish, or order? - answerIn California, NPs can prescribe, furnish, or
order Schedule II through Schedule V controlled substances. However, NPs must
obtain a furnishing license through the CA BRN and a DEA number through the United
States Drug Enforcement Administration before having furnishing authority to prescribe
controlled substances. One of the requirements for a furnishing license is that NPs must
complete a BRN approved course for Schedule II Controlled Substance
In your planned practice state, do you need to be supervised to prescribe? Yes or No? -
answerIn California, NPs require physician supervision for prescriptive authority.
If applicable in your state, what is the "physician supervision" description and
requirements for the NP's ability to prescribe, furnish or order? - answerNurse
practitioners and supervising physicians will need to establish a standardized protocols
for what drugs and devices, including controlled substances, that nurse practitioners
can prescribe to patients. This collaboration takes into account the competency of the
practitioners, the scope of practice, and the current standardized protocols. Physicians
do not need to be physically present, but supervising physicians should be available for
consultation if needed during patient encounter
What are the requirements of furnishing (prescribing) controlled substances in your
planned practice state? - answerIn California, nurse practitioners are required to have a
furnishing license from the Board of Registered Nursing and a DEA number to
prescribed controlled substances. Nurse practitioners must complete an approved
course about Schedule II controlled substances in order to apply for a furnishing license
from the BRN and a DEA number. With both furnishing license and DEA number, NPs
can prescribe controlled substances, Schedule II to V.
Are there any limitations or guidelines about or of controlled substances mentioned in
your state's practice regulations for NP's? If so, what are those limitations? - answerThe
only limitations are the ones set by the supervising physicians in the standardized
protocols
What is the NP required to do if allowed to distribute pharmaceutical samples in your
state? Is there a specific procedure your state requires you to follow? - answerIn
California, certified furnishing NPs are allowed to request, accept, and distribute
pharmaceutical samples as long as it is within the specifications of the standardized
protocols that are agreed upon with the supervising physicians. Nurse practitioners
, must have a protocol for patient follow-up if they are prescribing pharmaceutical
samples to their patients (General Information: Nurse Practitioner
What does the licensing body in your state say about the NP offering patient education
related to prescribing drugs, if anything? - answerCalifornia Board of Registered
Nursing states that appropriate education about the drugs must be provided to patient
before furnishing the drugs (Criteria for furnishing number, n.d.). Patient education
includes the purpose of the drugs, expected side effects, and adverse effects of the
drugs. Nurse practitioners should provide information on the treatment plans including
laboratory studies and follow ups.
Nurse Practitioner Prescriptive Authority - answer"The American Association of Nurse
Practitioners® (AANP) recognizes that the scope and practice of a nurse practitioner
(NP) includes prescribing. Prescribing is not a distinct act outside of or differentiated
from NP practice. It is the position of AANP that NP prescriptive authority be solely
regulated by state boards of nursing and in accordance with the NP role, education and
certification. The authorization of NPs to prescribe legend and controlled medications,
devices, health care services, durable medical equipment and other equipment and
supplies is essential to providing timely, cost-effective, quality health care."
What are 3 common side effects from opioid medications? - answerConstipation,
drowsiness, nausea, and vomiting, itching, respiratory depression, confusion
Can Nurse Practitioners furnish drugs or devices to family members or friends? -
answerAn NP, however, should never prescribe controlled substances for himself or
herself or for family members, as it is expressly illegal in many states.
Prescribing controlled substances and other legend drugs for self and family raises
many ethical questions. Prescribing for self and family member has inherent risks
related to lack of objectivity. Effort should be made to discuss the condition with the
collaborating physician.
Even if it is not expressly illegal under many state laws to prescribe a controlled
substance for a family member, it is always inadvisable. Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA) numbers are specific to a practice setting, so an NP who
prescribes a controlled substance for a family member who does not come to the
practice setting may be violating 2 laws.
Certified NPs who hold active furnishing licenses and valid DEA registration numbers
can furnish/order controlled substances from what schedules? - answerIn CA,
The amended B&P Code Section 2836.1 extends the NPs' furnishing authority to
include Schedule II through V controlled substance furnished or ordered that can be
considered the same as an order initiated by the physician. The NP must obtain a DEA
registration number to furnish Schedule II through V.
Substances Examination Guide
Based on your research from your planned practice state, what drugs and devices can
NPs prescribe, furnish, or order? - answerIn California, NPs can prescribe, furnish, or
order Schedule II through Schedule V controlled substances. However, NPs must
obtain a furnishing license through the CA BRN and a DEA number through the United
States Drug Enforcement Administration before having furnishing authority to prescribe
controlled substances. One of the requirements for a furnishing license is that NPs must
complete a BRN approved course for Schedule II Controlled Substance
In your planned practice state, do you need to be supervised to prescribe? Yes or No? -
answerIn California, NPs require physician supervision for prescriptive authority.
If applicable in your state, what is the "physician supervision" description and
requirements for the NP's ability to prescribe, furnish or order? - answerNurse
practitioners and supervising physicians will need to establish a standardized protocols
for what drugs and devices, including controlled substances, that nurse practitioners
can prescribe to patients. This collaboration takes into account the competency of the
practitioners, the scope of practice, and the current standardized protocols. Physicians
do not need to be physically present, but supervising physicians should be available for
consultation if needed during patient encounter
What are the requirements of furnishing (prescribing) controlled substances in your
planned practice state? - answerIn California, nurse practitioners are required to have a
furnishing license from the Board of Registered Nursing and a DEA number to
prescribed controlled substances. Nurse practitioners must complete an approved
course about Schedule II controlled substances in order to apply for a furnishing license
from the BRN and a DEA number. With both furnishing license and DEA number, NPs
can prescribe controlled substances, Schedule II to V.
Are there any limitations or guidelines about or of controlled substances mentioned in
your state's practice regulations for NP's? If so, what are those limitations? - answerThe
only limitations are the ones set by the supervising physicians in the standardized
protocols
What is the NP required to do if allowed to distribute pharmaceutical samples in your
state? Is there a specific procedure your state requires you to follow? - answerIn
California, certified furnishing NPs are allowed to request, accept, and distribute
pharmaceutical samples as long as it is within the specifications of the standardized
protocols that are agreed upon with the supervising physicians. Nurse practitioners
, must have a protocol for patient follow-up if they are prescribing pharmaceutical
samples to their patients (General Information: Nurse Practitioner
What does the licensing body in your state say about the NP offering patient education
related to prescribing drugs, if anything? - answerCalifornia Board of Registered
Nursing states that appropriate education about the drugs must be provided to patient
before furnishing the drugs (Criteria for furnishing number, n.d.). Patient education
includes the purpose of the drugs, expected side effects, and adverse effects of the
drugs. Nurse practitioners should provide information on the treatment plans including
laboratory studies and follow ups.
Nurse Practitioner Prescriptive Authority - answer"The American Association of Nurse
Practitioners® (AANP) recognizes that the scope and practice of a nurse practitioner
(NP) includes prescribing. Prescribing is not a distinct act outside of or differentiated
from NP practice. It is the position of AANP that NP prescriptive authority be solely
regulated by state boards of nursing and in accordance with the NP role, education and
certification. The authorization of NPs to prescribe legend and controlled medications,
devices, health care services, durable medical equipment and other equipment and
supplies is essential to providing timely, cost-effective, quality health care."
What are 3 common side effects from opioid medications? - answerConstipation,
drowsiness, nausea, and vomiting, itching, respiratory depression, confusion
Can Nurse Practitioners furnish drugs or devices to family members or friends? -
answerAn NP, however, should never prescribe controlled substances for himself or
herself or for family members, as it is expressly illegal in many states.
Prescribing controlled substances and other legend drugs for self and family raises
many ethical questions. Prescribing for self and family member has inherent risks
related to lack of objectivity. Effort should be made to discuss the condition with the
collaborating physician.
Even if it is not expressly illegal under many state laws to prescribe a controlled
substance for a family member, it is always inadvisable. Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA) numbers are specific to a practice setting, so an NP who
prescribes a controlled substance for a family member who does not come to the
practice setting may be violating 2 laws.
Certified NPs who hold active furnishing licenses and valid DEA registration numbers
can furnish/order controlled substances from what schedules? - answerIn CA,
The amended B&P Code Section 2836.1 extends the NPs' furnishing authority to
include Schedule II through V controlled substance furnished or ordered that can be
considered the same as an order initiated by the physician. The NP must obtain a DEA
registration number to furnish Schedule II through V.
