Free CE Session: FDA Upscheduling of Hydrocodone and the Effect on Nurse Practitioner’s Pain Management Practices

The CE session video will remain available until November 13, 2019.

Advanced practice registered nurses are expert clinicians who take a comprehensive approach to healthcare, using clinical expertise to diagnose and treat health conditions in primary, acute and specialty care settings with a focus on disease prevention and health management. The APRN’s scope of practice varies by state, with autonomous practice in only 24 states. These clinicians have lobbied for a unified Consensus Model for independent practice across the United States allowing them to practice to their full educational level. A recent change in narcotic medication scheduling has created yet another barrier for APRNs.

Early in 2013 the FDA advisory committee determined that hydrocodone-combination medications needed tighter regulation due to their high abuse potential and recommended upscheduling HCMs from Schedule III to II. This phenomenological research study examined the upscheduling of HCMs and its effect on APRNs’ pain-management practices. Themes identified were barriers to effective pain management, APRN regulation, and alternative therapies. Sub-themes included increased referrals, limited treatment options, increased healthcare costs, on-site physicians, regulatory practice, and complementary and interventional medicine.

Similar research studies should be conducted, focusing on the pain-management practices of APRNs while regulating agencies work together to transform these practices. It is important that APRNs educate the public and other healthcare providers on the importance of consistent APRN regulations in each state.

This activity is approved for 3.0 contact hour(s) of continuing education (which includes 3.0 hours of pharmacology) by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. Activity ID 17092840. This activity was planned in accordance with AANP CE Standards and Policies.

To view the CE session, please click the play button below:

The CE session video will remain available until November 13, 2019. All FNU alumni, students, faculty, preceptors and friends are invited to participate in this CE session.

Once you have viewed the session, you must complete the post-test and evaluation in order to receive credit for your contact hours. Please click the button below to access the post-test and evaluation. If you have questions about completion of the activity or the form provided below, please contact Angela.Bailey@frontier.edu.

Post-test and Evaluation

This CE session is sponsored by the Frontier Nursing University Alumni Association. If you would like to support the Alumni Association and future programs like this, please make a donation today by clicking the button below.

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Speakers

Rachel Mack

Rachel Mack, PhD, DNP, APRN, C-FNP, CNE is an assistant professor at Frontier Nursing University and has been a nurse practitioner for seven years. She received her PhD and DNP from Oklahoma City University and her MSN from Frontier Nursing University. Her clinical experience focuses on rural primary health care and prescription drug abuse. Today, Dr. Mack spends the majority of her time teaching at Frontier Nursing University. In her free time she enjoys reading cozy mysteries and snuggling with her cats.