The Florida Nurse Practitioner Coalition has named state Sen. Michael Bennett, R-Bradenton, "Legislator of the Year" for his support of Florida nurse practitioners and their patients.
During the 2009 legislative session, Bennett sponsored a bill, Senate Bill 426, that would allow nurse practitioners to prescribe controlled substances.
Florida is one of only two states where nurse practitioners cannot prescribe controlled substances, according to Cindy Drew, president of the Sarasota Council of Advanced Practice Nurses.
“This is well within the typical scope of practice in all states except Florida and Alabama,” she said.
Even a Florida Senate report in 2009 recommended that nurse practitioners be given the ability to prescribe controlled substances, she said.
“As a geriatric nurse practitioner, I treat patients with chronic debilitating diseases and patients at the end of life who require controlled substances for pain relief,” said Drew. “I hope that patients will very soon no longer have to wait for necessary treatment.”
Sara
Thursday, August 6, 2009
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Good for Bennett. He's doing the right thing. I'm glad for the nurses
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