Describe the role of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as it pertains to the PMHNP.

Describe the role of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as it pertains to the PMHNP.

Safe Prescribing

There is probably no greater responsibility that the psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner assumes than the responsibility of prescribing medications. While someone can be harmed by psychotherapy, the level and intensity of the harm generally does not come to the same level of harm that can occur from improper prescribing. The PMHNP must understand his/her responsibility both at a state and federal level when it comes to prescribing medications.

In this Assignment, you will explore the legalities associated with prescribing controlled substances, as well as what a DEA number is, how to obtain one, and, most importantly, how to prescribe controlled substances in your state (Texas).

Learning Objectives: Students will:

Analyze roles of the Drug Enforcement Administration

Analyze PMHNP responsibilities when issued a DEA number

Analyze DEA number application procedures

Analyze state requirements for safe prescribing and prescription monitoring

Analyze PMHNP responsibilities for safe prescribing and prescription monitoring

Analyze Schedule II-V drug levels

To prepare for this:

Review the Learning Resources.

The Actual Assignment: Write a 3 page paper in which you do the following:

Describe the role of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as it pertains to the PMHNP.

Explain your responsibilities when having a DEA number.

Explain how you apply for a DEA number.

Explain Texas state’s requirements for a safe prescribing and prescription monitoring program. Explain your responsibility as a PMHNP to follow these requirements.

Provide an example of a drug you may prescribe from each of the Schedule II-V drug levels.

REFERENCES (Any additional references should be from 2015 to present)

Sadock, B. J., Sadock, V. A., & Ruiz, P. (2014). Kaplan & Sadock’s synopsis of psychiatry: Behavioral sciences/clinical psychiatry (11th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer.

Stahl, S. M. (2014). Prescriber’s Guide: Stahl’s Essential Psychopharmacology (5th ed.). New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. 

Drug Enforcement Administration. (n.d.). Drug schedules. Retrieved June 14, 2016, from https://www.dea.gov/druginfo/ds