Advance for Nurse Practitioners Article and Blog

ADVANCE Voice: NP

Billboard Calls for Nurse Practitioner Awareness

Published February 10, 2010 3:59 PM by Jennifer Ford

The newly formed Florida Panhandle Nurse Practitioner Coalition (FPNPC) has put up a billboard that calls for NP awareness in the state. The billboard is posted on the eastbound lane of Interstate 10 at Ocesse Road in Jackson County, Fla. It shows two hands in handcuffs holding a stethoscope and reads "FL nurse practitioners handcuffed by outdated regulations." NPs in Florida still cannot prescribe controlled substances, and patients are suffering for it. FPNPC sent a copy of the artwork of their billboard to ADVANCE, and we'd like to share it here:

The group held its first meeting in November. Their Web site, www.fnpnpc.org, provides useful talking points for NPs to use when talking to legislators. FPNPC president Stan Whitaker, NP, wrote the following on the site:

It is estimated that every day hundreds of uninsured and Medicaid/Medicare patients must go to emergency rooms to get medications for cancer pain, anxiety, attention deficit disorder medication refills, cough medication with codeine, diarrhea medication, hormone replacement and pain medicine.

Why? Because these patients are cared for by advanced registered nurse practitioners, who are prohibited by an outdated state lawfrom prescribing these medications.

If, however Florida joined 48 other states in our nation and allowed advanced registered nurse practitioners to prescribe these medications,patients could get these same medications in the less costly clinic setting andsave untold dollars for the state budget and reduce indigent care cost tohospitals.

Currently, Senate Bill 188 and House Bill 677, which are sitting in the committees on Health Regulation, would lift this barrier for Floridians who need to receive that care, especially Floridians who live in rural underserved areas of our state.

This legislation would bring Florida up to national standards and join the 48 states that allow advanced practice nurses to prescribe controlled substances.

FPNPC will be participating in the rally scheduled for March 24 in Tallahassee to educate legislators about the need for NPs to prescribe controlled substances.

Posted by Jennifer Ford