[brian]

FRANKFORT - The House gave final passage today to a bill that would let advanced registered nurse-practitioners prescribe drugs even though an Eastern Kentucky lawmaker warned that it would exacerbate a drug epidemic in the mountains.
Senate Bill 65, sponsored by Sen. Gary Tapp, R-Shelbyville, would allow nurse-practitioners to write limited prescriptions for painkillers including OxyContin, morphine and methadone.
Rep. Mary Lou Marzian, D-Louisville, said she expects Gov. Ernie Fletcher to sign the bill into law. Forty-six states allow registered nurse-practitioners to write prescriptions, and the Kentucky bill has the support of the Kentucky Medical Association, the Kentucky Nurses Association and the Kentucky Pharmacy Association, she said.
The bill would cover about 2,200 advanced registered nurse-practitioners and about 700 nurse-anesthetists in Kentucky. A registered nurse-practitioner generally have a master's degree in nursing.

more: http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/13898644.htm

[mmurphy]

In most states, and for many years nurse practitioners have been writing prescriptions. In some states they are not permitted to write scripts for controlled substances.

[Nurse4TI]

I live in Mississippi and here Nurse practioners have been writing prescriptions.They cannot write controlled substances presciptions .

[cadillac05]

What a denigrating statement that Advanced Practice Nurses would contribute to a drug abuse problem anywhere!