Code of Maine Rules
02 - DEPARTMENT OF PROFESSIONAL AND FINANCIAL REGULATION
380 - STATE BOARD OF NURSING
Chapter 8 - REGULATIONS RELATING TO ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED NURSING
Section 380-8-6 - General Regulations Relating to Prescriptive and Dispensing Authority for Certified Nurse Practitioners, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists and Certified Nurse-Midwives

(1) minimum of 200 hours of practice in an expanded specialty role within the preceding 2 years; and

(2) 45 contact hours (or 3 credits) of pharmacology equivalent to the requirements setforth in Section 6(3)(A) and (B).

(1) applicable federal/state laws;

(2) prescription writing;

(3) drug selection, dosage and route;

(4) drug interactions;

(5) information resources; and

(6) clinical application of pharmacology related to specific scope of practice.

a. Advanced practice registered nurses should not provide medical treatment or prescribe medications to any individual with whom they have a close personal relationship, except as provided in Section 6(4)(G)(c) in an established clinical relationship.

b. Treatment of an individual shall be based on a bona fide practitioner-patient relationship. This includes obtaining informed consent, performing and documenting a history and physical exam, creation and maintenance of appropriate medical records, providing follow-up care, and referral to specialty consultation (if applicable).

c. Certified nurse practitioners and certified nurse-midwives may not prescribe medications to themselves, family members, or friends unless the prescribing occurs in an emergency where there is no other qualified practitioner available to treat the patient. In this circumstance, the advanced practice registered nurse is expected to meet all standards of care including the documentation of the individual's history, exam assessment, and plan (including the reason for the emergency prescription). Certified nurse practitioners and certified nurse mid-wives are strongly discouraged from prescribing controlled substances to self, family, or friends under any circumstances. Certified registered nurse anesthetists are limited to the prescriptive authority provided by 32 M.R.S.A. 22113 ) E and Section 7(1) C.

d. Failure to follow these rules may be grounds for discipline by the Board.

(1) prescribing, dispensing, administering, or distributing drugs not listed in the formulary;

(2) prescribing, dispensing, administering, or distributing drugs for other than therapeutic or prophylactic purposes;

(3) prescribing or distributing drugs to individuals who are not clients of the certified nurse practitioner, certified registered nurse anesthetist, or certified nurse-midwife or who are not within that nurse's specialty area of certification;

(4) prescribing, dispensing, administering, or distributing drugs in an unsafe manner or without adequate instructions to clients according to acceptable and prevailing standards of practice;

(5) selling, purchasing, trading, or offering to sell, purchase, or trade drug samples; or

(6) failing to inform the client that s/he has the freedom to select the source from which prescriptions may be filled.