I attended the Kentucky Coalition of NP & NM seminar in Bowling Green, Kentucky on Friday. The topic was prescribing controlled substances. There were over 200 nurses present at the conference. The speakers included staff from the Kentucky Board of Nursing, Office of Inspector General, Louisville Drug Diversion Squad, and more.
The conference was okay. It was a three and half hour drive to and from from the Cincinnati area. It was a long drive however I am glad that I attended. Not because it was an excellent seminar but because the seminar confirmed a point I see everyday in my law practice.
As an attorney who represents, counsels, and advises individual nurses I thought it was unbalanced presentation from regulatory and law enforcement officials. The seminar focused on the responsibilities of ARNPs related to controlled substance prescriptions but not the rights of ARNPs in regulatory and law enforcement investigations. Why not include a session on managing the risks associated with controlled substance prescriptions and ARNP practice?
Professional associations like the KCNPNM advocate for the profession which includes individual members. I think its "nice" when members from regulatory and law enforcement agencies speak at these seminars however there should be limits so attendees can view these presentations in the proper perspective.
Is this one of the reasons why nurses in general represent themselves in regulatory investigations if contacted by the board of nursing, office of inspector general, or office of attorney general? Is this one of the reasons why nurses do not invoke the right to counsel when questioned by law enforcement agents in workplace investigations related to suspected criminal conduct?
The role of a regulatory agency like the board of nursing and office of inspector general is to protect the public, the role of law enforcement agency is to enforce laws and regulations, and the role of the attorney general is to investigate and prosecute violations of the law. Please contrast this with the role of a nursing professional association which is to advocate for the best interests of the profession and its membership. Conference planners need to keep this in mind when developing seminars for ARNPs across the country.
Maybe its just me.....
Comments