Nurse practitioners get small victory toward expanded powers in FL

Several bills working their way through the Florida Legislature would give nurse practitioners the ability to prescribe stronger medications and clarify other duties. A second Senate committee has approved a bill that spells out the ability of highly trained nurses, known as practitioners, toorder controlled substances in the hospital. Senator Denise Grimsley, R-Sebring, is a registered nurse who sponsors the bill. She gave the Senate Finance and Tax committee a brief explanation about prescribing versus ordering. "Prescribe is when a prescription is written and taken to the pharmacy. Order is when it's ordered in the hospital," Grimsley explained.