The following is a message from the College of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CRNA):
The CRNA’s Prescribing Standards for Nurse Practitioners is currently undergoing review as outlined in Section 133 of the Health Professions Act. The CRNA recognizes that practice needs evolve and aims to be a responsive regulator serving the public interest.
While the review of Prescribing Standards for Nurse Practitioners is ongoing, the CRNA’s nurse practitioner (NP) registrants are not prohibited from prescribing anabolic steroids (beyond testosterone) as supported by Subsection 56(1) of Class Exemption for Nurse Practitioners to Prescribe Anabolic Steroids for Therapeutic Use. If NPs adhere to competent prescribing of anabolic steroids in appropriate practice settings, the CRNA will not regard this as a breach of the NP prescribing standards during the interim period.
What does this mean for pharmacy teams?
It means that, subject to a pharmacist’s assessment, prescriptions for anabolic steroids written by nurse practitioners may be accepted while CRNA’s standards are under review.
ACP will communicate to pharmacy teams once CRNA’s new standards are approved and in effect.
