Continuing Education and Development for Nurses
Controlled Drugs and Substance Act (CDSA)
What is CDSA:
The Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) is federal legislation. Mandatory education is one of the requirements of this legislation. RN(NP)s must successfully complete an education module in order to prescribe narcotics.
Continuing Nursing Education works with the Saskatchewan Registered Nurses' Association (SRNA), by offering the educational opportunity to prepare currently registered and out of province RN(NP)s for the exam required of the Nurse Practitioner category under the CDSA.
What do I need to do?
You will need to write an online exam after you have had time to study the materials. Materials will be sent to you, as well as instruction on how to access your exam online. You will need to obtain 80% in order to pass. The SRNA will then be notified and a certificate of completion will be sent to you. Please make sure that you allow yourself adequate time to study before writing the exam.
How much does it cost?
Printed Materials: $25.00 + $1.25 (GST) + $1.25 (PST)
DVD: $25.00 + $1.25 (GST) + $1.25 (PST)
Exam: $50.00 + $ 2.50 (GST)
TOTAL COST: $107.50
Course Outline:
A. Rationale for the current scheduling of drugs:
1. United Nations Drug Control Conventions
2. Canadian Food & Drugs Act and the Controlled Drugs & Substances Act – New Classes of Practitioners Regulations as they pertain to
nurse practitioners
3. The Saskatchewan Prescription Review Program: redundancies and differences in relation to the federal list
4. SRNA Prescriptive Bylaw for Nurse Practitioners: CDSA revisions
B. Maintaining the lists of controlled drugs (process):
1. On who's authority, for what reasons, and how often are the lists reviewed/revised?
2. Mechanisms for RN(NP) involvement in the process of getting drugs on or off the list
C. Rationale for inclusion of the drugs on the list:
1. Limit potential for drug misuse, abuse, or diversion for illicit use
2. Drugs with potential to compromise the health of individuals and society
3. Drugs that alter mental processes, some leading to psychological or physical dependence
i. narcotics: mu and kappa opioid receptor agonists (analgesic, antitussive, antidiarrheal)
ii. benzodiazepines and related GABA‐mediated chloride channel conductance modifiers (sedative, anxiolytic, hypnotic)
iii. amphetamines, their congeners and related stimulants (ADHD, appetite suppressants, narcolepsy)
iv. androgenic‐anabolic steroids
v. substances implicated in drug‐facilitated assault/sexual assaults
vi. natural and synthetic cannabinoids (appetite stimulants, analgesics, antiemetics, multiple sclerosis, Marijuana Medical Access
Regulations)
D. Implications for practice:
1. RN(NP)'s authority and responsibilities under the federal CDSA and provincial Prescription Review Program
i. prescription elements: provincial registration number, dispensing limits
ii. record keeping
iii. security
2. Policing of the regulations:
i. Oversight: Who's monitoring the possession/prescribing/dispensing/disposal of controlled drugs?
ii. Compliance: What are they watching for?
iii. Enforcement: What can they do about non‐compliance?
iv. Disclosure: high risk drugs and high risk patients: respect for privacy and duty to report
3. Clinical Expectations
How Do I Register?
Contact Christine Ashworth at: (306) 966-8360
Email: christine.ashworth@usask.ca orinfo.cedn@usask.ca