"An Act relating to the administration of prescribed remedies and dietary supplements by a nurse. "

HB 467 will give Registered Nurses licensed in Alaska the authority to administer prescribed remedies or dietary supplements within the manufacturers' recommended dosage when certain requirements are met. We believe the current Board of Nursing policy is too restrictive and the intention of this bill is to allow nurses to administer prescribed remedies and dietary supplements when they believe it is safe and appropriate to do so.

Due to the Board of Nursing determination that "it is outside of the scope of practice for nurses to administer remedies that are not FDA approved," nurses who desire to provide the requested patient care are prevented from administering these prescribed remedies. We believe the decision by the Board of Nursing ignores the patients' preference, undermines doctors' power to prescribe and treat patients, and frustrates the desire of the institutions to provide a patient service under reasonably controlled circumstances.

Legislative Research Report # 06.139 concluded in its research, that of the 13 states that responded to its request for information, none replied that it was always outside the scope of practice for nurses to administer dietary supplements. Some states provide guidelines for nurses to consider before administration of non FDA-approved prescribed dietary supplements. This legislation will bring Alaska into the mainstream.

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