New Mexico Nurse-Midwives' Controlled Substance Prescribing and Monitoring Practices

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Pharmacology
• Nursing Practice

Background:

• New Mexico faces high opioid overdose deaths, necessitating PMP use for prescribers.
• Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs) are authorized to prescribe controlled substances in New Mexico.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the utilization frequency of the state Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) by CNMs.
• To identify the purposes for which CNMs use the PMP.
• To understand barriers to optimal PMP use among CNMs.

Main Methods:

• Anonymous online survey distributed to all licensed CNMs in New Mexico (N=210).
• Data collected on CNM demographics, practice characteristics, and controlled substance prescribing.
• Analysis of PMP registration and self-reported usage patterns.

Main Results:

• 77% of surveyed CNMs provide direct clinical care; 97% are registered in the PMP.
• 90% of clinical CNMs prescribe controlled substances.
• Significant underutilization of PMP features, including self-reports and patient alerts, with some CNMs rarely checking the PMP before prescribing.

Conclusions:

• Most New Mexico CNMs are registered with the PMP, but usage patterns indicate suboptimal engagement.
• Further education on PMP best practices is required for CNMs.
• Development of best practice guidelines for monitoring CNM controlled substance prescribing is recommended.