- (1) Patients twenty-five years of age or under. In the treatment of pain for patients twenty-five years of age or under, the advanced registered nurse practitioner shall treat pain in a manner equal to that of an adult but must account for the weight of the patient and adjust the dosage prescribed accordingly.
- (2) Pregnant patients. Use of medication assisted treatment (MAT) opioids, such as methadone or buprenorphine, by a pregnant patient shall not be discontinued without oversight by the MAT prescribing practitioner. The advanced registered nurse practitioner shall weigh carefully the risks and benefits of opioid detoxification during pregnancy.
- (3) Aging populations. As people age, their tolerance and metabolizing of opioids may change. The advanced registered nurse practitioner shall consider the distinctive needs of patients who are sixty-five years of age or older and who have been on chronic opioid therapy or who are initiating opioid treatment.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.79.800 and 2017 c 297. WSR 18-20-086, § 246-840-4950, filed 10/1/18, effective 11/1/18.]