According to the Pearson Report, there are a total of 147,295 nurse practitioners in the United States (Pearson, 2009). However, for NPs in some states, the battle continues over certain forms of prescribing authority or physician involvement in NP prescribing, such as in the state of Pennsylvania. State regulatory approaches to prescribing NPs range from no prescribing authorization (in Georgia, legislation passed in 2006 recognizes NPs as prescribers, but the rules had not been approved at the time of writing of this article) to an unfettered prescribing authority (Arizona, DC, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming) (Lugo, O'Grady, Hodnicki, & Hanson, 2007). Lugo et al. (2007) writes that NPs in 47 states can prescribe controlled substances, although some states restrict prescribed quantities or place additional restrictions on prescribing NPs. In 4 states (Alabama, Florida, Hawaii, and Missouri), NP prescribing capacity is limited to legendary medications (no controlled substances), with or without restrictions. In 42 states, the name of the prescribing NP must remain on all medication bottles, while in 6 states, regulations do not allow the name of the prescribing NP to remain on the label. The latter situation creates a patient safety violation because neither the pharmacist nor the patient can easily access or determine the prescriber. According to Pennsylvania Code, Section 18.54, the restrictions on CRNP prescribing and dispensing practices are that a CRNP may script control substances, but limited to a 72-hour dose. The CRNP must notify the collaborating doctor as soon as possible but in no case later than 24 hours. Additionally, they can write for a Schedule III or IV controlled substance, but limited to 30 days...... middle of paper ...... R. & Hanson, CM (2007). NPRegulation State Rankings: Practice Environment and Consumer Choice in Health Care. The AmericanJournal for Nurse Practitioners. 11(4), 17-18, retrieved May 19, 2009 from http://www.webnp.net/images/ajnp_april07_article.pdfPearson, GS (2009). Global prescription: a transition. Perspectives on psychiatric care. 45(1),1-2. Pearson, L.J. (2009). American Journal for Nurse Practitioners: The Pearson Report (2009)13(2) Accessed May 12, 2009 http://www.webnp.net/downloads/pearson_report09/ajnp_pearson09.pdfPlager, KA & Conger, MM (2007). Advanced practice nursing: constraints on role performance. The Internet Journal of Advanced Nursing Practice. 9(1)U.S. Nurse Practitioner Prescribing Act: State-by-State Summary: Medscape Nurses (2002)4(2) Accessed April 14, 2009 http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/440315_print