Controlled substances diversion (CSD) is a risk for any organization that prescribes, stores, dispenses, or administers controlled substances. CSD can lead to patient safety issues, including inadequate patient pain relief, harm to the nurse, and a significant liability risk to the organization. The American Nurses Association estimates that 6% to 8% of nurses have a substance abuse problem that impacts their practice. Some contributing factors to the issue of CSD include the global pandemic, nurses with easy access to medications, and lack of intravenous product standardization. A multidisciplinary approach to reduce the risk of CSD should include drug diversion prevention, diversion program standards and policies, and monitoring and reporting procedures. Strategies to promote diversion prevention include dose sizes that eliminate waste and use of pre-filled syringes in ready-to-administer (RTA) form. RTA medications are recommended by The Joint Commission, the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), and the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation (APSF). In this session, we will discuss the issue of CSD, contributing factors, prevention methods, and monitoring and reporting programs. 

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the learner will be able to:
• Discuss the prevalence and contributing factors to CSD.
• Describe the impact of CSD upon patients, clinicians, and the organization.
• Identify strategies to promote diversion prevention, including RTA medications and dose sizes.
• Discuss CSD prevention policies, standards, monitoring and reporting programs.

CRNI® RUs: This session has been approved for 2 CRNI® recertification units and meets the non INS Meeting criteria.

Contact Hours: This session has been approved for 1 contact hour

Expiration date for receipt of contact hours: May 8, 2027

To receive contact hours for this educational activity, you are required to attend the entire educational activity and complete the evaluation.

The Infusion Nurses Society is approved as a provider of continuing nursing education by the California Board of Registered Nursing, provider #CEP14209. The certificate must be retained by the attendee for a period of 4 years.