In November 2023, the Arizona State Board of Nursing suspended the license of nurse practitioner Phillip Schafer due to concerns over public safety stemming from his improper use of a potent sedative, ketamine. The nursing board found seven occasions in which Schafer had acted outside of his scope of practice by ordering IV ketamine treatments for patients he had diagnosed with treatment-resistant depression without first collaborating with a specialist mental health provider. The board also found Schafer had prescribed controlled substances such as Oxycodone and Percocet to his employees without properly documenting it and that he admitted to forging a colleague's name on a nursing note after a patient reacted poorly to ketamine.

Schafer's nurse practitioner license is suspended until he undergoes psychological evaluation, passes multiple drug tests, enrolls in a substance abuse recovery program, and meets other specific requirements. If he meets these conditions within a year, he can practice probationally and under close monitoring for 36 months.

If you are a nurse practitioner accused of improper use of controlled substances or are otherwise facing disciplinary measures from your state nursing board, call the Lento Law Firm today and speak with a member of our Professional License Defense Team. We have years of experience helping nurses and other medical professionals across the country protect their rights and reputations and defend their livelihoods. Call the Lento Law Firm at 888-535-3686 today or contact us online.

Nurse Practitioners and Ketamine

Nurse practitioners are highly respected healthcare professionals with a broad range of medical privileges and responsibilities. However, NPs may only provide services within their own scope of practice, which is defined by state law. When confronted with a case beyond their expertise, most states require the NP to consult or collaborate with physicians or other qualified healthcare professionals to ensure the patient's safety and well-being.

Administering ketamine (or certain other controlled substances) may be within a nurse practitioner's scope of practice but the state board may set specific requirements that the practitioner must meet, including being properly trained to administer ketamine and being registered with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Ketamine is a potent Schedule 3 Drug sometimes used as a sedative and general anesthetic by hospitals and paramedics. Recently, some healthcare practices have begun using lower doses of ketamine to treat patients with mental illnesses, including depression. Because the drug can have very serious adverse effects, health professionals who administer it must have substantial training and experience. In addition, prescribing these or any drugs must occur within a professional relationship where the NP has examined the patient and properly recorded the treatment.

If you fail to follow these rules and requirements, your board may discipline you by imposing a civil penalty or a public reprimand, putting you on probation, suspending or revoking your license, or taking other disciplinary actions.

The Lento Law Firm's Professional License Defense Team Can Help

State laws regarding the handling of ketamine by a nurse practitioner are often not as straightforward as they should be. In the effort to serve your patients well, it can be all-too-easy to misinterpret the law and suddenly find yourself in trouble with the board.

If the board is investigating you for using controlled substances such as ketamine in your nursing practice, you need the Lento Law Firm's Professional License Defense Team to protect your reputation, livelihood, and everything you've worked so hard for. We have ample experience helping licensed professionals nationwide save their careers and reputations. Call us today at 888-535-3686 or contact us online so we can ensure you are treated fairly and help you achieve the best outcome possible.