Does the DEA recognize nurses in long-term care as agents of the physician for C-III, IV, and V?

• A. No
• B. Yes
• C. Only for C-V
• D. Only with written authorization

Answer: (B)

Under DEA rules, an "agent" is someone who is employed by or under the control of a practitioner and is authorized to handle controlled substances as part of the practitioner’s professional practice. In long-term care, nurses who administer medications prescribed by a physician are acting within that physician’s supervision and treatment plan, which makes them the physician’s agents for C-III, IV, and V substances. The agent relationship comes from the employment and supervisory arrangement, not from needing separate written authorization each time. The physician remains responsible for the actions of the agent and for ensuring the nurse’s scope of practice is followed. So, the DEA does recognize nurses in long-term care as agents of the physician for these schedules.