Nurse Standing Orders for Buprenorphine Follow-Up Care in a Community Health Center Network

Article Figures & Data

Table 1.

Survey of FQHC Nurses and Clinicians, April 2021, on the Buprenorphine Standing Order Protocols (BSP)

Questions	Responses
What is your role?	MD/DO/PA/NP: 24 (out of 41 possible respondents) RN: 7 (out of 36 possible respondents) Declined to specify: 1^†
Are you aware of the BSP?	Yes: 23, No: 9
(Of those who are aware of the BSP): Have you used the BSP, either authorizing them as a prescriber, or employing them to help a patient with a refill as a RN?	Yes: 15, No: 8
Do you have any safety concerns with the BSP? If so, please describe.	No: 100%

Respondents who have used the BSP (n=15) rated the following statements on a 5-item Likert scale:	Completely Agree	Somewhat Agree	Neutral	Somewhat Disagree	Completely Disagree
The BSP is effective at promoting a team-based care approach	66.7%	33.3%	0%	0%	0%
The BSP has increased patient access to buprenorphine refills	80%	13.3%	6.7%	0%	0%
The BSP increased my satisfaction providing care for patients with opioid use disorder^*	64.3%	21.4%	14.3%	0%	0%

Statements derived from the System Usability Scale:	Completely Agree	Somewhat Agree	Neutral	Somewhat Disagree	Completely Disagree
I would like to use the BSP frequently in my practice	53.3%	46.7%	0%	0%	0%
I find the BSP unnecessarily complex	6.7%	6.7%	13.3%	60%	13.3%
I find the BSP easy to use^*	35.7%	50%	7.1%	7.1%	0%
I think I need more support to use the BSP well^*	7.1%	21.4%	0%	21.4%	50%
I find the BSP to be clear, and algorithmic^*	35.7%	35.7%	28.6%	0%	0%
I think there is too much inconsistency with use of the BSP^*	7.1%	7.1%	35.7%	35.7%	14.3%
I imagine most people could learn to quickly use the BSP^*	21.4%	57.1%	21.4%	0%	0%
I find the BSP cumbersome to use^*	7.1%	0%	0%	21.4%	71.4%
I feel confident using the BSP^*	35.7%	42.9%	7.1%	14.3%	0%
I needed to learn a lot of things before I could use the BSP^*	7.1%	7.1%	14.3%	57.1%	14.3%

↵*Only 14 of 15 eligible respondents provided an answer.
^†This respondent reported being unaware of the protocols.
Abbreviations: FQHC, Federally qualified health centers; MD, Medical doctors; DO, Doctors of osteopathic medicine; PA, Physician assistants; NP, Nurse practitioners.