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Sarasota County Nurse Practitioners (SCNP) February 2026 Newsletter

Posted 20 days ago by Sandra Macsweeney in Newsletter

                                                                       

Dear SCNP Members & Florida NPs,

Did you know that independent (autonomous) practice registration for APRNs is free? Yes—there is no application fee for registering as an Autonomous Advanced Practice Registered Nurse in Florida! If you meet the eligibility requirements (e.g., 3,000 supervised clinical hours in the past 5 years, graduate-level coursework in differential diagnosis and pharmacology, no recent disciplinary actions), apply today.

Download the official paper application or access it via the MQA Online Services Portal:

We encourage eligible members to pursue this—it's a key step toward full practice authority and opening or expanding your practice and the profession in general.

Welcome to February! We hope you had a restorative start to the year and are ready for an exciting season of advocacy, education, and connection.

Florida Legislative & State Updates

The 2026 Florida Legislative Session (Jan 13 – Mar 13) is underway. Key bills to watch:

  • SB 138 – Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Autonomous Practice
  • Ongoing efforts to expand full practice authority and remove barriers for NPs

Upcoming CE Conferences

Las Vegas 2026 AANP National Conference June 23–27, 2026 | The Venetian Resort, Las Vegas, NV

  • Largest national NP conference with 330+ sessions
  • Up to 32 contact hours available
  • In-person + on-demand access

Orlando NPAC 2026 – National Conference for Nurse Practitioners in Acute Care March 4–8, 2026 | Hyatt Regency Orlando

FNPN Annual Conference 2026 August 6–8, 2026 | Signia by Hilton Orlando (Disney World area) “Shaping the Future: A Whole New World of Care”

Education Corner: Recent DEA & FDA Medication Alerts

DEA Update (Dec 31, 2025): Telemedicine flexibilities for prescribing Schedule II–V controlled substances (including buprenorphine for OUD) extended through December 31, 2026. Audio-video and audio-only options remain available under current rules.

Key FDA Warnings (2025):

  • Opioid pain medications: Updated labeling on risks of long-term use, dependence, and withdrawal.
  • ADHD stimulants (extended-release): New warning on serious weight loss risk in children younger than 6 years.
  • Transderm Scōp (scopolamine patch): Added warning for serious heat-related complications (hyperthermia, heat stroke) in hot environments.
  • Leqembi (lecanemab) for Alzheimer’s: Recommendation for earlier, more frequent MRI monitoring due to ARIA risk.

Stay vigilant—review full alerts on FDA.gov and DEA.gov.

                                                                 

Special Announcement: Florida Group Trip to AANP Las Vegas 2026

We are organizing a Florida NP Group Trip to the 2026 AANP National Conference in Las Vegas (June 23–27)!

  • Shared-room options available to significantly reduce hotel costs at The Venetian Resort
  • Group travel planning, networking events, and coordinated registration support
  • Great opportunity to attend the largest NP conference together while saving money

If interested, please reply to this email at sandra@pcp-health.com by April 15.

Member Poll – Get Involved!

We want to hear from you! Please respond to this quick poll and send an email to sandra@pcp-health.com.

  1. Would you like to get involved in the NP Association Christmas/Holiday Committees? □ Yes □ No □ Maybe
  2. Would you like to get involved in the Legislation/Advocacy Committees? □ Yes □ No □ Maybe

Your participation helps us build stronger events and stronger advocacy!

Thank you for your continued commitment to advancing NP practice in Florida and Sarasota County. We look forward to seeing you at our next monthly meeting (second Tuesday, starts at 6:00 PM) Please check announcements for location.

Warm regards,

Sandra MacSweeney, MHA, FNP-C, PMHNP-C

President, Sarasota County Nurse Practitioners