Can an NP prescribe Ativan in North Carolina?

Yes — North Carolina NPs may prescribe Ativan (lorazepam), a Schedule IV controlled substance, when it is within their population focus and the prescribing authority in their collaborative practice agreement.¹²³

For Schedule IV prescribing, the NP must have active North Carolina NP approval with prescriptive authority, DEA authority, and a primary supervising physician whose controlled-substance authority is equal to or greater than the NP’s DEA registration.² The prescription also must be consistent with the NP’s education, national certification, competence, and scope.¹ Controlled-substance prescriptions must include the NP’s DEA number and be documented in the patient record.

North Carolina NPs may not prescribe controlled substances for themselves, their supervising physician, immediate family members, household members, or intimate partners. The STOP Act Schedule II/III targeted opioid rules are not a general benzodiazepine limit.