TY - JOUR
T1 - Nurse independent prescribing and nurse supplementary prescribing practice
T2 - National survey
AU - Courtenay, Molly
AU - Carey, Nicola
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2008 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2008/2
Y1 - 2008/2
N2 - Aim. This paper is a report of a survey to provide an overview of nurse independent prescribing and nurse supplementary prescribing across the United Kingdom. Background. Evidence examining the frequency of prescribing by nurses is conflicting, and it is evident that several factors hamper prescribing practice. As of May 2006, legislative changes gave appropriately qualified nurses virtually the same independent prescribing right as doctors. However, there is currently no evidence available about the prescribing practices of these nurses. Method. A random sample of 1992 qualified Nurse Independent/Nurse Supplementary Prescribers registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council was sent a postal questionnaire in 2006. A total of 1400 (70%) questionnaires were returned, of which 1377 were completed. Findings. Eight hundred and ninety-one (65%) respondents worked in primary care, and 333 (24·3%) worked in secondary care. Three quarters of the sample had more than 5-year clinical experience in the area in which they prescribed prior to entering the prescribing programme. One thousand one hundred and seven (87%) participants had used nurse independent prescribing and 568 (44·6%) nurse supplementary prescribing. Restriction of local arrangements, implementation of the Clinical Management Plan and access to doctors hampered or prevented prescribing. Conclusion. The adoption of prescribing by nurses in the United Kingdom has increased patient choice with regard to access to medicines. A number of factors which hamper or prevent prescribing require further exploration.
AB - Aim. This paper is a report of a survey to provide an overview of nurse independent prescribing and nurse supplementary prescribing across the United Kingdom. Background. Evidence examining the frequency of prescribing by nurses is conflicting, and it is evident that several factors hamper prescribing practice. As of May 2006, legislative changes gave appropriately qualified nurses virtually the same independent prescribing right as doctors. However, there is currently no evidence available about the prescribing practices of these nurses. Method. A random sample of 1992 qualified Nurse Independent/Nurse Supplementary Prescribers registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council was sent a postal questionnaire in 2006. A total of 1400 (70%) questionnaires were returned, of which 1377 were completed. Findings. Eight hundred and ninety-one (65%) respondents worked in primary care, and 333 (24·3%) worked in secondary care. Three quarters of the sample had more than 5-year clinical experience in the area in which they prescribed prior to entering the prescribing programme. One thousand one hundred and seven (87%) participants had used nurse independent prescribing and 568 (44·6%) nurse supplementary prescribing. Restriction of local arrangements, implementation of the Clinical Management Plan and access to doctors hampered or prevented prescribing. Conclusion. The adoption of prescribing by nurses in the United Kingdom has increased patient choice with regard to access to medicines. A number of factors which hamper or prevent prescribing require further exploration.
KW - Medicines management
KW - National survey
KW - Nurse independent prescribing
KW - Nurse supplementary prescribing
KW - Questionnaire
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U2 - 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2007.04512.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2007.04512.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 18197863
AN - SCOPUS:38149049828
SN - 0309-2402
VL - 61
SP - 291
EP - 299
JO - Journal of Advanced Nursing
JF - Journal of Advanced Nursing
IS - 3
ER -