Independent extended and supplementary nurse prescribing practice in the UK: A national questionnaire survey (original) (raw)

Nurse and pharmacist supplementary prescribing in the UK--A thematic review of the literature

Health Policy, 2008

Objectives Supplementary prescribing (SP) represents a recent development in non-medical prescribing in the UK, involving a tripartite agreement between independent medical prescriber, dependent prescriber and patient, enabling the dependent prescriber to prescribe in accordance with a patient-specific clinical management plan (CMP). The aim in this paper is to review, thematically, the literature on nurse and pharmacist SP, to inform further research, policy and education. Methods A review of the nursing and pharmacy SP literature from 1997 to 2007 was undertaken using searches of electronic databases, grey literature and journal hand searches. Results Nurses and pharmacists were positive about SP but the medical profession were more critical and lacked awareness/understanding, according to the identified literature. SP was identified in many clinical settings but implementation barriers emerged from the empirical and anecdotal literature, including funding problems, delays in practicing and obtaining prescription pads, encumbering clinical management plans and access to records. Empirical studies were often methodological weaknesses and under-evaluation of safety, economic analysis and patients’ experiences were identified in empirical studies. There was a perception that nurse and pharmacist independent prescribing may supersede supplementary prescribing. Conclusions There is a need for additional research regarding SP and despite nurses’ and pharmacists’ enthusiasm, implementation issues, medical apathy and independent prescribing potentially undermine the success of SP.

Barriers to extended nurse prescribing among practice nurses

Community Practitioner, 2010

Practice nurses are defined as those nurses who work in general practices and are employed by GPs. This includes nurses who have gained further qualifications and are working as nurse practitioners and minor illness specialist nurses. Despite the success of nurseled services in primary care, the move into extended nurse prescribing has not been as high as predicted. A questionnaire survey of all 251 practice nurses in one southern English county was conducted in order to ascertain current roles and responsibilities, prescribing qualifications (both actual and planned), and perceived barriers to acquiring a nurse independent prescriber qualification.

Benefits and challenges of nurse prescribing

2004

Benefits and challenges of nurse prescribing Background. Since 1999, all health visitors and district nurses in the United Kingdom (UK) have received additional education to permit their registration as independent prescribers from a limited list of medicinal products. Little research has investigated how more than 20 000 health visitor and district nurse prescribers have implemented their new role since the evaluation of the pilot sites. Aims. The aims of the study were to describe prescribing practices of health visitors and district nurses, the factors (contextual and professional) which enable and facilitate nurse prescribing, and views about the Nurse Prescribers' Formulary. Method. A mail survey was conducted of all health visitors and district nurses working in three trusts in southern England. A 74% response rate was achieved (n ¼ 91). Findings. Most respondents prescribed less than three times a week, with district nurses prescribing significantly more than health visitors (P £ 0AE001). Over twothirds of the sample found nurse prescribing at least moderately helpful to their professional role and over four-fifths reported that they were more than moderately confident nurse prescribers. A range of information sources was identified as helpful, regarding both new products and for continuing educational needs. Over two-thirds reported that the current Nurse Prescribers' Formulary did not cover their prescribing needs, and a number of factors were identified as hindering prescribing. Most respondents said that their general practitioner/primary care team was at least moderately supportive of their prescribing role. Limitations. The survey was conducted in three primary care trusts in southern England, which may be unrepresentative of trusts elsewhere in UK.

Evaluating prescribing competencies and standards used in nurse independent prescribers' prescribing consultations

Journal of Research in …, 2007

Background: The number of nurses able to independently prescribe medicines in England has risen steadily in recent years. Aim: To evaluate the adequacy of nurses' educational preparation for independent prescribing and to describe nurses' experiences of their continuing professional development as prescribers in practice. Design and method: Postal questionnaire survey. Participants: Random sample of 246 nurses registered as nurse independent prescribers with the Nursing and Midwifery Council. Results: The majority of nurses considered that the initial taught course element of their education programme met their needs, either to some extent (61% 151/246), or completely (22% 54/246). Most nurses (77% 190/246) received the specified 12 days support from their supervising medical practitioner and most were satisfied and positive about this experience. Nearly all of the nurses (>95%) reported that they were able to maintain a range of specified prescribing competencies in 0260-6917/$ -see front matter c (J. Maben), m.myall@soton.ac.uk (M. Myall), ajy5@soton.ac.uk (A. Young).

Evaluating nurse prescribers' education and continuing professional development for independent prescribing practice: Findings from a national survey in England

Nurse education today, 2007

Pharmacist supplementary prescribing: A step toward more independence?

Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy, 2011

Background: Supplementary prescribing (SP) is a drug therapy management model implemented in the United Kingdom since 2003. It is a voluntary partnership between an independent prescriber; a supplementary prescriber, for example, nurse or pharmacist; and the patient, to implement an agreed patient-specific clinical management plan (CMP). Objective: To investigate pharmacist prescribers' views and experiences of the early stages of SP implementation. Methods: A qualitative, longitudinal study design was used. A purposive, maximum variability sample of 16 pharmacist supplementary prescribers, trained in Southern England, participated. Eleven were hospital pharmacists, owing to the overrepresentation of hospital pharmacists in the first cohort. Two semistructured interviews were conducted with each participant, at 3 and 6 months after their registration as prescribers. The Framework approach was used for data collection, management, and analysis. Results: Three typologies of pharmacists' experiences were identified: ''a blind alley'', ''a stepping stone'' and ''a good fit''. Despite some delays in its implementation, SP was seen as a step forward. Some participants also believed that it improved patient care and pharmacists' integration in the health care team and increased their job satisfaction. However, there was a concern that SP, as first implemented, was bureaucratic and limited pharmacists' freedom in their decision making. Hence, pharmacists were more supportive of the then imminent introduction of a pharmacist independent prescribing (IP) role. Conclusions: Despite challenges, the SP role represented a step forward for pharmacists in the United Kingdom. It is possible that pharmacist SP can coexist with IP in the areas suitable for CMP use. Elsewhere, SP is likely to become more of a ''stepping stone'' to an IP role than the preferred model for pharmacist prescribing. Future research needs to objectively assess the outcomes of pharmacist SP,

Independent extended and supplementary nurse prescribing practice in the UK: A national questionnaire survey (original) (raw)

Related papers