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Hay A et al (2004) Supplementary nurse prescribing. Nursing Standard. 18, 41, 33-39. Date of acceptance: April 21 2004.
Abstract
Aim To explore the attitudes of multidisdplinary team members to nurse prescribing and to establish its perceived advantages and disadvantages.
Method Five focus groups were conducted with a range of healthcare professionals in one trust. A total of 46 participants took part in the study. A structured schedule was used during each discussion to elicit group members' views on supplementary nurse prescribing. The data were analysed thematically and key themes and concepts were identified.
Findings These are summarised under five main headings: what is supplementary prescribing?; why introduce supplementary prescribing?; perceived benefits of supplementary prescribing; concerns about supplementary prescribing; and skills necessary for supplementary prescribing. Analysis of the data suggests that although teams were generally supportive of nurse prescribing they are largely confused about what is being recommended and why. There was concern about how nurse prescribing will be implemented and its potential to disrupt team functioning.
Conclusion A considerable amount of preparation will be required to ensure that nurse prescribers have the organisational and team support to adapt to their new roles.
Key words
* Multidisciplinary teams
* Nurse prescribing
These key words are based on the subject headings from the British Nursing Index. This article has been subject to double-blind review.
IN THE UK, nurse prescribing became a political issue almost 20 years ago (DHSS 1986), although legislation permitting limited prescribing rights for community nurses was not passed until October 1994. Following the work of Luker et al (1997), the Nurse Prescribes' Formulary (NPF) used by independent nurse prescribers was extended, and supplementary prescribing was introduced in April 2003. Supplementary nurse prescribers are legally allowed to prescribe from a wider range of medicines than independent nurse prescribers, and for a broader range of medical conditions, under the terms of a clinical management plan (CMP), drawn up with the agreement of the service user and in consultation with an independent prescriber (who must be a doctor or dentist).
Supplementary prescribing represents a big part of the NHS modernisation agenda, and in 2002 Lord Hunt called for up to 10,000 nurse prescribers to be trained by the end of 2004 (DoH 2002). Supplementary...