Primary health care nurses' views on nurse prescribing

Abstract

Background: After a full evaluation of the proper management of the clinical and financial aspects of nurse prescribing, in April 1998 it was announced that community nurse prescribing would be introduced all over the UK. Aim: The aim of this study was to explore primary healthcare nurses' views on nurse prescribing. It analysed nurses' views of the advantages and disadvantages of nurse prescribing while it explored if nurses felt the need to extend their role. Nurses' views about what factors would encourage or discourage them from undertaking prescribing were explored. It sought also to find out nurses' opinions about what items should be incorporated in a Nurse Prescribers' Formulary (NPF) and what the should be the level of educational preparation of nurse prescribers. Method: A quantitative approach was used. An adapted questionnaire was distributed to a convenience sample of primary healthcare nurses. Findings: A response rate of 80% was achieved. Most believed that primary healthcare centres would benefit from the introduction of nurse prescribing. The majority identified the advantages and disadvantages of nurse prescribing. Participants highlighted also the factors that would hinder or encourage them to undertake prescribing. The sample agreed that the items most suitable for inclusion in the NPF were those that were mostly related to the nursing role. It was also found out that if appropriate training is made available nurses will be willing to undertake this role. Discussion: Nurses believed that nurse prescribing would improve delivery of care and enhance their professional status. It was identified that nurses gave importance to adequate educational preparation for such role expansion. Conclusion: This study has put forward recommendations that are based on the reviewed literature, findings and discussion.