title: How nurses make decisions regarding patient medication.
abstract: This study seeks to identify the cues used by nurses which enable them to make decisions regarding the administration of medication. The knowledge base which underpins practice is explored and the relationship between knowledge and practice is considered. The rationale for this study was provoked by the possibility that nurses may be given limited prescribing powers. If this becomes a reality, the nurse's role will involve high level decision making (Morris, 1994). It could be that, in the future, changes in the law on drug administration will affect all nurses on the professional register.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pre Registration Aduit Nursing (South), University of Hertfordshire.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Peate
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003463:Cues; D003657:Decision Making; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000451:nursing*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research