The role of the nurse prescriber: the views of mental health and non-mental health nurses.
Even though the introduction of the role of the nurse prescriber promises improved access to medicines and increased flexibility in the workforce, the take-up of this role to date has been variable across the UK. This questionnaire-based study sought to compare the expectations of two distinct groups of nurses, one from a mental health and the other from a non-mental health background prior to becoming prescribers. Non-mental health nurses were of the opinion that being able to prescribe would increase efficiency and maximize resources, while mental health nurses saw prescribing primarily in terms of the benefits to clients--increased choice, improved access to care, better information about treatments and better quality of care.
Nolan
P
P
Staffordshire University and South Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, Stafford, UK. peter.nolan@staffs.ac.uk
Bradley
E
E
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000451:nursing*; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009720:Nurse Clinicians / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology*; D010371:Pediatric Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D010602:Pharmacopoeias as Topic; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D017009:Professional Autonomy; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires