Prescribing by mental health nurses: the UK perspective.
OBJECTIVE
This article aims to discuss the growth of mental health nurse (MHN) prescribing in the United Kingdom as an exemplar for readers to compare progress in their own countries and context. This study also aims to provide a historical overview of this process in the United Kingdom where MHNs prescribe safely and competently.


CONCLUSIONS
Finally, evidence has shown that MHNs with prescriptive authority are competent when prescribing when compared to psychiatrists.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite organizational barriers and educational concerns, MHN prescribing is becoming embedded in the healthcare context in the United Kingdom.
Hemingway
Steve
S
Health and Human Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, Yorkshire, UK. s.j.hemingway@hud.ac.uk
Ely
Valerie
V
D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000639:trends*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D019555:Physician-Nurse Relations; D055656:Prescriptions / Q000451:nursing*; D017009:Professional Autonomy; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000639:trends*; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006113:United Kingdom
D011619:Psychotropic Drugs