title: [Knowledge of and satisfaction with the approval of the nurse prescription of nurses studying a masters degree and specialty in the University of Barcelona].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the knowledge, satisfaction and capabilities of nurses regarding nurse prescribing after the approval of the Nurse Prescription Law.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study carried out in the School of Nursing at the University of Barcelona (UB). The participants included 485 nurses taking a Masters or Specialist degree and teaching staff in these courses. The main variables were: satisfaction, information and knowledge about the recently approved Law, knowledge about the current skills on the prescribed products, nurse perception of their own prescribing ability, and opinion on information and training as regards the new law. The secondary variables included: years of professional experience, area and job position, postgraduate course and socio-demographic data. The study was conducted from March to April 2010 using a self-administered ad hoc questionnaire with 29 items on the topic and previously piloted on site.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 345 nurses participated, of whom 87.2% (301) taking a Masters degree. Of these, 72.3% (238) were aware and stated to have knowledge of the Law passed, although 95.9% (303) of them said they lacked information on it. The mean score on satisfaction with the approval of the Prescription Law was 6.24±2.08. Of all the nurses, 57.6% (189) of them said they were currently able to prescribe health products and 41.3% were capable of prescribing drugs (134).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nurses showed a high level of satisfaction with the Nurse Prescription law. Currently, many nurses are independently prescribing pharmacological and health products.
authors: Departamento de Oncología, Instituto Catalán de Oncología Badalona, Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain. scabrerajaime@hotmail.com
authors: Sandra
authors: S
authors: Cabrera-Jaime
authors: Joan María
authors: JM
authors: Estrada-Masllorens
authors: Paz
authors: P
authors: Fernández-Ortega
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000451:nursing*; D004511:Education, Nursing, Graduate; D005181:Faculty, Nursing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009736:Nursing Process / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D013030:Spain; D013338:Students, Nursing; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult