title: Evaluation of a diabetes nurse specialist prescribing project.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the diabetes nurse specialist prescribing project with the aim of determining whether diabetes nurse specialist prescribing is safe and effective and to inform the implementation and extension of registered nurse prescribing.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Registered nurses in many countries are able to prescribe medicines, but in New Zealand, prior to the diabetes nurse specialist project, nurse practitioners were the only nurses who could prescribe medicines. New regulations allowed the nurses to prescribe a limited number of prescription medicines.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was a process and outcome clinical programme evaluation.
  
  
  METHODS
  The project took place between April-September 2011 and involved 12 diabetes nurse specialist in four localities. Quantitative data were collected from clinical records maintained by the diabetes nurse specialist for the project (1274 patients and 3402 prescribing events), from surveys with stakeholders (general practitioners, n = 30; team members, n = 19; and patients, n = 89) and audits from patient notes (n = 117) and prescriptions (n = 227), and qualitative data from interviews with project participants (n = 18) and patients (n = 19). All data were analysed descriptively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Diabetes nurse specialist prescribing was determined to be safe, of high quality and appropriate. It brought important benefits to the effectiveness of specialist diabetes services, was acceptable to patients and was supported by the wider healthcare team.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings are consistent with the findings reported in the international literature about nurse prescribing in a range of different practice areas. Clarification of the education and competence requirements and resourcing for the ongoing supervision of nurses is recommended if the prescribing model is to be extended.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diabetes nurse specialist prescribing improved access to medicines by providing a more timely service. Nurses felt more satisfied with their work because they could independently provide a complete episode of care. As novice prescribers, nurses need to be well prepared educationally and have access to supportive clinical supervision.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wilkinson
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carryer
authors.forename: Jeffery
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Adams
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D016208:Databases, Factual; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000451:nursing; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D009722:Nurse Practitioners; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D057184:Practice Patterns, Nurses'; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: clinical programme evaluation; diabetes; diabetes nurse specialist; prescribing; registered nurse; regulation