title: Non-medical prescribing in palliative care: a regional survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The United Kingdom is considered to be the world leader in nurse prescribing, no other country having the same extended non-medical prescribing rights. Arguably, this growth has outpaced research to evaluate the benefits, particularly in areas of clinical practice where patients have complex co-morbid conditions such as palliative care. This is the first study of non-medical prescribing in palliative care in almost a decade.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore the current position of nurse prescribing in palliative care and establish the impact on practice of the 2012 legislative changes.
  
  
  METHODS
  An online survey circulated during May and June 2013.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nurse members (n = 37) of a regional cancer network palliative care group (61% response rate).
  
  
  RESULTS
  While this survey found non-medical prescribers have embraced the 2012 legislative changes and prescribe a wide range of drugs for cancer pain, we also identified scope to improve the transition from qualified to active non-medical prescriber by reducing the time interval between the two.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To maximise the economic and clinical benefit of non-medical prescribing, the delay between qualifying as a prescriber and becoming an active prescriber needs to be reduced. Nurses who may be considering training to be a non-medical prescriber may be encouraged by the provision of adequate study leave and support to cover clinical work. Further research should explore the patients' perspective of non-medical prescribing.
authors.affiliation: Academic Unit of Palliative Care, Leeds Institute of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK l.e.ziegler@leeds.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Lucy
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ziegler
authors.affiliation: University of Leeds, Leeds, UK St Gemma's Hospice, Leeds, UK.
authors.forename: Mike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.affiliation: University of Bradford, Bradford, UK.
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blenkinsopp
authors.affiliation: St Gemma's Hospice, Leeds, UK.
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Coppock
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003625:Data Collection; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000193:education*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods*; D017009:Professional Autonomy; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Non-medical prescribing; cancer pain; palliative care