abstract: From spring 2006, qualified nurse prescribers will be able to prescribe any licensed medicine with the exception of controlled drugs. Most registered nurse prescribers work in primary care but secondary care nurses, especially those working in non-acute settings, are 'in an excellent position to improve patient care through prescribing'. Some decisions, such as whether to give capsules or syrup, can be made more easily by nurses because of their knowledge of the patient. Nurse prescribing in primary care has meant that patients receive treatment more quickly and this could be mirrored in hospitals.
authors.affiliation: MSc Gerontological Practice, University of Portsmouth.
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sander