title: The Oncology Nurse Prescribing: A Catalonian Survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study identifies the capability, knowledge, and satisfaction of oncology nurses in Spain after approval of the nurse prescribing law in 2006.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 140 nurses in three cancer centers in Catalonia, Spain, by using convenience sampling method. The principal variables of this study were nurse satisfaction, knowledge about what products nurses are allowed to prescribe, the nurses' perception of their own prescribing ability, and their opinion on education and training needs with regard to the new approved law. The secondary variables included years of professional experience, place of work, and sociodemographic variables. Data were collected during a 3 months period by using a piloted 29-item self-assessment questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Analyses of univariate and bivariate data showed that 82.2% of the nurses were aware of the approved law, but 94.2% indicated that they lack information about it. The mean satisfaction with the approval of the law was 6.64 ± 1.76 (numerical scale 0-10). In addition, 68.1% and 55.1% of the nurses were prepared to prescribe medical devices and drugs, respectively. To date, 61.1% of the nurses prescribe medical devices and 66% prescribe pharmacological products daily.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nurses expressed general satisfaction with the approval of the Law 29/2006. Nurses currently provide prescriptions, but widespread knowledge of the allowed prescriptions is lacking.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing Research, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Hospital Duran i Reynals, Badalona, Spain; Department of Public and Mental Health, Medical and Surgical Nursing Science, Faculty of Nursing, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Paz
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fernández-Ortega
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing Research, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Hospital Duran i Reynals, Badalona, Spain; Department of Fundamental, Medical and Surgical Nursing Science, Faculty of Nursing, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cabrera-Jaime
authors.affiliation: Department of Fundamental, Medical and Surgical Nursing Science, Faculty of Nursing, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Joan María
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Estrada-Masllorens
keywords: Attitudes; knowledge; oncology nurses; prescriptions; satisfaction