BACKGROUND The number of nurses able to independently prescribe medicines in England has risen steadily in recent years. AIM To evaluate the adequacy of nurses' educational preparation for independent prescribing and to describe nurses' experiences of their continuing professional development as prescribers in practice. DESIGN AND METHOD Postal questionnaire survey. PARTICIPANTS Random sa...

BACKGROUND Statin prescribing to prevent coronary heart disease is well below recommended levels. Studies suggest that the prescribing behaviour of doctors may be the biggest factor in the wide variation in statin prescribing in general practice. Understanding doctors' perceptions offers some insight into why variation occurs. AIM To understand general practitioners' (GPs') views about barrie...

RATIONALE, AIMS AND OBJECTIVES The issue of nurse prescribing is highly topical, with various United Kingdom Government directives recommending this extension to the nursing role. However, despite an imperative to provide 23 000 nurse prescribers by March 2001 and to expand this function to half the nursing workforce by 2004, there is as yet no agreement as to the occupational profile of the nu...

BACKGROUND The shift away from a biological science to a social science model of nursing care has resulted in a reduction in pharmacology knowledge and understanding in pre-registration nursing students. This has a significant impact on nurse prescribing training where pharmacology is a critical component of the course from a patient safety perspective. METHODS Reusable learning objects (RLOs...

This qualitative study explores how recently qualified nurse prescribers describe, and rate, the safety of their prescribing. Internationally, the costs of drug errors are enormous and they can have serious implications for staff and patients. Nurses are now undertaking extended prescribing practice throughout the UK. Nurse prescribers work across different work settings and although safe presc...

BackgroundThe Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia has proposed a standard practice that enables registered nurses (RNs) to prescribe under partnership model. This requires extensive input support from authorised prescribers including nurse practitioners. Understanding practitioners’ views preparedness prescribing is imperative its successful adoption.AimTo report Australian on the RN-presc...