Nurse Prescribing
The aim of this assignment is to demonstrate the use of safe and effective prescribing in practice. I will achieve this by presenting and analysing a prescribing scenario which I have encountered in my current area of practice within a District Nursing Team.
During the case study the patient I have chosen will be referred to as Jean. This is to maintain her anonymity in line with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (2008) guidelines of confidentiality.
I feel it is important for the purpose of my scenario to acknowledge the new skills which I have acquired whilst undertaking the V150 and explain the background to Nurse Prescribing.
The Cumberledge Report (DHSS, 1986) made the initial recommendations for nurses to prescribe. The report identified that, although nurses often new what they wanted they spent valuable time waiting around for prescriptions to be signed by G.P’s.
As the nurses were already contributing to the prescribing decision; particularly around wound care products, enabling them to prescribe would be a more effective use of resources.
An advisory group went on to produce The Crown Report
(DOH, 1986). This recommended that a certain nurses holding
District Nurse or Health Visitor qualifications should be allowed to prescribe from a limited formulary. As a result of this The Medicinal
Products: Prescription by Nurses Act (1992) became the primary legislation. This allowed community nurses with a District Nursing or Health
Visiting qualification to prescribe from a limited formulary in the
Nurse Prescribers Formulary (NPF).
Whilst this enhanced the role of the nurse, reviews continued and legislation was passed. Implementation of the Health and Social
Care Act (2001) enabled extended independent nurse prescribing.
This was however still limited to those nurses with a specialist practitioner qualification. This changed in 2007 with the introduction of the V150 prescribing course. The
During the case study the patient I have chosen will be referred to as Jean. This is to maintain her anonymity in line with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (2008) guidelines of confidentiality.
I feel it is important for the purpose of my scenario to acknowledge the new skills which I have acquired whilst undertaking the V150 and explain the background to Nurse Prescribing.
The Cumberledge Report (DHSS, 1986) made the initial recommendations for nurses to prescribe. The report identified that, although nurses often new what they wanted they spent valuable time waiting around for prescriptions to be signed by G.P’s.
As the nurses were already contributing to the prescribing decision; particularly around wound care products, enabling them to prescribe would be a more effective use of resources.
An advisory group went on to produce The Crown Report
(DOH, 1986). This recommended that a certain nurses holding
District Nurse or Health Visitor qualifications should be allowed to prescribe from a limited formulary. As a result of this The Medicinal
Products: Prescription by Nurses Act (1992) became the primary legislation. This allowed community nurses with a District Nursing or Health
Visiting qualification to prescribe from a limited formulary in the
Nurse Prescribers Formulary (NPF).
Whilst this enhanced the role of the nurse, reviews continued and legislation was passed. Implementation of the Health and Social
Care Act (2001) enabled extended independent nurse prescribing.
This was however still limited to those nurses with a specialist practitioner qualification. This changed in 2007 with the introduction of the V150 prescribing course. The
References: Cutting,K. White,R. Edmunds,M. (2007) The safety and efficacy of dressings with silver- addressing clinical concerns. International Wound Journal.4 p.177-184 Department of Health,(1989) Report of the Advisory Group on Nurse Prescribing Department of health and Social Security, (1986) Neighbourhood Nursing: a focus for care, (Cumberledge Report) London, HMSO. Ellis,R. Kenworthy,N. Gates,B. (2003) Interpersonal Communication in Nursing: theory and practice. 2nd Edition London, Churchill Livingstone. Health and Social Care Act (2001) OPSI Johns,C Nursing and Midwifery Council (2009) Record Keeping: Guidance for nurses and midwives. London, NMC. Nursing and Midwifery Council (2008) The Code: Standards of conduct, performance and ethics for nurses and midwives. London, NMC. Nursing and Midwifery Council (2006) Standards of proficiency for nurse and midwife prescribers. London, NMC. National Prescribing Centre (1999) Signposts for prescribing nurses-general principles of good prescribing. London, Prescribing Nurse Bulletin. Nurse Prescribers Formulary (2009-2011) London, BMJ Group and RPS. Patel, S (2007) Understanding Wound Infection and Colonisation. Wound Essentials, 2. p132-142. The Medicines Act 1968, (Amendment) Regulations (1992). Statutory Instrument 1992, No 604 OPSI White, R