Nurse Practitioner Student Prescriptive Patterns

Abstract

As employment of nurse practitioners (NPs) increases in health care systems, there is a need to have current data on their prescribing practices and patterns, and to implement a system for updating such data. This study reports prescriptive data based upon 10,421 primary care visits conducted by 55 family NP students over a 15-month period in 1997 and 1998. Numbers of over-the-counter drugs taken regularly, prescription drugs currently prescribed and prescription drugs prescribed or refilled at the visit were recorded in addition to types of drugs, compliance issues, diagnoses rendered and sociodemographic information. Individual student data were aggregated and analyzed using Epi Info (Epidemiology Program Office of the Centers for Disease Control) and SPSS-PC. Results identified that: 1) the majority of patient visits involved the prescription of 1-2 drugs (88%); 2) major compliance issues included financial concerns, knowledge deficits, and complexity/demands of treatment; 3) commonly rendered diagnoses at drug visits for chronic conditions were hypertension and diabetes; for acute conditions, otitis sinusitis and upper respiratory infections; 4) anti-microbial agents, drugs used for relief of pain, and cardiovascular drugs account for 60% of drug mentions; and 5) the numbers of drugs prescribed or refilled at visits were similar by type of preceptor, except fewer single drugs were prescribed or refilled at visits supervised by nurse preceptors. Findings are discussed relative to deepening the understanding of advanced practice nursing education and the prescribing practices of NP students and their preceptors.

Overcoming barriers to practice: A nurse practitioner‐led model

“…NP practice has proven to be safe, valued by patients, and patient outcomes often surpass those of their physician colleagues (Fontana, Devine, & Kelber, 2000; Seale, Anderson, & Kinnersley, 2006; Wilson & Bunnell, 2007). Initially, only primary healthcare NPs were regulated.…”

Prescribing trends by nurse practitioners and physician assistants in the United States

“…Some of the differences could be explained by the type of care they provided: NPs were providing a large percentage of wellness care for patients, PAs saw more acute problems than chronic ones, and physicians managed more complex patients (Hooker, 1993). Prescriptive studies of NPs are largely descriptive or address a narrow area such as antibiotics or psychotropics (Fontana, Devine, & Kelber, 2000;Glod & Manchester, 2000;Pan, Straub, & Geller, 1997;Pulcini & Vampola, 2002;Shell, 2001;Wright & Neill, 2001). While these studies are limited in scope, they generally suggest that NPs prescribe in a manner comparable to physicians treating the same health conditions.…”

Physician Assistant and Nurse Practitioner Prescribing: 1997-2002

“…8 Studies of NP prescribing are largely descriptive, or else address a narrow area such as antibiotics or psychotropics. [9][10][11][12][13][14] Although these studies are limited in scope, generally they suggest that NPs prescribe in a manner comparable to physicians.…”