The experiences of being a registered nurse prescriber within an acute service setting

Abstract

Insight into how nurse prescribers feel about prescriptive authority. Highlights the advantages and disadvantages of this extended scope of practice. RNPs describe how to overcome some of the barriers they have encountered with useful suggestions being made for practice development and further research.

“Providing a complete episode of care”: A survey of registered nurse and registered midwife prescribing behaviours and practices

“…Internationally, nurse and midwife prescribing has been found to improve access to care, to increase patient satisfaction, and improve concordance and adherence with medications (Courtenay & Berry, ; Creedon, O'Connell, McCarthy, & Lehane, ; Latter et al, ). Prescriptive authority allows nurses to provide a complete package of responsive and safe care to patients, facilitating autonomous, responsible and accountable nursing practice (Lennon & Fallon, ). Nurse and midwife prescribing has led to increased job satisfaction, greater autonomy, responsibility and accountability (Condell, Faherty, & Fitzpatrick, ; Lennon & Fallon, ), has allowed nurses to make better use of their skills (Drennan et al, ) and has enhanced self‐esteem (Cashin, Buckley, Newman, & Dunn, ).…”

“…Prescriptive authority allows nurses to provide a complete package of responsive and safe care to patients, facilitating autonomous, responsible and accountable nursing practice (Lennon & Fallon, ). Nurse and midwife prescribing has led to increased job satisfaction, greater autonomy, responsibility and accountability (Condell, Faherty, & Fitzpatrick, ; Lennon & Fallon, ), has allowed nurses to make better use of their skills (Drennan et al, ) and has enhanced self‐esteem (Cashin, Buckley, Newman, & Dunn, ). Other benefits of nurse and midwife prescribing practice have included improved team working and peer and doctor support (Creedon et al, ).…”

“…Fealy and colleagues explored expansion of scope of practice among nurses and midwives, and found that barriers included fear of legal consequences, time restrictions and lack of remuneration (Fealy, Casey, et al, 2015a;Fealy, Rohde, et al, 2015b). Therefore, ongoing challenges to the uptake of nurse and midwife prescribing include staff shortages, extra workload and the need to educate colleagues about nurse prescribing (Lennon & Fallon, 2018).…”

“…Drennan et al () surveyed 140 patients and parents of paediatric patients and found that both patients and parents were highly satisfied with the care received from nurse and midwife prescribers and highlighted the comprehensive education and advice on medications they received. A study of 11 registered nurse prescribers reported that nurses were proud to be prescribers and experienced increased job satisfaction as a result of engagement in prescribing activities (Lennon & Fallon, ).…”

The need for and value of nurse and midwife prescribing: Findings from an Irish research investigation

“…A subsequent study showed patients appreciated the care nurses took and the medications that were prescribed (Drennan et al, 2011). Three studies revealed safe and appropriate prescribing (Hyde et al, 2016; Lennon & Fallon, 2018; Naughton et al, 2013). Prescribers were found to have high job satisfaction over the autonomy, responsibility and accountability with prescribing (Condell, Faherty, & Fitzpatrick, 2014).…”