Nurse Prescribing Is Part Of The Solution - Not The Problem, Says RCN, UK

Main Category: Nursing / Midwifery
Article Date: 29 Aug 2007 - 1:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   opinions  

Responding to the article, 'Safety fears over explosion in nurse prescribing' in Pulse Magazine, General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, Dr Peter Carter, said:

"Nurse prescribing has been a historic move for the nursing profession and it is one of the most successful parts of the current NHS reforms. Far from being the problem Professor Hugh McGavock suggests, nurse prescribing has proved itself to be an important part of the solution in improving access to medicines and cutting waiting times for patients.

"Research shows that the majority of nurses who prescribe have at least ten years nursing experience before starting their prescribing training and must have either degree or masters level education. Far from having a 'pathetically poor' knowledge of diagnosis, before they can even access a course, nurses have to be able to demonstrate that they have sufficient assessment and diagnostic skills in the specialist area they will prescribe in.

"Ultimately, every single nurse prescriber has to be 'signed off' by a doctor before they can begin prescribing. With well over 10,000 nurse prescribers currently practising, it appears there are at least 10,000 doctors who would disagree with Professor McGavock's concerns."

Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is the voice of nursing across the UK and is the largest professional union of nursing staff in the world. The RCN promotes the interest of nurses and patients on a wide range of issues and helps shape healthcare policy by working closely with the UK Government and other national and international institutions, trade unions, professional bodies and voluntary organisations.

Royal College of Nursing

• Additional
• References
• Citations