[Rod Ward] Evaluation of extended formulary independent nurse prescribing: executive summary

[Nursing Informatics News]

Evaluation of extended formulary independent nurse prescribing: executive summary

This report by University of Southampton School of Nursing and Midwifery on behalf of The Department of Health found that independent nurse prescribing was viewed positively by patients, doctors and nurses themselves, with patients citing accessibility as a major advantage when obtaining their medicine from a nurse rather than a doctor. The research, carried out by the University of Southampton, evaluated the first two years of extended formulary nurse prescribing and used a national survey, observation of prescribing nurses and the views of stakeholders in its assessment.

It also found that the two factors that made nurse prescribing difficult were the limitations of the formulary and lack of computer-generated prescriptions. The survey of almost 250 nurse prescribers of which only 5% said they were able to prescribe using computer generated prescriptions. More than half of those surveyed considered that access to computerised prescriptions would improve their prescribing practice.

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http://www.rodspace.co.uk/blog/2005/...formulary.html