Independent Nurse: Practical Prescribing

August 20, 2008 by admin 

I am a community matron working within a 5 practice locality. One of the practices has requested that I don’t prescribe for their patients, but instead, ask the practice to prescribe if any patient requires a prescription. Where do I stand if I want to go ahead and prescribe anyway?

Nurses employed by a PCT may only issue a prescription for the patients of GP practices within the PCT. Additionally, if they are providing services through a community nurse prescribing contract, they can issue prescriptions for the patients of GP practices covered by the contract and for which a prescribing budget has been agreed. Community nurses covering a number of practices, such as yourself, can use one prescription pad but, must complete the relevant Practice Code Number for the individual patient. The prescribing expenditure that you incur is then charged to the GP practice on whose behalf you prescribe.

It is not clear from the information that you have provided, why, 1 of the 5 practices within whose locality you work has requested that you do not prescribe. The success of prescribing is dependent upon the ability of healthcare professionals to work together as a team. Therefore, you need to address this with the practice in question and your manager. It would also be a good idea to contact your prescribing adviser. It could be that the doctors in the practice do not understand nurse prescribing. They may feel anxious for example about your assessment and diagnostic skills or, that you will prescribe outside of your area of competence. A meeting with the doctors of the practice in question would provide you with the opportunity to discuss with them the benefits of your role, any anxieties they may have and allay any fears. I am sure they would find a copy of the NMC Standards of Proficiency for nurse and midwife prescribers (NMC 2006) useful. Good luck!

Reference
NMC (2006). Standards of Proficiency for nurse and midwife prescribers. London: NMC

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