ANP conference in November
October 31, 2010 by admin
The London 12th annual ANP conference and exhibition, ‘Planning Prescribing into 2012′ can be booked online here - with a discount for ANP members! Chaired by Dr June Crown CBE, the conference will include a range of workshops including ones on prescribing in sexual health and prescribing for soft tissue injuries, and a series of presentations on topics such as patients’ perceptions, doctor support for non-medical prescribing, IT and prescribing, and a talk by Christine Beasley, the Chief Nursing Officer.
Reduced rates for ANP members for online educational support
October 29, 2010 by admin
The ANP has announced an exciting collaboration with the British Medical Journal, which will give all ANP members access to excellent continuing professional development (CPD) and professional support material at a reduced rate. There are two aspects to the support: BMJ Learning and Best Practice.
BMJ Learning is a peer‐reviewed CPD site with online modules and events, with more than 300 courses on the Primary Care Nurse CPD section. Courses completed on BMJ Learning are automatically stored in an online ‘plan and record’, so nurses can print certificates of completion as evidence for appraisals. Complete access is available to ANP members at a discounted rate of £25 + VAT.
Best Practice provides a ’second opinion in an instant’ by combining the latest research evidence, guidelines and expert opinion in a step-by-step approach covering prevention, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis. Viewed pages can be saved to a learning plan and record. A personal subscription to Best Practice is now available to all ANP members for just £35 +VAT.
ANP members who subscribe to both BMJ Learning and Best Practice will pay just £47 + VAT for complete access.
Please note: to receive the advertised ANP subscription rates, ANP members must subscribe via the ANP members’ section of the website.
Where has non-medical prescribing got to?
October 17, 2010 by admin
Non-medical prescribing needs to be fully and effectively integrated into service delivery and workforce planning if it is to be rolled out into new practice areas and its full benefits realised, concludes this author in an assessment of non-medical prescribing now, more than 15 years since district nurses and health visitors started to prescribe from a very restricted list.
Important systems and processes for non-medical prescribing include: ensuring students and designated medical practitioners (DMPs) understand the expectations of the prescribing programme; defining a prescribing role for each student when qualified; identifying clear criteria for going on the course; and putting support systems involving clinicians and managers in place.
Mental health nurse prescribing and understanding of medicines
October 17, 2010 by admin
“Previously unknown levels of incompetence” are revealed by the better understanding of medicines mental health nurses acquire when they become prescribers, argue the authors of this article, concluding by suggesting that there is a case for structured education in medicines management to be introduced into pre- and post-registration mental health nursing in the UK.
They use a variety of methods to come up with a theory that describes the process of becoming competent in mental health nurse prescribing, consisting of four themes that could provide a starting point for breaking down the skills nurses need to manage medicines safely. The authors highlight the sidelining of medicines management in mental health nursing, and how there is still debate over whether mental health nurses should be prescribing.
Snowden A and Martin CR. Mental health nurse prescribing: a difficult pill to swallow? J Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing 2010; 17: 543-553.
Medicines legislation review
October 17, 2010 by admin
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has launched an informal consultation about future provision for the exemptions to the Medicines Act that allow health professionals, and also others, to sell, supply and administrate medicines. The deadline for responses is 1 November.
The MHRA is considering a major simplification of the current processes, in addition to its specific proposals for each of the current legal provisions. At present, for health professionals, the current mechanism is that changes to specific lists of medicines covered by the exemptions must be made by legislation following consultation. This can be a lengthy process that does not respond quickly to changes in professional practice, which can mean treatment delays for patients. The MHRA is suggesting that instead of the law specifying lists of medicines, and any attached conditions, it would specify the health professionals that are allowed to sell, supply or administer medicines. What they are allowed to sell, supply or administer would be determined by the “relevant statutory regulatory body” - so the current consultative and legislative processes would not be required. The MHRA says this is an idea that needs further discussion and exploration, and is seeking views on it now.
Among the specific proposals is one concerning the administration of a specified list of medicines by anyone - not necessarily a health professional - for the purpose of saving life in an emergency. The MHRA intends to retain the list but is asking for views on possible changes, perhaps including medicines used in cardiac arrest. It is also asking for views on whether there should be a separate provision allowing people who hold the Resuscitation Council’s Advanced Life Support to administer these medicines in emergencies involving cardiac arrest.
Rosglitazone: what next?
October 17, 2010 by admin
What are the next steps for prescribers reviewing patients on rosiglitazone-containing products? The National Prescribing Centre (NPC) has published a blog post saying that this is an opportunity to review individual patients’ medicines and that as well as considering alternatives, patients and prescribers should review the target blood glucose they are aiming for, given the uncertainty over the benefits of intensive glucose control. Rosiglitazone-containing products will not be available in the UK after 21 October. In August, NICE published a menu of potential indicators for the 2011/2012 Quality and Outcomes Framework, which included a higher target for glycaemic control.
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