Barriers and enablers for midwives to use the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia's Endorsement for scheduled medicines for midwives.

BACKGROUND: In 2010, the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia introduced a new registration standard: Endorsement for scheduled medicines for midwives. The endorsement enables midwives to provide women with Medicare-rebatable care, prescribe relevant medications, and order relevant Medicare-rebatable diagnostics. Translating endorsement education into clinical midwifery practice has been slow, indicating the presence of barriers affecting midwives' ability to use this standard, despite it increasing their scope for service provision. AIM: To discover the mechanisms affecting midwives' ability to work to full scope of practice after completing a programme of study leading to endorsement. METHODS: An observational (non-experimental) design was used. Midwives who had completed an education programme leading to endorsement were invited to complete a survey. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the quantitative questions and content analysis was conducted on the qualitative data. FINDINGS: Results indicated that barriers - such as the limitations of Medicare provisions for endorsed midwives and a general lack of support for the role - restrict endorsed midwives' ability to provide quality maternity services. Having some form of support for the role may act as an enabler, in addition to midwives having personal determination and confidence in their ability to use the endorsement. Recommendations to strengthen the endorsed midwife's role include facilitating endorsement use in the public sector, relaxing Medicare Benefit Schedule and Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme restrictions, raising awareness of the role and scope, and improving midwives' pre-endorsement preparation. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the need for an all-of-system approach to support and develop the endorsed midwife's role.

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

AIM: The aim of this study is to determine the need for and value of nurse and midwife prescribing in Ireland as identified by these prescribers-the people most able to provide relevant insights and information. BACKGROUND: Since 2007, nurses and midwives in Ireland who have passed an additional educational program can prescribe medicinal products relative to their clinical practice areas. Research evidence of efficacy is needed now for prescribing sustainability in Ireland and to encourage, if successful, the adoption or expansion of frontline nurse/midwife prescribing rights in other countries. DESIGN: A qualitative study was undertaken. METHODS: Interviews with registered nurse and midwife prescribers were conducted in 2017 until data saturation. Constant-comparative coding and categorization of data revealed themes and categories, with explanatory quotes for research trustworthiness and credibility purposes. RESULTS: Six data themes emerged: (a) more than just writing prescriptions; (b) highly individualized evidence-based specialist care; (c) assured, timely and rapid accessibility to needed care; (d) health system and healthcare efficiency gains; (e) satisfaction with nurse/midwife prescriber services and (f) quality care improvements. CONCLUSION: Nurse/midwife prescribing in Ireland was identified as needed, safe, effective and cost-effective. Prescribing permitted accessible, thorough and proactive holistic health promotive care to be provided in nurse- or midwife-led outpatient clinics.

Barriers and enablers for midwives using endorsement for scheduled medicines: A literature review.

PROBLEM: There are currently 429 midwives in Australia who hold the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia's Endorsement for scheduled medicines for midwives. Little is known about how midwives are using the endorsement and what factors impact on its use. OBJECTIVE: To critically examine the literature to discover what the barriers and enablers are for midwives to use the endorsement. METHOD: A search was undertaken examining literature published since 2004. Due to a lack of articles specific to midwifery, the search was widened to include literature related to similar non-medical health professions. The search was divided into two streams: accessing the Medicare Benefits Schedule and accessing the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and prescribing. Twenty-six primary articles from 2009 onward met the review criteria. FINDINGS: Although singular barriers and enablers to both streams were identified, many of the themes act as both enabler and barrier. Themes common to both the Medicare Benefits Schedule focus and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and prescribing focus are that of medical support, scope of practice, ongoing support from health care consumers and management, and endorsement processes. Barriers occur approximately three times more frequently than enablers. CONCLUSION: Barriers and enablers occur for various reasons including legislative, regulatory, organisational, and the individual's support for and attitude towards these roles. To overcome barriers and facilitate the success of emerging non-medical extended practice roles, significant buy-in and investment is needed across all levels of the health system. The review highlights a significant gap in knowledge about the endorsement's use in midwifery.

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

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To describe the prescribing behaviours and practices of registered nurse and midwife prescribers and to explore experiences of enablers and barriers to prescribing practices. BACKGROUND: The extension of prescriptive authority to nurses and midwives internationally has created new opportunities for them to expand their scope of practice and is of significant benefit to effective and efficient health service provision. DESIGN: Cross-sectional national survey of registered nurse and midwife prescribers. METHODS: Data were collected through an online survey between April-July 2018. A total of 84 nurse and midwife prescribers participated. The STROBE checklist was applied as the reporting guideline for this study. RESULTS: Respondents estimated that two-fifths of their consultations involved an episode of prescribing. Nurse and midwife prescribers engaged in similar prescribing behaviours spanning the range of activities from initiating new medications to ceasing medicines. The most frequently selected criterion for prescribing was clinical effectiveness. Prescribing was viewed as essential to respondents' clinical practice, allowing them to provide a complete episode of care and leading to a reduction in medication errors and reduced delays and waiting times for patients. Enablers of prescribing included knowledge, experience, education and access to continuous professional development, as well as support from colleagues and organisations. CONCLUSION: Little is known about the prescribing behaviours and practices of registered nurse and midwife prescribers. While prescribing authority enables nurse and midwife practitioners to deliver holistic care, there remain significant barriers and challenges including increased workloads, lack of continuous professional development, lack of support and overly restrictive rules and policies governing prescribing. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Addressing the barriers identified in this study could enable more nurse and midwife prescribers to work to their full scope of practice, enabling populations to fully capitalise on the contributions of registered nurse and midwife prescribing services.

Reconocimiento de la prescripción enfermera en España, una batalla a punto de culminar / The recognition of prescribing by nurses, a battle that is about to be won

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Cannabis for posttraumatic stress disorder: A neurobiological approach to treatment.

The endocannabinoid system is intricately involved in regulation of the neurobiological processes, which underlie the symptomatology of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This article discusses the neurobiological underpinnings of PTSD and the use of cannabis for treating PTSD in the New Mexico Medical Cannabis Program.

Implementation of independent nurse prescribing in UK mental health settings: focus on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Legislative changes that came into effect in the UK in April 2012 gave nurse independent prescribers (NIPs) the power to prescribe schedule 2-5 controlled drugs. Therefore, suitably qualified UK nurses can now independently prescribe any drug for any medical condition within their clinical competence. The potential benefits of independent nurse prescribing include improved access to medications and more efficient use of skills within the National Health Service workforce. This review explores the published literature (to July 2013) to investigate whether the predicted benefits of NIPs in mental health settings can be supported by empirical evidence, with a specific focus on nurse-led management of patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The most common pharmacological treatments for ADHD are controlled drugs. Therefore, the 2012 legislative changes allow nurse-led ADHD services to offer holistic packages of care for patients. Evidence suggests that independent prescribing by UK nurses is safe, clinically appropriate and associated with high levels of patient satisfaction. The quality of the nurse-patient relationship and nurses' ability to provide flexible follow-up services suggests that nurse-led ADHD services are well positioned to enhance the outcomes for patients and their parents/carers. However, the empirical evidence available to support the value of NIPs in mental health settings is limited. There is a need for additional high-quality data to verify scientifically the value of nurse-delivered ADHD care. This evidence will be invaluable in supporting the growth of nurse-led ADHD services and for those who support greater remuneration for the expanded role of NIPs.

Nurse prescribing in general practice: a qualitative study of job satisfaction and work-related stress.

BACKGROUND: Studies examining the impact nurse prescribing have largely focused on the efficacy of the service. It was suggested in pro-prescribing policy arguments that extending the nursing role to include prescribing would increase job satisfaction. This assertion has not been fully explored. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the impact of independent prescribing for experienced nurse practitioners (NPs) working in general practice. METHODS: In-depth interviews were conducted with six NPs who each had at least 3 years experience of independent prescribing in a busy inner city general practice. RESULTS: Analysis of interview data yielded two main themes: as independent prescribers NPs experienced increased levels of both job satisfaction and work-related stress. Increased satisfaction was associated with having greater autonomy and being able to provide more holistic care. Increased work-related stress emerged from greater job demands, perceived insufficient support and perceived effort-reward imbalance that centred upon the enhanced role not being recognized in terms of an increase in grade and pay. CONCLUSIONS: Independent prescribing increases job satisfaction for NPs in general practice, but there is also evidence of stressors associated with the role. It is important that NPs in general practice are encouraged and supported towards providing the effective patient-centred care in the community envisaged by current UK government. We acknowledge that the results presented in this paper are based on a sample limited to one city; however, it provides information that has important implications for the well being of NPs and ultimately patient care.

A practical approach to the treatment of acne vulgaris.

This article aims to provide healthcare professionals with the necessary knowledge and skills to assess, diagnose and treat acne vulgaris. The article discusses the epidemiology and pathogenesis of the condition and uses a case study to highlight common issues. It emphasises the importance of the four pathogenic factors in formulating a management plan for the patient with acne. Treatments are explored in a holistic approach to the nursing care of a patient with acne.

Exploring the ethics of prescribing medicines.

The delivery of holistic care should incorporate patient empowerment through the promotion of health and self-help measures, including pain relief. In this article, the author, a newly qualified independent prescriber, explains why she believes that encouraging patients to buy over-the-counter medication is morally acceptable and based on the principles of beneficence and non-malevolence. She also reflects on her prescribing decisions in the context of ethics, health economics and personal perspective for four patients with similar injuries. The author works in Wales, where prescriptions are free to residents.

Biological nurse specialist: goodwill to good practice.

The extensive use of biological agents in recent years for the treatment of rheumatological diseases has required a steep learning curve for the specialist nurses who manage and work in this specialty. Safe prescribing of biological therapies requires good infrastructure and specialist nursing personnel. With additional training, the specialist nurse may take responsibility for a number of tasks in the patient pathway including screening, treatment administration, patient education, prescription coordination for home drug delivery, patient support, monitoring and data collection. Biological treatment is becoming more widely used in several specialities, in particular gastroenterology, dermatology and ophthalmology. Since 2002, rheumatology specialist nurses have taken the lead in assessment and providing biologic therapy, not only for patients suffering from rheumatic diseases but also for those with immune-mediated inflammatory disorders. The unique nature and variable safety profiles of these agents led to the development of immune-mediated inflammatory disease infusion (IMID) centres and highlighted the importance of having biological specialist nurses. This article will discuss the evolution of the IMID/biologic specialist nurse role and how IMID services started with goodwill from the rheumatology nurse specialists to develop into a main component of the holistic approach to care.

More than a prescriber: gerontological nurse practitioners' perspectives on prescribing and pharmaceutical marketing.

The purpose of this study was to gain understanding about nurse practitioners' (NPs') prescriptive decision making for geriatric patients with attention to pharmaceutical marketing influences. Prior research has focused on physician prescribers and identified suboptimal practices. Because the majority of medications are prescribed to older adults, NPs in geriatric practice were targeted as an information-rich group to interview about prescribing issues. Given the exploratory nature of this research, qualitative focus group methods were employed using content analysis. Fifteen NPs were recruited at an annual national geriatric NP conference. They worked in all regions of the United States, had an average of 9 years prescribing experience, and participated in 1 of the 2 focus groups. The key theme that emerged was that they were more than a prescriber. Findings revealed overwhelming consistency among the NP participants that their nursing background instilled a holistic approach that encompassed both nondrug and therapeutic drug options and skepticism about drug marketing, as well as offered a positive difference by tailoring to their patients' biophysical, psychological, and economic needs with an involvement in the interplay of geriatric care issues not typically addressed by physicians. The participants' reported approaches were in alignment with geriatric prescribing recommendations.

Nurse prescriber-patient consultations: a case study in dermatology.

AIM: This paper is a report of a study exploring the content and processes in consultations between nurse prescribers and patients with dermatological conditions. BACKGROUND: Communication skills, consultation time, information and follow-up are central to the treatment and management of patients with dermatological conditions. The contribution nurses make to the care of these patients has great potential. METHOD: A multiple case study was conducted with 10 practice settings across England in which nurses prescribed medicines for patients with dermatological conditions. Data were collected between June 2006 and September 2007 using semi-structured interviews (n = 40), patient questionnaires (n = 165/200) and videotaped observations of nurse consultations (n = 40). Data analysis included thematic analysis, descriptive statistics, chi-square and non-parametric tests. FINDINGS: Nurses believed that their holistic approach to assessment, combined with their prescribing knowledge, improved prescribing decisions. Listening and explanation of treatments were aspects of nurse communication that were rated highly by patients. Listening and dealing sensitively with emotions were also aspects of the videotaped consultations that were rated highly by assessors. Nurses were less consistent in providing information about medicines. CONCLUSION: Triangulated data from this study suggest that nurse prescribing enhances the care of patients with dermatological conditions through improved prescribing decisions. If patients are to be more involved in this decision-making, nurses must give them more information about their medicines. The benefits of prescribing were most evident in the practices of dermatology specialist nurses. Further evidence is required to identify whether prescribing by specialist nurses offers similar benefits in other therapeutic areas.

Prescripción de paracetamol ¿Estamos usando dosis adecuadas? / Paracetamol prescriptions, are we using the correct doses?

Análisis de la prescripción del principio activo paracetamol en la Comunidad Autónoma del País Vasco, a través de datos de facturación de receta médica. Cada vez se usan dosis mayores de paracetamol, a pesar de que las recomendaciones y posología de uso no han variado. Este aumento alerta sobre un posible problema de seguridad(AU)

The authors report on an analysis regarding prescriptions for the main active ingredient in paracetamol in the Basque Country Auto-nomous Region, by means of data gathered from medical prescription records. Greater doses of paracetamol are being used all the time in spite of the fact that the recommendations and posology for its use have not varied. This increase warns about a possible safety problem(AU)

Experiences of ward-based nurse prescribers in an acute ward setting.

A plethora of literature is written about non-medical prescribing, directed towards community nurses, specialist or advanced practice roles. There is a lack of literature, however, regarding the use of non-medical prescribing with the open formulary in the acute ward setting. The experiences of two nurses reveal that non-medical prescribing is a valuable addition to patient care within the acute cardiac ward setting. It ensures that patients receive timely access to medications. This article reveals that the development of non-medical prescribing develops through clinical experience and with it, professional and clinical competence. Non-medical prescribing has been an invaluable addition to ward-based holistic patient care. It has ensured safety is maintained, and supported multidisciplinary working for the benefit of patients. It also provides the opportunity to develop service provision further.