Independent non-medical prescribing in a nurse-led hospice: strengths and challenges

Abstract

Independent non-medical prescribing has been a safe, effective and economical initiative for St Teresa's nurse-led hospice, as indicated by yearly audits of prescribing charts and incident reports. However, there are several challenges involved, some shared with other palliative care organisations and some unique to this hospice. These include accessing consistent evidence, especially in light of high volumes of off-licence or unlicensed prescribing with limited stock of medication, and pro-actively pursuing tailored Continuous Professional Development. These challenges, though sometimes complex, are not insurmountable for the experienced non-medical prescribers in this non-conventional setting.