Mental health nurse supplementary prescribing: experiences of mental health nurses, psychiatrists and patients

Abstract

Mental health nurse prescribing seems potentially beneficial. However, more rigorous audit and evaluation are needed to confirm its safety, patient satisfaction and health outcomes. Mental health nurse prescribing will require service redesign to ensure that is becomes embedded in the service organizational culture.

Consultations between nurse prescribers and patients with diabetes in primary care: A qualitative study of patient views

“…A number of these benefits, such as improved access to medications and greater holistic care have previously been attributed by patients as benefits of nurse prescribing (Page et al 2008, Jones et al 2007, Wix 2007. Positive patient evaluation of nurse prescriber communication skills in relation to listening and providing information on treatment have been reported previously using questionnaire methods (Latter et al 2007, Courtenay et al 2009a).…”

“…Where patients' views and opinions of nurse prescribing have been elicited, the majority of patients have been accepting of and confident to take medications prescribed by a nurse (Page et al 2008, Wix 2007, Jones et al 2007, Brooks et al 2001. A number of studies point to nurses' interpersonal skills as being pivotal to positive evaluations of nurse prescribing by patients.…”

Non-medical prescribing: the story so far

“…One qualitative study has explored the views of 12 psychiatrists, 11 nurses and 12 patients involved in supplementary prescribing. Overall the response was positive, although 22 participants described their experience so far as 'early days' with nurses still making only limited prescribing decisions (Jones et al, 2007). In a 2005 survey of mental health trusts in England examining mental health nurse supplementary prescribing, 66% of nursing directors believed that psychiatrists were not adequately prepared to support non-medical prescribers (Gray et al, 2005).…”

“…Other barriers include Kwentoh & Reilly Non-medical prescribing: the story so far opinion & debate problems obtaining prescription pads, lack of administrative support to run supplementary prescribing clinics and long delays between training and prescribing in practice (Cooper et al, 2008). Specifically in mental health, barriers cited include shortfalls in supervision and insufficient focus on redesigning the service to support the role of the non-medical prescriber (Jones et al, 2007). Allsop et al (2005) states that in her experience, nurse prescribing had received a mixed reception from some pharmacists who both expressed reservations about the skills and competencies of nurse prescribers and appeared to underestimate the level of knowledge and the skills of the nurses in their areas of professional practice.…”

“…Only one published UK study has addressed this in mental health (Jones et al, 2007), with positive responses from users describing better explanations, more choice and greater focus on side-effects, but the sample was small and further research is needed.…”