Nurse prescribers: infrastructures required to support their role

Abstract

Aim: This study aims to answer the question: what are the opinions of nurse prescribing students about infrastructures required to support nurse prescribing?

Method: Two researchers collected data from 12 focus groups (six health visitor and six district nurse groups) made up of students undertaking a course in nurse prescribing at the University of Central Lancashire. The total number of people who participated in the study was 146.

Results: Ten themes were identified by the focus groups as necessary infrastructures to support nurse prescribing.

Conclusion: The results indicate that, for nurse prescribers to fulfil their new role effectively, a variety of mechanisms are necessary. These supporting infrastructures are vital to the success of nurse prescribing and are likely to result in a more confident and competent prescribing workforce.