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This illuminative evaluation study gives insights into attitudes to learning, interaction and the perceived roles of theory, evidence, reading and previous experience. These insights lead us to question some aspects of the course as currently presented. Students indicated that they found the course material stimulating but prior guidance on the areas to read before commencing learning would have been helpful. Students were desperate to learn and to be successful, but many were apprehensive about the intensity of the pharmacological content and diagnostic skills that are required to make a clinical diagnosis. Sadly, some students felt that the restriction of the extended nurse formulary, while valuable to their professional development and credibility as a nurse, would not enhance the care that could be provided to patients. This limitation was not realized until the course had commenced. This may have been avoided if an information day had been provided before commencing the course. For many students, a positive finding was the realization of the relevance to practice and the contribution that could be made to everyday nursing care. Future independent nurse prescribing students would benefit from the provision of pre-course reading, guided studies in pharmacology, normal physiology and physical examination skills before commencing the course of study. The use of a theoretical self-assessment tool would allow potential students to assess their suitability for the programme. Aspects of student learning need to be discussed early in the programme.

Abstract Even though the number of women affected by breast cancer continues to rise worldwide, aetiology remains unclear. As health educators nurses should encourage women, particularly those over 50, to [...]

Professional issue and concerns: by reading this article and writing a practice profile, you can gain a certificate of learning. You have up to a year to send in your [...]

Since 2001, medication management has been the topic of numerous reviews (Department of Health (DH) 2001a, 2001b), the increased collaboration between medical and pharmacy colleagues (Bernett et al 2003, Royal [...]

NOP384 Banning M (2005) Infections and their treatment in older people Nursing Older People. 17, 2, 24-29. Date of acceptance: May 2004 Summary Bacteria are robust microorganisms that can survive [...]

Extent of non-concordance Since 1989, older people have been identified as an 'at risk' group associated with the problems of non-concordance with medication and medication mismanagement. This recognition led to [...]

It is clear that the practice placement can influence the quality of the experience of learning of nursing students (Adams 2002, Chan 2002, Dunn et al 2000). Edwards et al [...]