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Survey of psychiatrists' views of nurse prescribing

Authors :
T. Rana
Peter Nolan
Eleanor Bradley
Source :
Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing. 16:257-262
Publication Year :
2009
Publisher :
Wiley, 2009.

Abstract

For mental health nurses and service users to realize the benefits of non-medical prescribing, psychiatrists need to understand the remit of this role and be actively involved in influencing it. Although healthcare policy in the UK supports the expansion of non-medical prescribing, it requires much more for the successful implementation of such initiatives in practice. The aim of this survey was to explore the attitudes of all grades of psychiatrist working in two mental health trusts in the West Midlands to nurse prescribing. A specifically designed questionnaire was sent out to two groups of psychiatrists to assess their attitudes towards non-medical prescribing. Psychiatrists (n = 147) completed and returned a specifically designed questionnaire of their views. The more senior doctors appeared less concerned about nurse prescribing. Junior doctors expressed equivocation towards the role, suggesting that nurse prescribers be consistently supervised and have limited access to mental health drugs. The findings from this study have considerable implications for teams if junior doctors hold different views to their senior colleagues. Without the assistance of trusts in facilitating role change, the introduction of new roles could potentially heighten conflict between professions.

Details

ISSN :
13652850 and 13510126
Volume :
16
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....4ea683613c8fc53c5a207788ebd2a711
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2850.2008.01351.x