NHS trusts — chief nurse < Influencers contents | Print this page The expanding role of nurses As the role of secondary care nurses continues to develop (ie, as modern matrons and as nurse consultants), the nursing director is likely to become more important to local NHS influencers. The range of specialist nurses continues to grow, as does the number of nurse consultants in particular areas. Specialist nurses are working both as independent nurse prescribers and supplementary nurse prescribers in hospitals. Nurse prescribers’ competency framework NHS influencers need to be aware that the National Prescribing Centre (NPC) has produced a competency framework for nurse prescribers. This is broken down into three main areas – consultation, prescribing effectively and prescribing in context. Consultation is further broken down into clinical and pharmaceutical knowledge, establishing options and communicating with patients. See Maintaining competency in prescribing: an outline framework to help nurse prescribers. The document provides a useful summary of the history of nurse prescribing, as well as the next steps. This area has to be a sensitive one for the industry, and is clearly recognised in the framework. ‘Prescribing in context’ is split into ‘Information in context’, ‘The NHS in context’ and ‘The team and individual context’. Behavioural indicators in these areas include:
NHS influencers
should be aware that a survey of nurse prescribers has shown a degree
of suspicion towards the industry because of potential ‘bias’
in the relationship, as well as expressions of concern over ‘ethical
issues’.
|