[Prescription nursing in Spain: we make the road by walking... A literature review]

To describe and to summarize the content of publications in scientific journals on nurse prescribing in Spain

A literature review

Database searches: CINAHL, CUIDEN, ENFISPO, IBECS and PubMed were searched for articles published between January 2000 and March 2010. It also included an editorial in a journal indexed in any of the above databases, whose content was not only nursing prescribing in Spain.

Any type of publication (studies, opinion articles, editorials or letters to the editor) about the PE, which was indexed in one of the databases mentioned above. We included 24 articles published in: a) the alegal stage when there was no clear jurisdiction over the drugs' prescription and medical devices by nurses (5 articles); b) the illegal when legally regulated that nurse prescribing was illegal (17 articles); c) the legal stage, when it ruled that the nurses could prescribe (2 items). 96 articles were excluded.

The vast majority of the articles are favorable views of nurse prescribing. It proposes an independent nurse prescribing and a collaborative nurse prescribing role to improve the quality of healthcare offered. Pharmacology training is needed in university education and during the development of nurse career

Nurse prescribing is a necessity for the full autonomy of the nursing profession in Spain, since the nurse can't provide their care without the power to prescribe medicinal products. Studies are needed to demonstrate the benefits and effectiveness of nurse prescribing.