The expansion of nurse prescribing in Scotland: an evaluation

Medicine prescribing by community nurses commenced in the UK in 1996. By 2001, nurse prescribing was extended to include more nurses and to cover a wider formulary. This research project provides an evaluation of the extension of prescribing powers to nurses in Scotland, following the introduction of legislation in 2001. It aimed to evaluate the impact of nurse prescribing powers on patients, nurses, prescribers, and other stakeholders. A range of methods were used, including two public surveys, stakeholder interviews, postal questionnaires and case studies. The benefits of extended nurse prescribing include: improved patient access to treatment; enhanced patient care; enabled more effective use of medical staff time and greater professional satisfaction for nurses who used nursing skills; and built inter-professional working. Some obstacles existed, including organisational, institutional and resource factors that restricted the overall success of the extension of nurse prescribing. There are high levels of agreement between patients, the public, nurse prescribers, physicians and other health professionals about the benefits of nurse prescribing to patients. The extension of nurse prescribing has been largely successful, with some organisational and procedural areas that could be addressed.