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Expanding Prescriptive Privileges for Clinical Nurse Specialists: Evidence From Practice
Brandon Tatar1, Mitzi M Saunders
1Henry Ford Warren Hospital, Warren, MI (Tatar); McAuley School of Nursing, University of Detroit Mercy, Detroit, MI (Saunders).
Purpose/Objectives:
The purpose of this paper is to show how a critical care clinical nurse specialist (CNS) with prescriptive authority can address immediate patient needs, drive quality improvement, and improve population health outcomes.
Description:
A review of the current legislative landscape suggests that CNS practice could be enhanced by adding prescriptive authority for the purposes of improving patient, nurse, and system outcomes. Though 41 states support CNS prescribing, many factors may hinder its implementation.
Outcomes:
By examining the values of a CNS authorized to prescribe in their healthcare organization with real-time reflections (scenarios), the ability to enhance direct patient care, reduce delays, and foster nurse engagement is revealed.
Conclusion:
CNSs who elect to obtain prescriptive privileges may have opportunities to improve patient services and outcomes.
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