Nurse prescribing. the knowledge of nursing and midwifery students regarding new professional competences. Poland-wide multicenter study

Abstract

Since 1 January 2016 certain groups of nurses and midwives (N&Ms) have been entitled to administer certain medicines to patients and issue perceptions for it (independent nurse prescribing - INP), issue prescriptions upon physicianís order (supplementary nurse prescribing - SNP) and to refer patients to determined diagnostic tests. Studentsí knowledge on the possibility and principles of nurse prescribing seems to be important. To evaluate the knowledge of 1st year students of Bachelorís studies in nursing and midwifery on the possibility and principles of prescribing authorities of N&Ms in Poland. 2338 1st year students of Bachelorís nursing (1941) and midwifery (398) studies from 26 state higher vocational schools of universities. Own questionnaire assessed in the pilot study; the internal reliability of measurement on the knowledge rating scale was estimated by calculating Cronbachís alpha reliability coefficient. Group of 11% to 64% (depending on a question) gave correct answers. 14 % knew criteria which N&Ms are required to meet in order to refer patients to diagnostic tests. Almost 2/3 of the interviewees also knew where to find the list of active substances allowed in medicines independently prescribed by N&Ms. The internal reliability of the knowledge rating scale was 0.389. The knowledge of students regarding N&Msí prescribing powers is superficial, but most of the respondents knew the crucial issues. It is necessary to correctly determine education standards and to focus on their implementation tools so that those concerned could acquire desired competencies during studies.