Physicians’ attitudes towards the development of the nurse prescribing role in critical care and emergency departments

Abstract

Background: The progression of the nurse prescribing role encounters numerous challenges, with physician resistance being a significant obstacle. This study aims to assess physicians’ perspectives regarding the expansion of the nurse prescribing role within critical care and emergency departments. Methods: This cross-sectional study employed convenience sampling to enroll 193 physicians. Data collection instruments included a demographic information form and a researcher-developed questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data using SPSS-22 software. Results: A total of 193 physicians participated in the survey, with a mean age of 41.9 ± 10.7 years. Among physicians from various age groups, genders, educational backgrounds, and clinical experiences, more than 60% acknowledged prescribing medicine as an essential component of their professional responsibilities. However, a significant majority of physicians in these categories agreed that in emergency situations, nurses should be allowed to prescribe medication to save patients’ lives. It is worth noting that, unlike specialist and fellowship physicians, a majority of general practitioners (83.3%) held the view that nurse-prescribed medications do not contribute to the professional development of nursing. The nurse prescribing role encountered several predominant obstacles, namely legal consequences (78.8%), interference of duties between physicians and nurses (74.1%), and a legal vacuum (77.2%). Conclusion: The majority of physicians expressed a favorable attitude towards nurse prescribing in emergency and critical care departments. To facilitate the development of the nurse prescribing role, it is essential to ensure the acquisition of scientific qualifications and implement necessary changes in nursing curricula across bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs.