Non-medical prescribing in the acute setting

Abstract

Non-medical prescribing in the acute setting presents both challenge and opportunity. The challenge inherent within the remit of an advanced nurse practitioner in a Hospital at Night Team is to provide safe and effective care to deteriorating patients across a wide range of clinical specialties. The opportunity, is to apply the holism of nursing to a traditionally medical role. By facilitating the provision of seamless care from one healthcare professional, non-medical prescribing not only benefits patients by expediting treatment, by supporting the autonomy of advanced nursing practice it enhances job satisfaction. Whilst robust governance at national and local level is required to provide a benchmark for safe and effective practice, individual non-medical prescribers and their parent organisations hold a joint responsibility towards continuous professional development. Containing examples taken from the author's clinical practice and a small audit of her personal non-medical prescribing practice, this chapter aims to illustrate the role of non-medical prescribing in the acute setting. All identifiable patient details have been removed.