68. Nurse prescribing in mental health (17)

Austyn Snowden, Lecturer Mental Health Nursing, School of Health Nursing & Midwifery, University of Paisley, Paisley, United Kingdom
austyn.snowden@paisley.ac.uk

Abstract:

Mental health nurse prescribers differ from their non RMN nurse prescribing colleagues. Analysis of a questionnaire sent to all nurse prescribers in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (N=767) revealed that mental health nurse prescribers (n=11) are younger, more likely to be male, less likely to work in primary care, less likely to prescribe but more likely to utilise supplementary prescribing when they do. They are more senior in role yet not as academic or experienced in terms of years prescribing or years nursing. They are more likely to look up drug interactions and drug reactions, possibly as a result of their comparative inexperience. They appear to differ in their conception of the therapeutic relationship (author reference 2007). The poster expands on this quantitative and qualitative evidence by illustrating the research process in this study. Questions for further study are raised, and a constructivist grounded theory approach is suggested as an appropriate methodology for exploring these issues with GPs, mental health nurse prescribers, patients, administrators and consultant psychiatrists (author reference in press).

Findings can then be contrasted with the stated aims of nurse prescribing: • Improve patient care without compromising patient safety;
• Make it easier for patients to get the medicines they need;
• Increase patient choice in accessing medicines;
• Make better use of the skills of health professionals;
• Contribute to the introduction of more flexible team working across the NHS (DH 2006, p4)

Biography:

Lecturer in mental health nursing at University of Paisley. Worked as a mental health nurse since 1985 in Saudi Arabia, Australia, Channel Islands, but mainly in UK, most recently for five years as a community psychiatric nurse in the older adult mental health team in Greenock, Inverclyde. Author of the book Nurse Prescribing in Mental Health. Currently in third year of part time PhD studying the impact of mental health nurse prescribing. Member of the editorial board of Nurse Prescriber.