veNTIlATIoN - Green Cross Publishing

Nurse Prescribing
editorial
It’s that time of year again — time to consider our professional development needs for
the coming year. Nurse prescribing has the potential to enhance and further develop
the practice nurse role and assist in providing holistic patient care. The education
component is now open to practice nurses in both RCSI in Dublin and UCC in Cork.
The two programmes vary slightly in terms of class contact time and assessments. The
programme in Dublin is available through sites in Galway, Cavan and Tullamore which
means that only four days attendance (including examinations) is required in Dublin.
Attendance on a fortnightly basis over a six month period is required at the local site. The
programme is open to all nurses irrespective of grade.
Other considerations which should be taken into account if a nurse is thinking about
undertaking this programme are:
Access to drugs and therapeutics committees (D &T) — these may be available in
your area. If not, you can set one up. The make up of these committees should include
a pharmacist, a GP, a practice nurse, a nursing manager and an independent medical
person. One of the functions of the D & T committee is to sign off on the Collaborative
Practice Agreement which includes the list of drugs the nurse may prescribe
Access to a medical mentor — this person can be your GP
Access to a prescribing site co-ordinator — this person can or may be the Professional
Development Co-ordinator for Practice Nurses in your area. She may also act as your
Nurse Manager for the project
Resources — HSE funding is currently not available to practice nurses for the
programme and the nurse will also need to negotiate study leave.
Access to all of the above at the time of completing the application form is required.
Should the D & T committee not be in place at the time of application, then it must be in
place on completion of the six month programme.
At the beginning of the educational programme, the nurse registers onto the Nurse
& Midwife Prescribing Candidate Register of An Bord Altranais. During the programme,
the practice must develop a Prescribing Protocol. It is advisable to start consideration
of the drugs the nurse is going prescribe early on in the programme. On successful
completion of the course, the nurse then submits the Collaborative Practice Agreement
(CPA) to An Bord Altranais to be admitted onto the Nurse & Midwife Prescribing register.
The CPA must be submitted to An Bord Altranais on a yearly basis. The nurse may submit
any changes to the list of drugs to the D & T throughout the year. The number of times
the D & T committee meets will be determined locally. The Registered Nurse Prescriber
(RNP) will have to continuously audit her prescribing and submit this to the Office of the
Nursing Services Director (ONSD).
The “Guiding Framework for the Implementation of Nurse and Midwife Prescribing in
Ireland” (ONSD, 2008) provides useful information if a practice nurse is considering nurse
prescribing.
Ruth Taylor
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