Risks To Patients In Uk As Nurses Prescribe

Nurses General Nursing

Published

i READ THIS ARTICLE IN THE MAGAZINE AND WAS COMPLETELY MAD!!!!!!!!!!!!:(

I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENS IN THE STATES BUT........

IN THE UK NURSES TAKE ON MANY RESPONSIBILTIES THAT USED TO BE JUNIOR DOCTORS ROLES.

NOW, HOW MANY OF US NURSES HAVE HAD TO EXPLAIN TO A PIMPLE HEADED LITTLE OIK WHAT TO PRESCRIBE AND WHY?????

I KNOW I HAVE MANY A TIME.

THE OTHER POINT OF NOTE IS THAT THE PERSON WHO STATED THAT WE WERE PUTTING PATIENTS AT RISK WAS PUBLISHED IN THE LANCET A DOCTOR'S JOURNAL!!!:( :( :( DOESN'T THAT STATE EVERYTHING. JOBS FOR THE BOYS ETC. PATHETIC PATRIARACHAL CONSULTANTS AFRAID OF NURSES WHO CAN THINK AND DO BETTER !!!!!!!!

WHILST I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE MAYBE SOME CONCERNS, THE ONLY NURSES THAT CAN PRESCRIBE HAVE GONE ON A COURSE TO LEARN HOW TO PERFORM THIS EXTENDED ROLE

I FEEL PROUD THAT FINALLY NURSES ARE VALUED ENOUGH TO BE GIVEN THE CHANCE TO PROVIDE DRESSINGS AND SIMPLE ANALGESIA FOR A PATIENT. ITS NOT MUCH MORE

ONE HAS TO ASK DOES THIS PERSON EVEN KNOW THE ENTIRE STORY. PROBABLY NOT! JUST A DOCTOR!!!!!!!

J

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I posted this earlier and no replies!

Sorry to download my anger.

j

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Hi. Hope you're feeling better now. It's not really the kind of post that engenders replies, to my mind. But I thought I'd drop by and let you know I'd read it, and completely empathize with your point of view.

Love

Dennie

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Hi Dennie

I agree should not have vented anger. And thanks for your empathy. I am a mature person normally, not known for outbursts of this nature. Won't happen again

A very embarassed Jacky

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Specializes in ER,Neurology, Endocrinology, Pulmonology.

jevans, as far as I was able to learn , nurses in US and other countries have different responsibilites.

When I was workin in a hospital as a teenager in my home country, I got to do things I am not even allowed to touch here.

I remember going to the pharmacy to by my mother some penicillyn, which was sold over the counter along with vitamines.

Many times, nurses who had to visit the elderly at home (since putting your old parents into the nursing home is not an option), have to look at a patient, diagnose him or her and adjust medication list, prescribe another medicine if needed.

Things are just different elsewhere. I understand your frustration , I would probably be pissed too. I will be working in the medical field here in US probably for the rest of my life and I have no choice but to accept the rules. In my case, it will make my life easier.

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

here are links to stories :

the lancet ( british equivelent to new england journal of medicine)

nurse-prescribing in the uk: right but also wrong

commentary not available on-line

story discussed on bbc news website

thursday, 30 may, 2002

nurse prescribing 'poses threat'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/newsid_2016000/2016110.stm

monday, 1 april, 2002

risks to patients in uk as nurses prescribe

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/newsid_1894000/1894292.stm

could it really be that the docs are just upset over this:

3 apr 00 | health

patients are often more satisfied when they see a nurse than a gp during a consultation at a doctor's surgery, researchers have found.

patients 'prefer nurses'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/newsid_711000/711868.stm

wednesday, 5 april, 2000, 12:35 gmt 13:35 uk

nurses' powers to be increased

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/newsid_702000/702300.stm

friday, 4 may, 2001, 13:18 gmt 14:18 uk

nurses 'frustrated' at prescribing limits

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/newsid_1312000/1312232.stm

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Oooh Jevans. I NEVER said you shouldn't have vented your anger!!!! I can completely feel where you're coming from. I just was saying that I didn't really have anything to add or comment, since you'd mentioned the lack of replies. (((((((Jevans)))))))))))

Love

Dennie

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Dennie

Please don't misunderstand I truely was embarassed at what I'd written. Normally I use my husband as a sounding board.

He's not medical but ussually manages to make me see the otherside of the coin.

I've checked out your web page- you have every right to be proud. Well done

jacky

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From the articles NRSKaren posted:

Dr Horton said that if prescribing rights are extended to all drugs, nurses will need to know basic and clinical pharmacology.
And they don't now?

Dr Peter Holden, of the British Medical Association's GP committee, said: "Nurses are great within their limitations, but people must not expect too much. Nurses are not capable of seeing a full range of patients."

He said nurses did not have the ability of GPs to manage risk when dealing with patients whose symptoms were not simple to diagnose.

Grrrr......:(

You go, UK nurses!

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