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Diabetes nurses to prescribe medicine

By Deborah Greenwood posted 04-10-2011 19:25

  

I read this article yesterday and thought it might be interesting to others in the state.

http://tvnz.co.nz/health-news/diabetes-nurses-prescribe-medicine-4107926

 

For the first time a group of registered nurses have been authorised to independently prescribe medication to their patients.

People with diabetes in four North Island regions are to have their medication managed by registered nurses practising in diabetes health.

These nurses now join doctors and nurse practitioners in being authorised to prescribe.

The nurses are taking part in a demonstration that aims to make life easier for diabetes patients and make better use of nursing skills.

The nurses are experienced and specialised in diabetes health care and are already largely responsible for the delivery of diabetes services to patients.

Now they will be the first registered nurses to be authorised to independently prescribe a limited range of medicines to their patients, under the guidance of a medical practitioner.

Launching the prescribing demonstration site at Auckland District Health Board today, Health Minister Tony Ryall said, "The number of people with diabetes in New Zealand has almost doubled in the past 10 years and better management of diabetes is one of our key priorities.

"We need to develop smarter and more practical ways of utilising our health workforce to deliver these services, and innovative ways like this are the way forward."

Auckland, Hawke's Bay, Mid Central Health, and Hutt DHBs begin the demonstrations from this week.

The scheme will be fully evaluated before rollout to other parts of the country or to other specialist services.

"This expansion of practice is common in other countries and has been shown to benefit both nurses and patients," Ryall said.

Patients are likely to need fewer medical appointments and can have more time with the specialist nurse who understands their individual circumstances, he said.

At the same time nurses can continue to extend their professional skills.

"This is teamwork and partnership which will lead to more efficient and effective care."

The project is being run in partnership between Health Workforce New Zealand and the nursing team at the Ministry of Health, in conjunction with the Nursing Council of New Zealand and the New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes.

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Linda Cox
05-05-2011 18:08

Diabetes nurses to prescribe

If CDE's were able to prescribe diabetes medications or at least adjust doses of medications, that would save so much time.  I spend days sometimes trying to reach a doctor to change doses of oral meds and insulin, or get a prescription for pen needles or strips called into a pharmacy.  When I worked in a physician office, this was no problem, but now that I am in an outpatient center, this problem is increasing. Many physicians overlook the need to prescribe needles or syringes with insulin or strips and lancets with meters.  Many of my patients go days without insulin because the doctor did not write for exact dosing for an insulin prescription. Pharmacists used to be able to contact the physician right away and even make suggestions for doses or numbers of strips, but this is no longer occurring. As RN/CDE's we are well informed as to dosing algorithms for both oral meds and insulin.  Hooray for New Zealand.  Good luck in the USA.