Service delivery by nurse prescribers for diabetes care

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Abstract
The overall aim of the research was to provide a national evaluation of Nurse Independent and Nurse Supplementary Prescribing in diabetes in the UK. A key component was to examine service provision by nurse prescribers for patients with diabetes.The NMC database was used to randomly select and distribute questionnaires to 1992 registered Nurse Independent/Nurse Supplementary Prescribers. 1400 questionnaires were returned. Medicines for patients withdiabetes were prescribed by 439 respondents. This paper reports on the findings of these 439 nurses. The majority (63%) of nurses worked in general practice. Over 90% of services were provided to patients in the community. Over 30% made treatment alterations over the telephone to patients they had not met. Nurses with specialist training in diabetes viewed themselves as more competent than nurses without (P=0.000). Nurses who reported higher levels of competence were more likely to make treatment alterations over the telephone (P=0.000). Nurse independent and nurse supplementary prescribers working in a variety of roles are actively involved in the delivery of services to patients with diabetes. This care is predominantly provided in the community. It is evident from our findings that nurse's competence affects their scope of professional practice in the management of these patients.

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