The delivery of care that is usually offered by nurses has already undergone considerable changes and improvements in the United States. The main developments touched upon the economic situation, the number of medical workers and the quality of their work, and the promotion of healthcare services in different areas (Fong, Buckley, & Cashin, 2015). Today, certain attention is paid to the role of nurses as medication prescribers regarding educational, financial, and managerial perspectives. Prescribers are healthcare professionals who may not be doctors but can prescribe medications due to an advanced qualification in prescribing and legal permission to participate in such activity (Cope, Abuzour, & Tully, 2016). A professional practice issue of the nurse practitioner as a prescriber is characterized by additional knowledge, their willingness to take responsibility at different levels, and learning certain legal aspects of nursing.
Nursing practice should begin with a clear introduction of what nurses have and have not to do in terms of their profession. NPs are responsible for blending medicine, nursing knowledge, and legal issues. They should understand the peculiar features of a disease process, apply the necessary pharmacological and toxicological knowledge, and demonstrate appropriate nursing skills. Understanding of pharmacotherapeutics and pharmacodynamics of drugs is also required. There are certain basics of nursing education. Advanced knowledge of pharmacology, for example, includes the necessity to know something about bioequivalence and cost, interactions of different drugs, and the determination of doses and maintenance, and possible adverse effects on patients.
Besides, an NP as a prescriber needs to succeed in the development of communication, lifestyle management, nutrition, and patient-centered care. In other words, the professional practice of nurses supports extensive knowledge and skills in such areas as nursing and management (Cope et al., 2016). The peculiar feature of holistic care is the recognition of cultural aspects, promotion of education, and support to patients and their families even in prescribing medications. Finally, nurses have to understand that collaboration with other medical workers is a part of their success in their professional practice. It is not enough to talk and discuss the latest news and innovations. It is recommended for nursing practitioners (NPs) to communicate and collaborate with different healthcare workers to exchange personal experiences and attitudes to work, additional knowledge and latest investigations, and innovations.
Drug prescription is closely connected to the results of clinical judgments. Clinical judgment is the possibility to combine the information obtained from medical and nursing diagnoses, investigate possible therapies, and use specific knowledge to choose a drug for a patient. Prescriptive authority is an integral aspect of US nursing (Fong et al., 2015). NPs have to develop their skills and demonstrate their abilities to healthcare workers, medical workers, patients, and their families. It is not enough to demonstrate a high level of knowledge. Each state has its legislative aspects that should be followed. NPs must understand that each patient may have specific financial and economic concerns. Prescribed drugs may be too expensive or incompatible with other drugs and therapies. Therefore, any practice of a nurse practitioner as a prescriber has to be supported from different perspectives, including nursing management, the development of personal and professional skills, the promotion of professional knowledge, and the consideration of core values, traditions, and cultures of the community where prescribing services are offered and improved regularly.
References
Cope, L.C., Abuzour, A.S., & Tully, M.P. (2016). Nonmedical prescribing: Where are we now? Therapeutic Advances in Drug Safety, 7(4), 165-172.
Fong, J., Buckley, T., & Cashin, A. (2015). Nurse practitioner prescribing: An international perspective. Nursing: Research and Reviews, 2015(5), 99-108.