At the beginning of January, the Ministry of Health published in the BOE the indication, use and authorization by nurses for the dispensing of fever medications subject to medical prescription. In other words, from that moment on the group of nurses is authorized to prescribe ibuprofen and paracetamol to treat cases of febrile processes in their patients.
The ability to prescribe medications by nurses has been a historical demand in the healthcare field, which is why the group has celebrated this advance, although it also expresses its surprise at the fact that this information now draws attention, since it does not This is a novelty.
As Sandra Arco, Associate PDI of the Nursing Degree at TecnoCampus and Nursing Coordinator of the CAP Progres Rabal in Badalona, explains, nursing prescription is regulated by the Royal Decree since 2015, modified with royal decree RD 1302/2018. Arco positively values that she is informed about this process, since she considers that this activity is still "very unknown, since it is believed that the prescription was not regulated."
Nurses have always needed to prescribe care materials, ostomies and modify chronic treatments. However, this was not regulated, leading to misunderstandings by patients about who "authorized" nurses' clinical decisions.
“Nursing prescription meant advancing in the development of the profession, since it is part of nursing competencies. Likewise, it allows us to improve the care resolution that we nurses carry out during person-centered care,” explains Arco.
For the group, prescription has been a relevant point in the development of the profession, since it has allowed “nurses to be able to indicate and authorize drugs and health products necessary for the provision of care autonomously. The planning, provision and evaluation of care was partly incomplete, since other professionals were the ones who previously authorized the products,” comments the TecnoCampus professor.
The benefits of nurses being able to prescribe medications are notable. Mainly, this benefits the people served, since the care process is not fragmented by requiring the intervention of other professionals just to authorize the prescription.
At the same time, this also has a positive impact on the image that citizens have of the profession, as they are served by autonomous and responsible professionals.
On the other hand, the efficiency and agility in the clinical decision-making process in the health system are improved with the authorization of nurses to prescribe. International studies show that nursing prescription is associated with better patient care, more effective use of time and resources, and improves relationships between health professionals.
According to Arco, nurses are “satisfied with the achievement of prescription regulation in the profession, the result of years of struggle for recognition.” However, she cautions that more work needs to be done to develop the legal framework and prescribing guidelines to provide nurses with a safe practice environment.
This advance contributes to more personalized and patient-centered care. The regulation of nursing prescriptions favors people's access to necessary medications and products. These professionals, who care for people at different stages of life and health states, can assess, diagnose and prescribe care and treatments in a comprehensive manner, thus contributing to a completed and satisfactory process.
The ability to prescribe medications, in short, contributes to more complete, efficient and person-centered care, strengthening the professional autonomy of nurses and improving society's perception of this crucial profession.
