Mental health service users’ views of nurse prescribing

This study explored the views of mental health service users regarding the concept of nurse prescribing, an area that to date has not been examined in any significant way. A qualitative approach was used to gather data from a series of focus groups made up of service users within the Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust area. Content analysis was used to analyse data from each focus group and four major themes were identified from the relevant component categories. This study identifies that service users have a number of concerns regarding the adoption of nurse prescribing within the mental health context, in particular the need for nurses taking on a prescribing role to be adequately educated and supported in this function. Participants were concerned that in developing a prescribing role, nurses did not neglect other core nursing activities and that the issues of role profile, skill mix and collaborative working were not undermined. The study provides useful information regarding the development of this role within mental health nursing, and offers constructs that could be explored further among service user and patient groups using quantitative methodologies