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25 Jan 2012

Can a nurse prescribe controlled drugs?

Practical Approach A prescription is presented to you for oxycodone, written and signed by a nurse non-medical prescriber. Can you dispense...
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Angela Alexander, Other healthcare professional
Posted on 28 January 2012.
The first statement about prescribing CDs is not quite correct, although you do get it right later. Independent nurse prescribers cannot "prescribe any medication in the BNF (including controlled drugs)". As you later state, they can currently only prescribe a limited range of CDs for a specific set of conditions/ circumstances.
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Chris Chapman, OTC Editor and C+D CPD Editor
Posted on 30/01/12 19:01 in reply to Angela Alexander.
Hi Angela,

Thanks for your comment and clarification. I believe the first statement in its entirety ("prescribe any medication in the BNF (including controlled drugs) provided she is working within her scope of competence") clarifies that this is a limited formulary, and that independent nurse prescribers cannot prescribe all controlled drugs, and the latter statement expands this point.
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patrick saldanha, Community pharmacist
Posted on 31/01/12 13:49 in reply to Chris Chapman.
sorry , i'm getting very confused.
' prescribe any medication in the BNF (including controlled drugs) provided she is working within her scope of competence") clarifies that this is a limited formulary' appears to be a contradiction.
How do we know what they can prescribe
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patrick saldanha, Community pharmacist
Posted on 31/01/12 13:52 in reply to patrick saldanha.
I have written to 'Are you confused by non-medical prescribing rules?
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Chris Chapman, OTC Editor and C+D CPD Editor
Posted on 31/01/12 14:58 in reply to patrick saldanha.
Hi Patrick,

Nurse independent prescribers can prescribe any medicine, including POMs, licensed and unlicensed medicines as long as they are working within their competence.

However, there are some exceptions, and they are only allowed to prescribe a limited number of controlled drugs: the list of these is identified in Part XVIIB (ii) of the Drug Tariff.

I hope that clears up the confusion.
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Maria Ovenden, Community pharmacist
Posted on 02/02/12 20:16 in reply to Angela Alexander.
Angela is right, the BNF states that "Nurse independent prescribers are able to prescribe any licensed medicine for any medical condition including some controlled drugs", that are then listed. The important word that was missed out in the explaining text was " some" which clarifies the situation.
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Paul Reader, Locum pharmacist
Posted on 4 February 2012.
How do pharmacists determine what is within the nurse prescriber's competence?
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