Pharmacology qiuz

Prescribing in Healthcare

• Prescribing is the primary approach to treating and preventing diseases in healthcare, with medicines being used more than any other intervention by patients to manage clinical conditions.

Evolution of Prescribing Responsibilities

• Originally, doctors and dentists were the primary prescribers, but now other health professionals, such as nurses, pharmacists, podiatrists, and physiotherapists, can prescribe within their scope of practice.

International Practices

• In countries like the USA, UK, and Australia, non-medical prescribers, including nurses, are trained to prescribe independently and supplementary, maintaining safety and efficiency.

Nurse Prescribing in India

• Currently, only medical practitioners and dentists can prescribe drugs in India, but with the introduction of nurse practitioner programs, there is a need to empower nurses to prescribe within their scope.

Expanding Nurse Practitioner Roles in India

• The Indian Nursing Council (INC) has finalized the Scope of Practice Document for Nurse Practitioners in midwifery, enabling them to prescribe within their scope soon.

Standards of Proficiency for Nurse Prescribers

• Nurse prescribers must have sufficient knowledge and competence to assess patients, undertake thorough health histories, diagnose and manage conditions, identify appropriate products, advise patients, prescribe, and monitor responses to medication and lifestyle advice.

Future of Nurse Practitioners in India

• With the integration of prescribing principles into pharmacology courses, nurse practitioners in midwifery will be able to prescribe from a limited list of approved drugs, while those in critical care will follow protocol-driven drug administration, integrating collaborative and shared care with medical practitioners.