e
the benefits of non-medical prescribing to patients,
including improved communication, better
continuity of care and increased patient confidence
in healthcare professionals.
Patients receiving palliative care are responsive
to and supportive of non-medical prescribing
because the nurse is deemed to have in-depth
knowledge of the patient, a sound knowledge of
analgesics and more time for the consultation
process (Creedon and O’Regan 2010). In palliative
care, patients may need to be prescribed opioids.
The nurse’s role as an independent non-medical
prescriber enables timely management of patients’
pain and access to appropriate drugs. Nurses can
also initiate alterations to medications and referral
to other healthcare professionals as appropriate,