The Psychiatrist (2009) 33: 350-353. doi: 10.1192/pb.bp.108.020156
© 2009 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
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Education & Training

Training and assessing independent nurse prescribers: a model for old age psychiatry

Sally Cubbin, Specialist Registrar in Psychiatry

*The Warneford Hospital, Oxford OX3 7JX, email: sallycubbin{at}doctors.org.uk

Jane Pearce, Consultant in Old Age Psychiatry and Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer in Psychiatry

Fulbrook Centre, The Warneford Hospital, Oxford

Roger Bullock, Consultant in Old Age Psychiatry

Victoria Hospital, Swindon

Rupert McShane, Consultant in Old Age Psychiatry and Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer in Psychiatry

Fulbrook Centre, The Warneford Hospital, Oxford

Declaration of interest

None.

AIMS AND METHOD

The brevity of training and assessment for independent nurse prescribers has caused some concern. We aimed to validate an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) for potential nurse prescribers in dementia. Nurses’ performance after 12 days of training for potential prescribers was compared with that of doctors of different grades.

RESULTS

The performance of doctors, but not nurses, correlated with years of experience. Many nurses, especially those working in memory clinics, scored better than junior doctors.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

This OSCE provides evidence of potential prescribers’ competency for employers. This could make a significant contribution to maintaining high standards of patient safety with nurse prescribing. This may also be an appropriate addition to the assessment of specialty trainees as well as for revalidation.