Continuing professional development needs of nursing and allied health professionals with responsibility for prescribing

Abstract: Continual Professional Development (CPD) for non-medical prescribers is recognised as being pivotal in maintaining up to date knowledge and skills influencing prescribing competence. This study was, therefore, designed to ascertain the aspirations, priorities and preferred mode of CPD for non-medical prescribers. Qualitative data were derived from semi-structured in-depth interviews and a focus group given by 16 allied health professionals working in primary and secondary care settings. A topic guide was used to cover clinical decision-making (including difficult decisions), legal aspects of prescribing and diagnostic issues. A content analysis of the verbatim transcripts enabled four key emerging themes to be identified, thus offering a basis for developing a greater understanding of the CPD needs of non-medical prescribers. Theme 1: 'Personal anxiety undermining confidence to prescribe', Theme 2: 'External barriers and other factors that exacerbate anxiety', Theme 3: 'Need for support identified through coping strategies', Theme 4: 'Preferred mode or style of learning'. The findings suggest that anxiety and lack of confidence in non- medical prescribing poses a significant challenge for CPD. Strategies that are most likely to improve prescribing confidence are through a blended learning approach. Local higher education and workplace employer collaboration is an appropriate step forward to achieve this.