Abstract
Nursing around the world is developing very dynamically and nurses are undertaking increasingly complex tasks. The extension of entitlements for nurses in Poland in the area of writing prescriptions and referrals for diagnostic tests seems to be a response to the development and changes occurring in this profession. This will improve the standards of patient care, increase access to medical services and improve the professional status of this group. The aim of this study was to analyze the opinions of nurses regarding their preparedness for administering prescriptions and referrals for diagnostic tests depending on their sense of life satisfaction and the level of occupational burnout. The study was conducted among primary care nurses using a survey technique, using a standardized scale of life satisfaction and a scale to measure burnout. In addition, this study used a proprietary survey questionnaire containing questions regarding the self-assessment of preparedness for new competences. The results showed that nurses do not feel well prepared for new tasks. The levels of life satisfaction and burnout of the nurses surveyed significantly influenced confidence regarding their preparedness for writing prescriptions and referrals for diagnostic tests. Polish nurses have a very cautious attitude towards new competences. However, this is a breakthrough and the first step towards approving the role of an advanced practice nurse in our country.
Highlights
The development of nursing and the assumption of new functions by nurses have meant that nursing has become a more complex profession in many countries, requiring experience and the necessary knowledge to execute and manage patient care [1]
Our research has shown that the highest level of occupational burnout was related to psychophysical exhaustion and disappointment; occupational burnout in nurses was manifested to the least extent by a lack of involvement in relationships and a sense of lack of professional effectiveness
Nurses who were working in primary healthcare in the Subcarpathian Province (Southeastern Poland), who were registered with the District Council of Nurses, who had the right to practice, who had at least 2 years of professional experience, who were present during data collection, who were willing to participate in the study and who agreed to participate in the study were considered as eligible for inclusion
Summary
The development of nursing and the assumption of new functions by nurses have meant that nursing has become a more complex profession in many countries, requiring experience and the necessary knowledge to execute and manage patient care [1]. In most Western European and Anglo-Saxon countries, nurses are provided with thorough knowledge related to prescribing during undergraduate and postgraduate courses, yet the related issues are mainly included in regular teaching curricula at the level of master’s degree courses [3,10]. In some countries, such as Ireland and the United Kingdom, nurses acquire the relevant qualifications during independent courses, at bachelor’s level. In the United Kingdom, the range of medicines which can legally be prescribed by nurses depends on the entitlement category [3,11]
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