Statement of Awareness in the Differences in Child and Adult Prescribing
‘Only nurses with relevant knowledge, competence, skills and experience in nursing children should prescribe for children. This is particularly important in primary care (e.g. out of hours, walk-in clinics and general practice settings). Any one prescribing for a child in these situations must be able to demonstrate competence in prescribing for children and refer to another prescriber when working outside their level of expertise or level of competence.’ The Nursing and Midwifery Council standards of proficiency for nurse and midwife prescribers’ (NMC, 2006)
This would be a time when I as a prescriber would consider myself as working outside of my level of…show more content… The debate continues today, there is a vast amount of literature with regards to prescribing for a child and the taking of responsibility.
The Childrens Act 2004 clearly defines all ethical, social, psychological, physical, emotional legal areas in which to guide the safe guarding of all minors.
Every Child Matters document', or ECM for short, is a UK government initiative that was launched in 2003. It is one of the most significant policy initiative and development programmes in relation to children and children's services of the last decade. It has been the title of three government papers, leading to the Childrens Act 2004. Every Child Matters covers children and young adults up to the age of 19, or 24 for those with disabilities. Its main aims are for every child, whatever their background or circumstances, to have the support they need to be:
S Safe
H Healthy
E Enjoy/achieve
E Economic
P Positive
Each of these areas has a framework attached, the outcomes require multi-agency partnerships working together to achieve them. This initiative for me highlights the need to be focused on your patient, not necessarily what the parent/guardian or carer wants, but the needs of the patient. At times, a prescriber may feel under pressure to prescribe, as this would please
