Prescribing for children – a nursing perspective

  • A Gray University of KwaZulu-Natal
Keywords: prescribing, ontogeny, medicines information, metabolism, guidelines

Abstract

Although a formal scope of practice for specialist prescribing nurses has yet to be finalised by the South African Nursing Council (SANC), many nurses are already prescribing medicines for both adult and paediatric patients, in both the private and public sectors.1 In the public sector, nurses are guided by the Standard Treatment Guidelines (STG) and Essential Medicines List (EML), and specifically the document that is intended for Primary Health Care (PHC).2

Prescribing nurses in the private sector work in such areas as occupational health, and are guided by their employer’s policies as well as the details of their permits. However, in addition to the guidance provided, nurses who prescribe, dispense and administer medicines for children need to consider the specific clinical needs of this group and the challenges these entail.

Author Biography

A Gray, University of KwaZulu-Natal

Senior Lecturer, Division of Pharmacology, Discipline of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Published
2022-09-15
Issue
Vol 26 No 2 (2022)
Section
Review
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