District nurses' prescribing practice and its link to structural conditions.

PURPOSE: To describe district nurses' (DNs') prescribing practice and examine associations between DNs' self-reported prescribing frequency, opinions about prescribing, and structural conditions/empowerment. DATA SOURCES: A cross-sectional and correlational design was employed. Data were collected during 2012 using questionnaires and a prescribing register. A random sample of 150 DNs from 32 primary care centers in Sweden was invited.
CONCLUSIONS: DNs' ability to prescribe is used to a relatively small extent and access to "opportunities" and "informal power" seems to be the most important structural empowerment conditions for increased prescribing frequency and positive opinions about prescribing. The results support Kanter's theory of structural empowerment. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: This article regarding restricted prescribing shows how important structural conditions/empowerment is to DNs' prescribing and employers have to enhance nurses' access to especially the structures "opportunities" and "informal power" to increase nurse prescribing. More targeted support and training are needed in different prescribing areas to make use of DNs' prescription qualification to a greater extent. ©2015 American Association of Nurse Practitioners.