Angel Romero-Collado

This column shares the best evidence-based strategies and innovative ideas on how to facilitate the learning of EBP principles and processes by clinicians as well as nursing and in-terprofessional students. Guidelines for submission are available at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.

In this cross-sectional study, we explored course content related to pharmacology and/or healthcare products and supplies in all nursing degree programs in Spain. Changes in nurse-prescribing legislation in Spain require that nurses take a certification course before prescribing over-the-counter products and medications. Using a cross-sectional descriptive study, between July and September 2014, the degree programs of all centers that offer a degree in nursing in Spain were examined, selecting those with course information available online. All centers offered at least one pharmacology course. One-third of the required courses had content related to pharmacology and healthcare products/supplies. The analysis showed that the course content and training received during the current nursing degree program provides the knowledge and skills needed to prescribe healthcare products/supplies and medications that do not now require a doctor's prescription, without the need for additional training and certification. It is essential that government regulation of nursing education be aligned with nursing competencies, curriculum standards, clinical practice, and evidence-based research to provide the maximum level of confidence for nursing professionals and their patients.

(2014) Journal of Nursing Management 22, 394-404. Nurse prescribing in primary care in Spain: legal framework, historical characteristics and relationship to perceived professional identity Aim To identify the extent of nurse prescription and determine specific medications and/or health-care supplies routinely prescribed by primary care nurses in Spain in a changing legal context. To explore nurse perceptions of legalized nurse prescription's relationship to professional identity. Background Although the Spanish public has similar confidence in nurses and physicians, professional identity remains a concern for nurses. Nurse prescription has a confusing history in Spain but is increasingly common elsewhere, and may enhance nursing's professional profile. Method A cross-sectional survey reporting the occurrence of nurse prescription in one province in Spain and primary care nurses' perceptions of nurse prescription and professional identity in this province. Result The response rate was 69.6% (87 nurses). Frequent nurse-prescribed medications were vaccinations (63.1%), topical antiseptics (60.7%) and antipyretics (44.8%); health-care supplies included supplies for diabetes (51.8%), wound care dressings (44.2%) and incontinence (26.7%). Respondents indicated that nurse prescription positively contributes to the profession and to its development. Conclusion Nurse prescribing exists in primary care in Spain, and formal legalization is in progress but awaits a consensus formulary. Nurses indicated that full legalization would increase professional autonomy and contribute positively to the profession, as an example of how policy can have an impact on practice. Implications for nursing management Spain's experience with inconclusive shifts in the legal status of nurse prescribing may contribute to the discussion in countries where this professional practice is not yet established.

The purpose of this study was to develop a minimum data set (MDS) registry for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) of the lower limbs. We designed the instrument in two phases, comprising a literature review and an e-Delphi study to validate the content. We obtained a total of 39 documents that we used to develop a registry with 125 items grouped in 7 categories, as follows: Patient examination, venous disease assessment methods, diagnostic tests to confirm the disease, ulcer assessment, treatments to manage the disease at all its stages, patient quality of life, and patient health education. The instrument content was validated by 25 experts, 88% of whom were primary healthcare and hospital nurses and 84% had more than 10 years' experience in wound care. Using a two-round Delphi approach, we reduced the number of items in the MDS-CVI to 106 items. The categories remained unchanged. We developed an MDS for CVI with seven categories to assist healthcare professionals in the prevention, early detection, and treatment history of CVI. This tool will allow the creation of a registry in the primary care setting to monitor the venous health state of the population.