Antibiotic Prescription Practices of Nurse Practitioners

The purpose of this quantitative survey study was to identify if nurse practitioners would prescribe an antibiotic for a known viral symptom of purulent nasal discharge. This is a relevant issue, given the misuse of antibiotics for viral infections and its contribution to antibiotic resistance. A researcher adapted, mailed-out, force-choice questionnaire was sent to a random sample of 500 nurse practitioners from a registry list was used. The response rate was 56%.The chi-square test revealed that there was a relationship between an antibiotic prescription and purulent nasal discharge. Practice implications include minimizing antibiotic resistance and maintaining safe, effective, and appropriate health care. Nurse practitioners need to be aware of practice guideline, resistance patterns, diagnostic techniques, and up-to-date information on antibiotics.