In January 2012 the Royal College of Nursing’s advanced nurse practitioner (ANP) forum started a project to involve patients in prescribing decisions. It was evident from the literature that this was an area of potential gain and one that nurses with non-medical prescribing qualifications could positively influence. This article outlines the problem of medicines optimisation, the role of non-medical prescribing and what the ANP forum project aims to achieve with its innovative nurse prompt card.