Independent and Supplementary Non-medical Prescribing

The aims of the course are to:

• Enable achievement of outcomes that meet the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s (RPS) A Competency Framework for all Prescribers (2016) in order to prescribe safely and effectively.
• Develop a systematic understanding of the processes and context of non-medical prescribing.
• Apply principles of prescribing in the practice context to demonstrate skills-based competency.

This course will enable you to achieve the outcomes that meet the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s (RPS) A Competency Framework for all Prescribers (2016) in order to prescribe safely and effectively.

Who is it for?

This course is designed for experienced Nurses, Midwives and Allied Health Professionals to gain the skills needed to be a Non-medical Prescriber.

Timetable

There are 10 required study days one day a week, two optional study days and a Pharmacology exam. There is a practice-based component for which you need to complete 90 clinical hours and a Practice-based portfolio.

The course runs in January 2021 and May 2021.

MAY: Thursday 6, 13 and 20 May 2021
JUNE: Thursday 3, 10 and 17 June 2021
JULY: Thursday 1, 8, 15 and 22 July 2021

Module Submission date: Thursday 29 July 2021

Optional study days: Thursday 21 October 2021, Sunday 21 November 2021.

Benefits

This course can be taken as part of an MSc programme or as a stand-alone CPD course offering 30 credits at level 7.

Credits

This course is worth 30 credits toward eligible programmes.

The course content includes the following topics:

• skills required for consultation, shared decision making and therapy, including referral, monitoring and review
• clinical pharmacology, including the effects of comorbidity and the impact on a patient/client
• legal, policy and ethical aspects of prescribing
• evidence-based practice and clinical governance in relation to nurse prescribing
• professional accountability and responsibility and its application to community nurse prescribing

On successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Critically evaluate and use sources of information/advice and decision-support systems in prescribing practice.
• Appraise the influences that can affect prescribing practice, and demonstrate your understanding by managing your prescribing practice in an ethical way.
• Synthesise and apply knowledge of drug actions in prescribing practice and apply knowledge of health and illness in order to assess and diagnose presenting conditions and agree a treatment plan.
• Demonstrate accurate assessment, consultation and communication with patients, clients, parents and carers.
• Critically evaluate and work within legal and regulatory frameworks affecting prescribing practice, prescribing within your own scope of practice and recognising the limits of your own knowledge and skill.
• Demonstrate respect for the patient/client in relation to diversity, values, beliefs, and expectation about their health and treatment with medicines.
• Appraise and discuss the importance of shared decision-making, respecting patient/client preferences, including their right to refuse or limit treatment, and promoting concordance and medicines adherence.
• Appraise the value of and demonstrate collaborative working as part of a multidisciplinary team, establishing relationships with other professionals based on understanding, trust and respect for each other’s roles in relation to prescribing.

Teaching

This course consists of taught (theory and research) sessions and supervised practice-based learning experiences.

Assessment

You will be assessed by the following methods:

The summative assessment for this course consists of:

• Practice Assessment Document submission including:
  • assessment of prescribing practice
  • evidence of passing a clinical calculations test
  • written prescription
  • 2 reflections focused on your prescribing experience
• A 3,000-word reflective essay focused on a critical analysis of your learning achievements and your understanding of the principles of independent and supplementary prescribing.
• A clinical calculations test in which you must achieve 100% to pass.
• A two-hour unseen examination on prescribing and pharmacology, including multiple-choice and short-answer questions

On successful completion of this course, your name will be uploaded to the relevant regulatory body to allow you to prescribe. As a stand-alone course, you will be awarded 30 credits at Level 7.

You can request a transcript of your result following successful completion of the course.

Credits

This course is worth 30 credits toward eligible programmes.

Non-EEA students can only apply as part of a programme, not as a stand-alone course.

Please note: There is no flexibility with the entry requirements below. Students are required to meet all requirements before applying for this course.

• a second class or above (2:2 classification) honours degree in a relevant subject from an approved higher education institution or evidence of master’s level CPPD (level 7) study undertaken within the last five years
• current health professional registration with a regulatory body or equivalent, for example the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) or Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC) (evidence provided by supplying valid NMC/HCPC PIN and expiry date)
• have a minimum of 1 year of post-registration experience (or part-time equivalent)
• competent in managing patient consultations, undertaking clinical diagnosis and maintaining accurate records in your area of practice, preferably evidenced by successful completion of appropriate clinical assessment course
• have demonstrated reflection on current practice and taken responsibility for own development
• opportunity to work in a clinical area and develop advanced clinical practice skills, knowledge and behaviours as part of the prescribing programme. The clinical area should have an educational audit in place
• hold a current and satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
• have approved funding arrangements in place
• ensure that you have a named Practice Assessor who needs to be a Medical or Non-Medical Prescriber

English requirements

For those students whose first language is not English, the following qualification is also required:

• IELTS: 7.0

Some useful literature to read in advance and during the course:

• Nursing and Midwifery Council (2018) Standards for prescribing programmes. NMC, London
• Nursing and Midwifery Council (2018) The Code: Professional Standards of Practice and Behaviour for Nurses and Midwives
• Ritter, J.M., Flower, R., Henderson, G., Loke, Y.K., MacEwan, D. and Rang, H.P. (2020) Rang and Dale’s Pharmacology (9th ed.), London, Elsevier.
• Royal Pharmaceutical Society (2016) A Single Competency Framework for Prescribing

Further literature will be suggested throughout the course.