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 (2021) 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.

Independent Prescribing

Independent prescribing is prescribing by a practitioner, who is responsible and accountable for the assessment of service users with undiagnosed or diagnosed conditions and for decisions about the clinical management required.

An independent prescriber is able to prescribe on their own initiative any medicine within their scope of practice and relevant legislation (HCPC, 2021).

Supplementary Prescribing

A supplementary prescriber is a voluntary partnership between a doctor or dentist and a supplementary prescriber to prescribe within an agreed service user-specific clinical management plan (CMP). This is a written plan agreed between a doctor or dentist and a supplementary prescriber for the treatment of a named service user, with the knowledge and agreement of the service user and/or carer. The plan outlines the illnesses or conditions that may be treated by the supplementary prescriber, the types of medicines they may prescribe any limits to the strength or dose of medicines that they may prescribe.

Once qualified a supplementary prescriber may prescribe any medicine within their clinical competence, within the limits of the CMP (HCPC, 2021).

Who is it for?

This course is designed for experienced Nurses, Midwives, Physiotherapists, Paramedics, Chiropodists/Podiatrists, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Radiographers and Dieticians to gain the skills needed to be an Independent and/or Supplementary Prescriber as permitted by their statutory regulator.

Timetable

Please note: applications for this module will not be considered unless you meet all the entry requirements. This is an extremely popular module and applications will be considered on a first come first serve basis.

There are 10 required study days one day a week, with an additional 2 revision sessions (which are not compulsory but highly recommended). After the taught content, there is a practice-based component for which you need to complete 90 clinical hours (evidenced in a Practice-based portfolio), a reflective essay and a pharmacology exam.

Term 1 (Oct 2023)

Oct: Thursday 12, 19 and 26 October 2023
Nov: Thursday 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30 November 2023
Dec: Thursday 7 and 14 December 2023

Revision Sessions: Monday 11 and Tuesday 12 December 2023

Numeracy Test: Thursday 19 October 2023
Exam: Tuesday 19 December 2023 
Coursework: Monday 11 March 2024

Term 2 (Jan 2024)

Jan: Thursday 11, 18 and 25 January 2024
Feb: Thursday 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29 January 2024
Mar: Thursday 7 and 14 March 2024

Revision Sessions: TBC

Numeracy Test: Thursday 18 January 2024
Exam: Tuesday 26 March 2024
Coursework: Monday 17 June 2024

Term 3 (May 2024)

May: Thursday 9, 16, 23 and 30 May 2024
Jun: Thursday 6, 13, 20 and 27 June 2024
Jul: Monday 4 and 11 July 2024

Revision Sessions: TBC

Numeracy Test: Saturday 25 May 2024
Exam: Tuesday 5 September 2024
Coursework: Sunday 29 September 2024

Benefits

This module is a demanding programme of study and includes both academic work and clinical components. Our health CPD courses are credit-bearing modules that contribute to a University degree or award.

Transfer course credits towards postgraduate taught degree

As a health care professional, once you've completed this course you could offset 30 credits as part of a postgraduate programme, continuing your study with further modules to make up a Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) 60 credits, Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) 120 credits or Master of Science (MSc) 180 credits qualification (all credits must be awarded within five years of study commencing).

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 demanding 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 module consists of taught (theory and research) sessions and supervised prescribing practice-based learning experiences.

Assessment

You will be assessed by the following methods:

The summative assessment for this course consists of:

• Prescribing Practice Assessment Document
• A 3,000-word essay
• A two-hour unseen examination on prescribing and pharmacology, including multiple-choice and short answer questions in which you must achieve a minimum mark of 80% to pass.
• A clinical calculations test in which you must achieve 100% to pass.

Upon successful completion of this course, the relevant statutory regulator (NMC and/or HCPC) will be notified and you will have the opportunity to register as an Independent and/or Supplementary Prescriber (as applicable).

As a stand-alone module, you will be awarded 30 credits at Level 7.

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.
• Independent and Supplementary Prescribing
  current registration with either the NMC as a registered nurse (level 1), a registered midwife, or SCPHN or with the HCPC as either a Physiotherapist, Paramedic, Chiropodist/Podiatrist or Therapeutic Radiographer (evidence provided by supplying valid NMC/HCPC PIN and expiry date).
• Supplementary Prescribing
  current registration with the HCPC as a Dietician or Diagnostic Radiographer.
• registration with the NMC and/or HCPC as applicable for a minimum period of 1 year prior to application.
• identification of an area of clinical practice within which your scope of where prescribing practice will be developed.
• confirmation that you are capable of safe and effective practice at a level of proficiency appropriate to the module to be undertaken within your scope of prescribing practice in relation to the following;
  - Clinical/Health Assessment
  - Diagnostics/Care Management
  - Planning and Evaluation of Care
• completion of an appropriate module in Advanced Physical Assessment prior to application or alternatively completion and submission of a Physical Assessment Workbook.
• confirmation that you have the appropriate numeracy skills.
• confirmation that you hold a current and satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
• confirmation of the agreement of two experienced independent prescribers who meet the Royal Pharmaceutical Society Competency Framework for Designated Prescribing Practitioners (DPP) to act as your Designated Prescribing Practitioner (Practice Assessor or Practice Educator) and Practice Supervisor (NMC registrants only) during the 90 hours of learning in prescribing practice; these two roles should not be undertaken by the same person.
• confirmation that your employing organisation will support you to undertake the module and that the support provided will include:
  • 12 days to attend scheduled study and assessment days and engage in guided study activities set by the university (equivalent to 300 hours of learning).
  • arrangements to support a supervised period of learning in prescribing practice equivalent to a minimum of 90 hours.
  • protected time to engage in practice development activities with an identified Designated Prescribing Practitioner (DPP) and Practice Supervisor (NMC registrants only).
  • access to appropriate prescribing related learning opportunities in practice.

English requirements

If your first language is not English, one of the following is required:

• A first degree from a UK university
• A first degree from an overseas institution recognised by City, University of London as providing adequate evidence of proficiency in the English language, for example, from institutions from Australia, Canada or the United States of America.
• International English Language Test Service (IELTS) a score of 7.0 is required with no subtest below 7.0
• Pearson Test of English (Academic) score 72 required
• TOEFL 100 overall with 24 in Writing, 20 in Listening, 19 Reading and 20 Speaking
• Other evidence of proficiency in the English language, which satisfies the board of studies concerned, including registration with your professional regulator.

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.