Course description
Independent / Supplementary Prescribing (V300)
This module aims to:
- Prepare registered nurses, midwives, physiotherapists, therapeutic radiographers, podiatrists to be safe and effective independent prescribers, and dietitians and diagnostic radiographers to be safe and effective supplementary prescribers.
- Professionally develop students in the higher educational context of life wide learning in line with their professional and regulatory bodies and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society Competency Framework for all Prescribers (2016).
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Suitability - Who should attend?
Entry requirements
You must be an employee with post-registration clinical experience (or part time equivalent) as follows:
- Nurses and midwives must have been qualified for a minimum of a year
- Physiotherapists, podiatrists, and therapeutic radiographers, dietitians and diagnostic radiographers must normally have at least two years practicingat an advanced level.
- Current registration with NMC or HCPC and come from one of the professions listed above who have the legal right to study to become a prescriber.
- Paramedics are required to study this course at Level 7, so please refer to the level 7 page.
You must havesuccessfully completed a module/relevant study of health assessment that includes diagnostic examination and consultation skills or equivalent.
In addition you must have:
- A written confirmation from your employer/self-declaration of support foryou to undertake the module
- Evidence of your ability to study at level 6 by providing evidence of recent study at level 5 or above in the last five years and CPD once qualified.
You must have access to:
- A practice assessor: a suitably prepared, qualified and experienced prescriber within your organisation, who will assess summative competencies and an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE).
- Practice supervisor(s): experienced independent prescriber(s) who will support youin applying, reinforcing and demonstrating the required knowledge, skills and behaviours within the workplace through development of formative competencies, for the duration of the course
- For nurses and midwives, the practice supervisor and practice assessor must be two different people (NMC, 2018) unless exceptional circumstances apply.
Outcome / Qualification etc.
Credits: 15
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this module, youwill be able to:
1. Assess the patient
Undertake a thorough history, including medication history and current medication (considering over-the-counter (OTC), alternative and complementary therapies) to inform diagnosis.
2. Consider the options
Understand the influences that can impact on prescribing.
3. Reach a shared decision
Critically appraise, use sources of information/advice and decision support systems in prescribing practice including clinical management plans where appropriate.
4. Prescribe
Understand and apply knowledge of drug actions in prescribing practice and monitor response.
5. Provide information
Assess, consult and communicate information to patients/clients, parents and carers.
6. Monitor and review
Monitor and respond to drug actions and recognise unsafe practice/systems acting accordingly.
7. Prescribe safely
Prescribe safely, appropriately and cost effectively.
8. Prescribe professionally
Practise within a framework of professional accountability and responsibility in relation to the relevant legislation for the registered health care professional body.
9. Improve prescribing in practice
Use clinical supervision and reflective practice to critically analyse and evaluate their ongoing performance as independent prescribers and continuing professional development.
10. Prescribe as part of a team
Demonstrate an understanding of the roles and responsibilities of others involved in prescribing, supplying and administering medicines and the need for inter-professional working and shared decision making.
Course delivery details
For the 2022/23 curriculum, our CPD moduleswill be delivered usinghybrid learning. This means that depending on the subject and content of learning and teaching, modules will mainly be delivered via a combination of face to face and online delivery, as this has worked really well for our practice-based colleagues. A couple of modules will be delivered solely online, however for most modules face to face contact time and attendance at the university will be required.
Learning and teaching methods include:
- Enquiry-based learning, blended learning opportunities andlectures given by specialist professionals.
- Formative Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE), to develop confidence in assessment and decision-making.
- Supervised learning in practice, supported by practice supervisor(s)/designated prescribing practitioners.