Prescribing for Healthcare Professionals

• Applicants must be a Registered Nurse (Level 1), a Registered Midwife or a Specialist Community Public Health Nurse (can be NHS, self-employed or non-NHS employed registrants)
• Applicants for V300 supplementary/independent prescribing modules must have been registered with the NMC for a minimum of one year prior to entry
• Applicants who are HCPC registered Allied Health Professionals should be working in the following professional areas with:

1. Independent prescribing rights, for example Advanced Paramedics, Podiatrists, Physiotherapists and Therapeutic Radiographers
2. Supplementary Prescribing rights, for example Dieticians and Radiographers

• Applicants are expected to be capable of safe and effective practice at a level of proficiency appropriate to the study being undertaken and intended area of prescribing practice, including:
• Clinical and health assessment
• Diagnostics and care management
• Planning and evaluation of care
• Applicants should be able to demonstrate a requirement for clinical prescribing within their current role
• Applicants are expected to have a suitably qualified Practice Assessor and Practice Supervisor who will provide opportunities to develop competency in prescribing
• Applicants with others forms of learning can be recognised through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

On completion of this module you will be able to:

• Assess and consult with patients and carers;
• Prescribe safely, appropriately and cost effectively;
• Apply the legislation relevant to the practice of prescribing;
• Use sources of information, advice and decision support appropriately in prescribing practice;
• Critically evaluate the influences on prescribing practice;
• Apply knowledge of medications in prescribing practice;
• Demonstrate cognisance of the team work and communication networks involved in prescribing, supplying and administering medicines;
• Practice within a framework of professional accountability and responsibility in relation to prescribing.

The module is divided into distinct units. These are intrinsically linked by the nature of the subject material. Outlined below is the broad content of the module. 

• Foundations of Prescribing 
• Practice Legislation and Clinical Governance issues 
• Clinical Pharmacology, including the effects of Co-morbidity and polypharmacy 
• Basic principles of pharmacology; adverse drug reactions; medicines management 
• Prescribing and the Wider Healthcare Context
• Realistic Medicine Appropriate prescribing; drug licensing within the public health context 
• Prescribing Partnerships 
• Consultation, Assessment and decision-making; psychology of prescribing; compliance and concordance 
• Prescribing in Practice 
• Prescription writing; safety; handling; auditing and monitoring of medicines 

The module runs twice a year.

As part of the assessment of the module, students will have to achieve a number of clinical competencies which will have to be assessed by an experienced clinician in clinical practice.

The module will be all distance learning via a web-based platform (Canvas) in Early 2021 due to the impact of COVID-19. There will be practical and structured work-based learning. Students would normally be seconded by their employing authority.

A blended learning approach is adopted for the theoretical delivery using a mixture of face-to-face teaching and online learning.

The module includes 10 days of face-to-face input:

• Four days on registration;
• Four face-to-face days towards the middle of the module;
• Two days towards the end of the module;
• Plus the equivalent of 18 days of distance learning mediated through Canvas.
• The student prescriber must also complete a minimum of 90 hours supervised learning in practice.

Much of the taught component is spent with clinical pharmacists. Further topics for study during the taught component are patient assessment, consultation styles, decision-making and concordant approaches to diagnosis and planning of care, external influences on prescribing and medicines management.

The taught component is delivered using a variety of teaching methods including lectures, discussions, seminars and self-directed group work. All material taught during the face to face days is available on Canvas.

There are four areas of assessment:

• A written examination;
• Assessment of examination/assessment skills in practice;
• A portfolio of evidence supporting the acquisition of competencies which demonstrate proficiency as a prescriber;
• The theory component of the module will be assessed through written examination; the second section of the examination is a numeracy/drug calculation test. Assessment of competence in practice will be assessed through demonstration of clinical competencies within a portfolio of evidence and a detailed examination of practice.

You must pass all the elements of assessment for successful completion of the module.

Lorna Stoppard

lorna.stoppard@stir.ac.uk

Gillian Beattie

gillian.beattie@stir.ac.uk

Completion of the module will assist autonomous, reflective thinking and evidence based practice within academic and clinical areas.