NUR-40047 - Module Specification
School of Nursing and Midwifery
Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2024/25

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

NUR-30154
NUR-40033

Description for 2024/25

This module will equip nurses and midwives to prescribe safely, appropriately and cost effectively as independent and supplementary prescribers. This will enhance their roles within clinical practice and enable them to contribute to effective patient outcomes and improved service delivery.
This module has been developed in response to the Department of Health's expansion of prescribing rights for nurses and midwives, to enable them to prescribe a wider range of medications for a broader range of conditions; within independent prescribing- a fuller access of a range of medications within the British National Formulary (BNF) including controlled drugs, for nurses/midwives working within their area of competency and for supplementary prescribing for medicines that form part of an agreed clinical management plan.
The NMC has updated their Education Standards around Non Medical Prescribing (2018) and all courses are validated against these.
The module run at Keele will have the added benefit to students with links between the School of Nursing and Midwifery, the School of Medicine and the School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Engineering for prescribing education.
The module will also be run along the prescribing module for allied health professionals to facilitate interprofessional education.

The module aims to prepare nurses and midwives to prescribe safely, appropriately and cost effectively as an independent/supplementary prescriber.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Demonstrate safe and effective consultation with the patient/carer/family to complete a holistic assessment, to inform critical decision making towards a diagnosis and management plan, including monitoring and review.: 3,4
Synthesise and critically apply knowledge of pharmacology, therapeutics and drug interactions to prescribing situations, including how to deal with unforeseen consequences and the effects of co morbidities; both physical and psychological.: 2,3,4
Critically evaluate and analyse the implications of polypharmacy and adverse drug reactions (ADRs), plus how to report ADRs through local and national policies.: 2,3,4
Critically debate and synthesise information around cost effective independent and supplementary prescribing; considering alternative management strategies, which may not necessarily include the prescribing of medications but maintaining clinical effectiveness.: 2,3,4
Synthesise information, critically analyse and debate the legal, professional and ethical concepts of independent and supplementary prescribing/non prescribing to practice, and ensure shared information and understanding of all involved (patient/family/carer/health care professional).: 1,3,4
Critically appraise, synthesise and debate sources of evidence base, information, policies, local/national guidelines and formularies (including public health policies), in all decision-making processes for independent and supplementary prescribing practice.: 1,4
Critically analyse and synthesise a range of contemporary information around influences that can affect the independent and supplementary prescribing role from patients/families/carers/health care professionals and outside agencies, and demonstrate the ability to manage these, ensuring communication and record keeping are maintained with all concerned and supporting others in such situations through effective multidisciplinary team (MDT) working.: 1,4
Critically analyse, debate and demonstrate generic/branded prescribing, off label prescribing and prescribing of controlled drugs, as well as safe storage and transport of medication.: 2,3,4
Demonstrate safe prescription writing and development of clinical management plans (CMPs) for supplementary prescribing only), and the process of audit and review of data to improve efficiency or prescribing.: 2,3,4
Demonstrate competence in the ability to perform numeracy skills related to safe drug/dosage calculations.: 4,5

Study hours

lectures (74)/discussions(8)/CBL/group work (8) (90 hours total)
tutorial support (2 hours)
directed study (30 hours)
private study/self directed study (85.5 hours)
written examinations (2.5 hours)
supervised clinical hours (90 hours)

School Rules

Module pre-requisites: Applicants must provide evidence that they met the NMC's (2018) criteria for eligibility to undertake a nurse/midwife independent and supplementary prescribing programme. The University together with the practice learning partners must;
1. ensure that the applicant is a registered nurse (level 1)/registered midwife or a SCPHN/SDN before being considered as eligible to apply for entry onto an NMC approved prescribing programme.
2. provide opportunities that enable all nurse (level 1), midwife or SCPHN/SDN registrants (including NHS, self employed or non NHS employed registrants) to apply for entry onto an NMC approved programme.
3, confirm that the necessary governance structures are in place (including clinical support, access to protected learning time and employer support where appropriate) to enable students to undertake, and be adequately supported throughout the programme.
4. consider recognition of prior learning that is capable of being mapped to the RPS Competency Framework for all prescribers.
5. confirm on entry that any applicant selected to undertake a prescribing programme has the competence, experience and academic ability to study at the level required for that programme.
6. confirm that the applicant is capable of safe and effective practice at a level of proficiency appropriate to the programme to be undertaken and their intended area of prescribing practice in the following areas; clinical/health assessment, diagnostics/care management, planning and evaluation of care.
7. ensure that applicants for the V300 independent and supplementary prescribing programmes have been registered with the NMC for a minimum of one year prior to application for entry onto the programme.

Description of Module Assessment