Overview

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 at masters level.

The module, run at Keele University, will have the added benefit to students with links between the School of Nursing and Midwifery, the School of Allied Health Professions and Pharmacy, and School of Medicine for prescribing education. The module will also be run along the prescribing module for Allied Health Professionals to facilitate inter-professional education.

Module aims

Entry requirements

Course entry requirements as set out by the NMC, which state that the student must:

• Be a registered first level nurse, midwife and/or specialist community public health nurse.

• Have at least three years practising experience.

• Of these three years, the year preceding entry onto the course must have experience in practice in the clinical field for which they intend to prescribe.

• Demonstrable previous ability to study successfully at Level 6.

• Have access to a Designated Medical Practitioner as a mentor for the course and signed approval from their manager/Trust prescribing lead.

• Some training or experience in health assessment.

For more details refer to the NMC "Standards for preparation and training of nurse and midwife prescribers" (2006).

Module content

• policies and procedures of independent and supplementary nurse/midwife prescribing

• construction of clinical management plans

• consultation, decision making, therapy and referral

• influences on and the psychology of prescribing

• prescribing in the team context

• clinical pharmacology and therapeutics and the effects of co-morbidity

• evidenced-based practice and clinical governance in relation to nurse/midwife prescribing

• legal, policy and ethical aspects of prescribing

• professional accountability and responsibility issues in prescribing

• prescribing in the public health context

• drug licensing, monitoring procedures and reporting of adverse drug reactions

• cost effective prescribing

• record keeping

Teaching and assessment

The principal learning and teaching methods used in the module may include:

• Lectures, seminars and workshops: The core of each module delivery mode is a series of face to face tutor-led or group-led seminars or workshops.

• Web-based learning using the Keele Learning Environment (KLE), Blackboard. 

• Group work and peer support. All modules use focused group work and class discussions within face to face tutor time

• Directed independent study. Most of the study hours for each module comprise independent learning by expecting participants to add depth and breadth to their knowledge of topics, to practice skills and to reflect on critical incidents and their practice.