The Independent and Supplementary Prescribing module is for NMC registrants from all fields of nursing practice (adult, mental health, learning disabilities and children’s nursing), midwifery and specialist community public health nursing (SCPHN). It builds on existing physical assessment and clinical reasoning skills, to develop the practitioners’ pharmacology knowledge base, as well as the theory and practice of prescribing to meet the NMC Standards for prescribing programmes (NMC, 2018).

 

The module is delivered using a blended learning approach, which incorporates both face-to- face and online activities. A variety of strategies and techniques are employed, including simulation-based learning, to encourage critical enquiry and problem solving, in recognition of the complexities that may be encountered in prescribing practice.

 

The module forms the second part of the Graduate Certificate in Independent/ Supplementary Prescribing award, with the first part comprising the ‘Clinical reasoning in health assessment: lifespan perspectives’ module, or equivalent 30 credits at level 6.

 

Aims

The aims of the module are to:

• enable participants to develop in-depth knowledge and understanding of clinical pharmacology and prescribing practice
• equip participants to become competent, safe and effective independent/ supplementary prescribers, thereby meeting the standards set by the NMC for nurses and midwives

 

Course Length: 20 Teaching days

Assessment

Assessment: 2 parts

Part 1: Exam (PASS/FAIL)

- Multiple Choice Questions – Pharmacology (Pass mark = 80%)

- Drug Calculations – (Pass mark = 100%) 

 Part 2: Portfolio 

- Completion of two clinical logs which demonstrate the application of safe and effective history taking to diagnosis. One of the logs should include a Clinical Management Plan and both should include accurate completion of an FP10 or Inpatient Prescription. The logs are reviewed by both the Practice Assessor and Academic Assessor, who complete a signed statement to confirm achievement of competence.

- Competency Assessment Document (CAD) to demonstrate compliance with the RPS competencies, reviewed and assessed in practice by the Practice Assessor.

- A critical reflection based on one of the submitted clinical logs and encompassing RPS competency 7. Students should use a published reflective tool to appraise one aspect of their prescribing practice and to make recommendations for service improvement.