INDEPENDENT/SUPPLEMENTARY PRESCRIBING (NMC/HCPC V300) - 2021/2

Module code: NURM193

Module Overview

The independent and supplementary prescribing V300 module provides an exciting and challenging opportunity for nurses, midwives, paramedics, physiotherapists, therapeutic and diagnostic radiographers, dietitians and podiatrists to support and improve clinical outcomes for patients.

 

The independent and supplementary prescriber may prescribe any medicine, within national and local guidelines for any condition within the practitioner’s area of expertise and competence. (dietitians and diagnostic radiographers practising as supplementary prescribers only). This module is designed to provide these health care professionals (HCPs) with the knowledge and skills to prescribe safely and appropriately within their area of practice and current non-medical independent and supplementary prescribing legislation.

 

Successful completion of the module will empower these HCPs to improve access to appropriate medication in a timely manner in line with the NHS Five Year Forward View (NHS England, 2014 and 2017)

It will facilitate inter-professional working, maximising the benefits for patients and support for

healthcare services identified in the Multi-professional framework for advanced clinical practice in England (NHS England, NHS Improvement, Health Education England, 2017).

 

On successful completion of all aspects of the module, the University will inform the NMC/HCPC that the student is eligible to register their qualification. This must be done within 12 months of completion. The qualification must be completed within two years of starting the programme.

 

The length of the programme will be a minimum of 26 days, with an additional 12 days of supervised learning in practice and all registrants must undertake both independent and supplementary elements of the programme.

 

 

Module provider

School of Health Sciences

Module Leader

BROOKS Sue (Health Sci.)

Number of Credits: 30

ECTS Credits: 15

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Overall student workload

Independent Learning Hours: 105

Lecture Hours: 26

Seminar Hours: 10

Tutorial Hours: 10

Practical/Performance Hours: 50

Guided Learning: 75

Captured Content: 24

Module Availability

Year long

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

  • be registered with Nursing and Midwifery Council/ Health and Care Professions Council
  • be professionally practising in an environment where there is an identified need for the individual to regularly prescribe
  • be able to demonstrate support from their employer/sponsor (unless self-employed)
  • have completed relevant study/module in Health Assessment including history taking, consultation and diagnostic examination skills (please contact Module Lead for advice)
  • have identified:
a practice assessor/educator a suitably prepared, experienced independent prescriber within their organisation, who will assess summative competencies and an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) a practice supervisor(s) suitably prepared, experienced independent prescriber(s) who will support the student in 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 2 different people (NMC, 2018) unless exceptional circumstances apply.
  • Nurses and Midwives must have been qualified for a minimum of a year,
  • Paramedics are required to be qualified for three years and have undertaken or are working towards an advanced practice qualification (as defined by Health Education England, usually an MSc).
  • Physiotherapists, podiatrists, and therapeutic radiographers, dietitians and diagnostic radiographers must normally have been practising for at least two years at an advanced level
  • evidence of a DBS check or a signed statement of good character
 

Module content

The content of the 26 taught days will cover pharmacology (including pharmacokinetics and dynamics), numeracy, the contents and use of the online BNF, prescribing consultations, legal aspects of independent and supplementary non-medical prescribing, resources and evidence for prescribing practice and a variety of specialist subjects in clinical prescribing.

Assessment pattern

Assessment type Unit of assessment Weighting
Examination Online NUMERACY EXAM Pass/Fail
Examination Online PHARMACOLOGY EXAM - 90 MINUTES Pass/Fail
Practical based assessment PART A - PORTFOLIO Pass/Fail
Coursework PART B - REFLECTION 33
Coursework PART B - CRITICAL DRUG ANALYSIS 33
Coursework PART B - SUPPLEMENTRAY PRESCRIBING ESSAY 34

Alternative Assessment

Not applicable Numeracy exam-100% Pharmacology exam-80% Part A Portfolio of Practice Evidence-Pass/Refer/Fail Part B Portfolio-Reflective essay, critical drug analysis, supplementary prescribing essay-all 40% and 100% of module grade

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate
competency in safe and effective prescribing through achievement of passing the numeracy and pharmacology examinations. In addition, the students will demonstrate their knowledge through assessment in practice. This will:-


  • Enable the student and the practice supervisor/practice assessor (NMC students) or practice educator (HCPC) to chart the student’s continuous assessment and progress throughout the period of supervised practice

  • Record the assessment of the competence and safety of the student in the practice of independent and supplementary prescribing

  • Provide evidence of the student’s ability to base their practice on the underlying theoretical components of the module.



Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

A summative assessment undertaken towards the end of the module showing competence in each area of practice and an OSCE-signed by the practice supervisor/practice assessor (NMC students) or practice educator (HCPC). A recording of the discussion after the OSCE will be submitted on CD or memory stick.

In addition, the University will set and mark:


  • Numeracy exam - Pass/Fail (100% pass mark)

  • Pharmacology exam - Pass/Fail (80% pass mark) Part A Portfolio - Pass/Fail

  • Part B Portfolio -

    • PART B - REFLECTION - 33% module credit weighted (50% pass mark)

    • PART B - CRITICAL DRUG ANALYSIS - 33% weighted (50% pass mark)

    • PART B - SUPPLEMENTRAY PRESCRIBING ESSAY - 34% weighted (50% pass mark)





Formative assessment

A formative assessment undertaken within the first 4 weeks of the module, showing the level of competence against
Other Informationeach area of practice as students start the module- signed by the practice supervisor/practice assessor (NMC students) or practice educator (HCPC)

Module aims

  • Prepare nurses, midwives and specialist community public health nurses to independently prescribe safely, appropriately and cost effectively, licensed drugs from the British National Formulary and to act as supplementary prescribers.  Professionally develop students in the higher education context of lifelong learning.

Learning outcomes

Attributes Developed
013 KCPT
014 KCPT
001 Assess the patient Undertake a thorough history, including medication history and current medication (considering OTC, alternative and complementary therapies) to inform diagnosis KCPT
002 Consider the options Understand the influences that can impact on prescribing CPT
003 Reach a shared decision Critically appraise, use sources of information/advice and decision support systems in prescribing practice including clinical management plans where appropriate KCPT
004 Prescribe Understand and apply knowledge of drug actions in prescribing practice and monitor response. KC
005 Provide information Assess, consult and communicate information to patients/clients, parents and carers KCPT
006 Monitor and respond to drug actions and recognise unsafe practice/systems acting accordingly KCPT
007 Prescribe safely Prescribe safely, appropriately and cost effectively CP
008 Prescribe professionally Practise within a framework of professional accountability and responsibility in relation to the relevant legislation for the registered health care professional body CPT
009 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 KCPT
010 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 KCPT
011 CP
012 CPT

Attributes Developed

C - Cognitive/analytical

K - Subject knowledge

T - Transferable skills

P - Professional/Practical skills

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to utilise innovative and creative approaches to learning.

The module utilises blended learning technologies such as computer assisted learning on the Surrey Learn platform. This provides the flexibility to maximise the student experience, using face to face teaching and self-directed work. This will encourage the student to gain key transferrable skills, such as information literacy to support learning in their area of practice.

The concept of inter-professional learning is integral to the teaching and learning strategy of the module and the students will be taught in multi-professional groups.

 

The learning and teaching methods include:

A variety of learning and teaching strategies which will be used in the delivery of the module, encompassing the following:


  • Enquiry-based learning, to develop critical thinking in e.g. Legal, ethical and professional issues

  • Lectures by specialist professionals

  • Case studies/scenarios, to show the application of knowledge of drugs to clinical practice

  • Student-led seminars, to show the application of knowledge of drugs to clinical practice and Formative Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCES), to develop confidence in assessment and decision making.

  • Supervised learning in practice, supported by the practice supervisor

  • Assessment in practice from a practice assessor/educator

  • Assessment: a) Written final examination (MCQ)



b) Numeracy assessment plus Portfolio Part A and Part B

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: NURM193

Other information

None

Draft reflective logs will be discussed with personal tutors and verbal feedback given to develop the writing.

Programmes this module appears in

Programme Semester Classification Qualifying conditions
Advanced Clinical Practice MSc(YEAR LONG) Year-long Core Each unit of assessment must be passed at 50% to pass the module
Advanced Practice (Primary and Community Care) PGCert(YEAR LONG) Year-long Core Each unit of assessment must be passed at 50% to pass the module

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2021/2 academic year.