MODULE SPECIFICATION TEMPLATE
MODULE DETAILS
Module title
Module code
Credit value
Level
Mark the box to the right of the
appropriate level with an ‘X’
Prescribing from the Nurse Prescribers' Formulary for Community
Practitioners (NPF) for Registered Nurses without a Specialist Practice
Qualification (V150)
NA6153
20
Level 4
Level 5
Level 6 X
Level 7
Level 8
Level 0 (for modules at foundation level)
Entry criteria for registration on this module
Pre-requisites
Specify in terms of module codes or
equivalent
The pre-requisites are set by the Nursing and Midwifery Council
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Must be a registered nurse
Must intend to practise in an area of clinical need for prescribing
and must be supported by the employer to do so
Must be deemed competent by employer in the relevant area of
clinical practice to undertake the programme (normally minimum
of two years)
Must provide evidence of the ability to study at level 6
Must provide evidence of appropriate numeracy skills
Must have a practising community practitioner
nurse prescriber
(V150)/nurse independent prescriber (V300) who is a mentor to act as
clinical supervisor
Co-requisite modules
Specify in terms of module codes or
equivalent
Module delivery
Mode of delivery
Taught
Other
X
Distance
Pattern of delivery
Weekly
X
Block
Placement X
Online
Other
When module is delivered
Semester 1
Semester 2
X
Throughout year
Other
Brief description of module This module aims to equip registered nurses, without a Specialist
content and/ or aims
Practitioner qualification, with the knowledge, skills and competence to
Overview (max 80 words)
prescribe from the Nurse Prescribers' Formulary for Community
Practitioners (NPF) and to become safe, effective and cost-effective
prescribers within the community team.
Module team/ author/
Stevan Monkley-Poole: Module Leader
coordinator(s)
Michele Dryden: Senior Lecturer – District Nurse programme liaison
Claire May: Pharmacist / Pharmacology coordination
Penny Lindley: Assistant Head - Continuing Professional Education,
School of Nursing & Midwifery
Module descriptor template: updated January 2013
Heather Baid; Senior Lecturer, – Health Assessment
Inge Bateman: Non-Medical Prescribing Lead & Clinical Nurse
Specialist in Acute Pain Management
Joanne Burgess: Former Student Sept 2006 cohort, Independent
Prescriber (Mental Health Nurse)
Angela Colosi Non-medical Prescribing Lead, East Sussex Health Care
Dr. Fiona Cowden, Designated Medical Practitioner representative
Peter Coyne: Information Adviser
Sharon De Goeas: Senior Lecturer (Ethics)
School
Site/ campus where
delivered
Jenny Kam: Programme Administrator
Nursing & Midwifery
Falmer / Moulsecoomb
Course(s) for which module is appropriate and status on that course
Course
Status (mandatory/ compulsory/
optional)
Stand Alone Only
MODULE AIMS, ASSESSMENT AND SUPPORT
Aims
Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes are dictated by the NMC (2007) and are as
follows:
On successful completion of the course students will be able to:
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Assess and consult with patients, clients, parents and carers*
Undertake a thorough history, including medication history and
current medication (including over-the-counter, alternative and
complementary health therapies) to inform diagnosis*
Understand and apply the legislation relevant to the practice of
nurse/midwife prescribing*
Critically appraise and use sources of information/advice and
decision support systems in prescribing practice*
Understand the influences that can affect prescribing practice and
demonstrate understanding by managing prescribing practice in
an ethical way*
Understand and apply knowledge of drug actions in prescribing
practice*
Demonstrate an understanding of the roles and relationships of
others involved in prescribing, supplying and administering
medicines
Prescribe safely, appropriately and cost-effectively
Practise within a framework of professional accountability and
responsibility
Module descriptor template: updated January 2013
The above learning outcomes will reflect, where implicated*, the
intended scope of prescribing practice in specialist areas, such as
neonates, infants, children & young people; pregnant and lactating
women; and older people when indicated by the students area of
clinical practice. This will be through specific theoretical sessions and
frameworks and competencies in the portfolio of clinical practice.
On completion the prescriber should demonstrate concordance with the
Single Competency Framework for all prescribers (NPC/NIHCE 2012).
Content
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Learning support
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Consultation, decision-making and therapy, including referral
Influences on, and psychology of, prescribing
Prescribing in a team context
Clinical pharmacology, including the effects of co-morbidity
Evidence-based practice and clinical governance in relation to
nurse prescribing
Legal, policy and ethical aspects
Professional accountability and responsibility
Prescribing in the public health context
Teaching, supervision and support by lecturers and personal tutors.
Supervision, support and shadowing opportunities by a Clinical
supervisor (Nurse Independent Prescriber or Community Practice
Nurse Prescriber)
Core text: Rang and Dale’s Pharmacology. 2012 7 th edition. Churchill
Livingstone.
Bickley, L.S. 2009 Bates’ Guide to Physical Assessment and History
Taking. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Courtenay, M. & Griffiths, M (eds) 2010. Medication safety: an essential
guide. Cambridge University press.
Lymn, J., Bowskill, D., Bath-Hextall, F., Knaggs, R. (eds) 2010 the new
Prescriber. An integrated approach to medical and non-medical
prescribing. Wiley-Blackwell.
Porth, C.M. & Matfin, G. 2009. Pathophysiology: concepts of altered health
states. 7th ed. Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins
Independent Nurse
Nurse Prescriber
www.bnf.org.uk
www.nice.org.uk/mpc/index.jsp
www.nelm.nhs.uk
www.pharmcologycorner.com
Teaching and learning activities
Details of teaching and
learning activities
Keynote lectures, self-directed learning, critical reflection, portfolio,
case analysis of treatment scenarios, group discussion, problembased learning. The students will be encouraged to use studentcentral
with electronic learning materials on:
Module descriptor template: updated January 2013
 clinical pharmacology
 ethics and law in prescribing
 skills in consultation and assessment
 on-line submission and blogging
 on-line chat support sessions
Allocation of study hours (indicative)
Study hours
Where 10 credits = 100 learning hours
SCHEDULED
This is an indication of the number of hours students can expect to
spend in scheduled teaching activities including lectures, seminars,
tutorials, project supervision, demonstrations, practical classes and
workshops, supervised time in workshops/ studios, fieldwork,
external visits, and work-based learning.
66
GUIDED INDEPENDENT
STUDY
All students are expected to undertake guided independent study
which includes wider reading/ practice, follow-up work, the
completion of assessment tasks, and revisions.
69
PLACEMENT
The placement is a specific type of learning away from the University
that is not work-based learning or a year abroad.
Minimum
65hrs (PSRB
requirement)
TOTAL STUDY HOURS
200
Assessment tasks
Details of assessment for
this module
The assessment regulations will conform to the University of Brighton
General Examination and Assessment Regulations. The assessment
is in two parts:
Theoretical (50% of mark)
1. Written examination consisting of three elements:
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a multiple choice question paper (nurses must achieve a
minimum 80% pass for the multiple choice paper, a
professional, regulatory and statutory body requirement);
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a long answer unseen written paper to test pharmacological
knowledge, application to practice and analytical reasoning;
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a 100% pass/fail calculation paper
Practice component (50% of the total mark)
2.
Portfolio which demonstrates an understanding of legal and
ethical issues, team-working, record-keeping, writing a
prescription and numeracy, and how these apply to prescribing
practice (pass mark 40%).
The portfolio is designed to provide evidence of the NPC /NICE’s
Single Competency Framework.
All assessments (which overall will test the attainment of the NMC
standards and learning outcomes for the module) must be passed in
order to pass the module.
The NMC requires that nurses undertaking preparation as a community
practitioner nurse prescriber (V150 route) must complete the
Module descriptor template: updated January 2013
programme within one year from the identified start of the programme.
If a registrant has not completed all assessments within the allocated
time, they must undertake the whole programme again, including all
assessments, to ensure that competence has been maintained. For
the purpose of this standard, interruption means any absence from a
programme of education other than annual leave, statutory and public
holidays.
Please note that it is ONLY after successful completion of all elements
of the module and it has been annotated on the professional register
with the Nursing and Midwifery Council that the individual will have the
authority to prescribe AND only from the Nurse Prescribers’ Formulary
for Community Practitioners.
Types of assessment task1
% weighting
Indicative list of summative assessment tasks which lead to the award of credit or which are required for
progression.
(or indicate if
component is
pass/fail)
WRITTEN
MCQ
Written Unseen exam
Calculation paper (100% to pass)
25
25
pass/fail
COURSEWORK
Written assignment/ essay, report, dissertation, portfolio, project
output, set exercise
50
PRACTICAL
Oral assessment and presentation, practical skills assessment, set
exercise
EXAMINATION INFORMATION
Area examination board
Community Combined AEB/CEB
Refer to Faculty Office for guidance in completing the following sections
External examiners
Name
Position and institution
Date appointed
Date tenure
ends
Louise Hales
Teaching Fellow Queens
University Belfast
2012
2015
QUALITY ASSURANCE
Date of first approval
Only complete where this is not the
first version
Date of last revision
Only complete where this is not the
first version
Date of approval for this
version
February 2013
Version number
1
Modules replaced
NA3115
1 Set exercises, which assess the application of knowledge or analytical, problem-solving or evaluative skills, are included
under the type of assessment most appropriate to the particular task.
Module descriptor template: updated January 2013
Specify codes of modules for which
this is a replacement
Available as free-standing module?
Module descriptor template: updated January 2013
Yes
X
No