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Programme Specification
University of Bradford
School of Health Studies
Division of Nursing
University of Bradford
Prescribing for Healthcare Professionals
HN3502Q HN4057Q
40 credits Level 3/M[FHEQ level H/M]
Community Nurse Prescribing
20 credits level 3/M[FHEQ level H/M]
NMC, RPSGB, HPC
Maximum 1 year, part time.
June 2010
INTRODUCTION AND AIMS
Non medical prescribing is a key element of NHS modernisation, intended to transcend traditional
professional boundaries and make better use of professional skills (Department of Health [DH] 2000,
DH 2006). The benefits to patient care of non medical prescribing are significant, facilitating patient
centred care, speedy access to treatment and greater patient choice without compromising safety
(DH, 2005 DH 2006).
The Department of Health, in partnership with regulatory bodies has provided an outline curriculum,
which forms the framework for the education of prescribers. The University of Bradford offers several
modules designed to meet the requirements of experienced practitioners from different professional
backgrounds wishing to record a qualification as a prescriber with their relevant professional body.
Students undertaking these modules, delivered by the Division of Nursing, benefit from the
opportunities for inter-professional learning as well as teaching from a wide range of lecturers,
pharmacists and medical staff. On successful completion of the 40 credit ‘Prescribing for Healthcare
Professionals Course’ nurses and pharmacists may record a qualification as an independent and
supplementary prescriber with the Nursing Midwifery Council (NMC) (V300) or the Royal
Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB). Radiographers, podiatrists and physiotherapists
who successfully complete the ‘Prescribing for Healthcare Professionals’ module may record their
qualification as a supplementary prescriber with the Health Professions Council (HPC). Alternatively,
nurses may choose to undertake the 20 credit, ‘Community Nurse Prescriber’ module and record their
qualification to prescribe from the Community Practitioner Formulary (V150) with the NMC. Both the
Prescribing for Healthcare Professionals module and the Community Nurse Prescriber module are
available at level 3 (undergraduate) and level M (masters level).
A.
AIMS
The modules at Level 3 and M aim to:
A1 Prepare nurses, pharmacists, radiographers, podiatrists and physiotherapists to prescribe
from the appropriate formulary within current legal and professional guidelines.
A2 Enable experienced health professionals to enhance their knowledge and gain critical
awareness of contemporary issues in order to become safe, competent, effective and
reflective non–medical prescribers.
In addition at Level M:
A3 Enable practitioners to advance non medical prescribing practice in their field of practice.
B. OUTCOMES
On completion of the undergraduate, level 3 modules and masters level modules, in
relation to your own area of prescribing practice, you will be able to:
B 1. Knowledge and Skills
1.1
Appraise local and national policy and apply the relevant legislation.
1.2
Analyse and evaluate the influences on contemporary prescribing practice
1.3
Apply knowledge of drug actions (pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and therapeutics)
and research evidence.
Undertake a systematic consultation and make a holistic assessment of patients’ needs.
Evaluate and reflect upon own communication and examination skills.
Undertake a comprehensive history, to inform diagnosis and prescribing decision making.
Reflect on safe, appropriate and cost effective prescribing practice, using best available
evidence.
1.8
Monitor response to medication and modify treatment and refer where appropriate.
1.9
Practice within a framework of professional accountability, clinical governance and
responsibility.
B. 2. Transferable Skills
2.1
Use a variety of sources of information and advice to support decision making and to
enhance personal learning.
2.2
Evaluate your role and the roles and relationships of others when working as part of a
team.
2.3
Define problems, engage in decision making and use appropriate verbal and written
communication skills.
2.4
Plan and time manage own clinical and theoretical learning.
2.5
Undertake numerical calculations to underpin safe prescribing practice.
1.4
1.5
1.6
1.7
In addition, on completion of the Level M module, in relation to your own area of
prescribing practice, you will be able to:
B.1M Knowledge and Skills
1.1
Critically appraise recent research in order to inform diagnosis or therapeutic management
of patients and clients.
1.2
Manage change(s) in practice to improve access to treatment for patients/clients
B.2M Personal Transferable Skills
2.1
Use skills in data capture and analysis to support decision making.
C. THE CURRICULUM
Module choice will depend on your professional background, service and patient/client need and
existing prescribing qualifications
Unit code credits sem
level Title
HN3502Q 40
1 or 2
3
Prescribing for healthcare professionals
HN4057Q 40
1 or 2
M
Prescribing for healthcare professionals
20
1 or 2
3
Community Nurse Prescribing
20
1 or 2
M
Community Nurse Prescribing
D. LEARNING, TEACHING AND ASSESSMENT STRATEGIES.
The learning, teaching and assessment have been designed to develop your skills as a reflective
practitioner, critical thinker and to promote continued engagement in lifelong learning. The learning
and teaching strategies also recognise the diversity and prior education that different students
bring to the classroom, this presents an opportunity for those differences to be used creatively in
order to facilitate valuable inter-professional learning. Supervised prescribing practice is a formal
element of your learning and your development of competency as a prescriber will be supported
by a mentor throughout the course. The theoretical elements are directly linked to your supervised
practice experience, facilitating educational coherence for you and your mentor and ultimately
employer and importantly patients. Learning and teaching will be undertaken over one semester,
this normally also includes the required days of practice learning working alongside a mentor,
however the module team are aware that completing the required practice based learning on the
40 credit ‘Prescribing for Healthcare Professionals’ module can be a challenge therefore you may
negotiate with the Module Leader and mentor to extend the practice days over two semesters. It is
not possible to undertake the practice experience before the taught element of the module
Knowledge and Skills
The theoretical component will be delivered using a range of teaching and learning strategies
including lectures, tutorials and seminars. Role play, ward visits and formative objective structured
clinical examinations (OSCEs) are used to support learning in the classroom in addition to the
more traditional lectures. Inter-professional learning is promoted through the use of student and
lecturer generated case studies and event analyses. You will be encouraged to share experiences
and case examples generated through supervised practice. Individualised learning is supported by
a learning contract for some modules.
Theoretical elements are assessed using a multiple choice question examination (MCQ) and, for
some modules, a summative objective structured clinical examinations (OSCE). As well as the
formal examination you will be expected to demonstrate your understanding through reflective
writing, the development of a portfolio and completion of a competency framework. The
competency framework, developed by the National Prescribing Centre (NPC) (2001, 2003, 2004),
is used as the basis for prescribing practice development and assessment of competence by
students working with a mentor. Assessment is carried out jointly between your mentor and the
teaching team.
Personal Transferable Skills
You may need to develop or revisit and extend your information technology skills through
supported learning in the Interactive Learning Centre (ILC) in order to search, retrieve and
evaluate electronic data and information sources. In addition skills of data capture and analysis
required to inform evidence based prescribing practice will be reinforced. Problem solving using
case studies and the simulated consultations are used so that students can practice, within the
confines of a ‘safe’ consultation setting, decision-making behaviour. Personal transferable skills
will be assessed through reflective writing, development of a portfolio and the competency
framework.
Formative assessment will be ongoing throughout the programme of study. Formative
assessments are timetabled so you can assess your own learning within the confines of a ‘safe’
setting. Summative assessment will normally be undertaken, or submitted, at the end of the
semester that you originally registered. The diet and volume of assessment reflects the breadth of
the curriculum and the understandable necessity to ensure robust assessment of your fitness for
purpose and practice:
You have to pass each element of assessment to be deemed as having successfully achieved the
module and to qualify as a prescriber. Supplementary assessment on one occasion of any
unsuccessful element(s) in the same mode is normally allowed.
E. ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Students will be selected on the basis of having met the requirements of the NMC, RPSGB or
HPC for admission to prescribing modules. Admission requirements vary according to professional
background and module choice but include:
 Valid registration on NMC Register as a nurse, midwife or community public health nurse, or
registration with the HPC as an allied health professional or registered pharmacist on the
membership register of the RPSGB and /or Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland
 Nurses - minimum of 3 years experience since qualifying, including one year, immediately
preceding the course, working in the area of practice in which they intend to prescribe. Nurse
applicants must be competent to take a history, carry out an appropriate clinical examination and
make a diagnosis. Alternatively Nurse applicants may be enrolled on an appropriate educational
advanced practice module such as HM4009D or HN3127D.
 Allied Health Professionals – minimum 3 years experience as a qualified allied health professional.
 Pharmacist – minimum of two years experience following registration.
 Support from your employing organization to undertake the module and practice subsequent to
successful completion; that costs generated by their prescribing (once qualified) will be met, that
appropriate CRB checks have been undertaken and access to continuing professional
development (CPD) opportunities will be available on completion of the course.
 The employing organisation must have assessed the applicant to be competent in their area of
practice.
 The applicant must also have demonstrated appropriate numeracy skills.
 Demonstrate an ability to study at appropriate level (3/M) through prior learning. Potential entrants
would normally have studied at level 2 for level 3, and level 3 for level M. Any judgments on prior
learning will follow normal procedures for assessing academic standing through the University of
Bradford APL process. On successful completion, if you might wish to import the credit into a
University of Bradford postgraduate award you must undertake the module at Level M.
 Have written evidence (proof) that the learner has access to an appropriate mentor who has
agreed to provide support, supervision, and opportunities for the individual to develop
competence as a prescribing practitioner for the duration of the course. The mentor must be
approved by the course leader and the non medical prescribing lead for the employing
organization.
F
ADMISSION POLICY
Admission is on the basis of submission of an application, curriculum vitae, letter of support
from your manager and organisational non-medical prescribing lead.
G. PROGRESSION
The assessment regulations are in accordance with the University of Bradford’s Regulations
and Ordinances covering Postgraduate Taught courses. As the module outcomes relate to
professional practice a waiver has been obtained and the MCQ and OSCE examinations
must be achieved at 80%. The School of Health Studies level 3 or M assessment criteria are
applied to all other summative assessment and you must achieve a minimum pass of 40%.
You will be encouraged to complete and submit a self assessment proforma to underpin
your development as a reflective prescriber. You must pass all elements of the diet of
assessment to be eligible to record your qualification with the relevant professional
organisation.
H. STUDENT SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE
The University and the School of Health Studies have a well-deserved reputation for excellence in
learning and teaching and our latest Major Review (2004) and internal university annual monitoring
continues to confirm this. The QAAHE has expressed confidence in the academic and practitioner
standards in all of the provision delivered by the School of Health Studies and partner clinical
placements. It also commended the quality of learning opportunities in all three categories:
learning and teaching; student progression and learning resources. In addition the NMC
commended the prescribing provision following annual review in 2005. The School of Health
Studies Library is fully integrated with the main University J B Priestley Library but is dedicated to
serving the teaching, learning and research needs of the School. Support for students in the use of
the Library and its resources are provided at induction, through formal teaching and via enquiry
services. There are systems for reserving books and accessing electronic journals and databases
from home. Student support provided by the Division and School is enhanced by a strong
University infrastructure, in particular the Disabilities Office and the Careers Service, and by 24hour access and Internet connections to the Library and computing facilities. Course handbooks
contain full details of all support services and information about the University and the School of
Health Studies. The School’s Interactive Learning Centre (ILC) and Learning Technology Advisor
are available to students, as is advice on innovative learning and teaching practice. The academic
staff associated with this programme will be developing and integrating e-learning as a feature of
the student experience. All students have the opportunity to comment on the course, its
organisation, content and management through the Staff Student Liaison Committee and Course
Management Teams in addition to modular evaluation. In recognition of the part time nature of the
programme this will be facilitated through a virtual learning environment. In addition the Course
Team will act as personal tutors for you supported by a multidisciplinary teaching team. Students
will also be provided with university and course student handbooks that provide information of
additional resources and sources of support for their learning. Members of staff involved in your
course are available via e-mail and operate an increasing amount of student support electronically.
I.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Contact
Recruitment
and
Student
Support
on
(01274)
236365
email:
sohrecruitment@bradford.ac.uk
REFERENCES
Department of Health (2000) The NHS Plan London: HMSO
Department of Health (2005) Supplementary Prescribing by Nurses, Pharmacists,
Chiropodists/Podiatrists, Physiotherapists and Radiographers within the NHS in England,
http://www.dh.gov.uk/PolicyAndGuidance/MedicinesPharmacyAndIndustryPrescriptions/Suppleme
ntaryPrescribing/fs/en. Accessed June 2006
Department of Health (2006) Improving Patients’ Access to Medicines: A Guide to Implementing
Nurse and Pharmacist Independent Prescribing within the NHS in England,
http://www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/13/37/47/04133747.pdf Accessed June 2006
National Prescribing Centre, (2001) Maintaining Competency in Prescribing An Outline Framework
to Help Nurse Prescribers. Liverpool. NPC
National Prescribing Centre, (2003) Maintaining Competency in Prescribing An Outline
Framework to Help Pharmacist Prescribers. Liverpool. NPC
National Prescribing Centre, (2004) Maintaining Competency in Prescribing An Outline
Framework to Help Allied Health Professional Supplementary Prescribers. Liverpool. NPC
DisclaimerThe information identified within this specification and the curriculum may change,
subject to the University's course approval, monitoring and review procedures.