Advancing Non-medical Prescribing
University Certificate in Postgraduate Professional Development

Course overview

Independent and supplementary prescribing is an integrated feature of health service delivery, with some health specific professionals qualified to prescribe across a range of healthcare settings. Advancing roles within both nursing and allied health professions has provided a greater access to medicines.

Before submitting your application, you must read the entry requirements. This will guide your completion of the application form. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

This module provides nurses and allied health professionals (physiotherapists, radiographers, podiatrists, dietitians and paramedics who are working in advanced practice roles) with the knowledge and skills to prescribe safely and effectively. You must work within your own scope of practice and area of competence, and as such be in a position to complete the care cycle in a holistic manner for clients within your care.

The 18-week module begins with a one-week initial block followed by attendance once a week, then a final block week of study via hybrid teaching including online learning and some face to face contact via seminars. You are taught alongside students studying at level 6. You spend 12 negotiated days in supervised supernumerary practice with a medical designated prescribing practitioner (DPP) or NMP practice assessor (PA) who acts as your practice assessor. You should also spend time with other medical and non-medical prescribers; practice learning and assessment must be undertaken between weeks two and 17. To facilitate the integration of theory and practice these practice days should span the entirety of the module.

Where you study

Teesside University: online and face to face.

Course details

What you study

This multi-professional module prepares eligible nurses, midwives, specialist community public health nurses, physiotherapists, therapeutic radiographers, chiropodists/podiatrists and advanced paramedic practitioners to prescribe as independent/supplementary prescribers. It also prepares dietitians and diagnostic radiographers to prescribe as supplementary prescribers. This is within the professional standards stipulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)/Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).

The teaching team includes nurses, pharmacists, and medical practitioners, which provides many opportunities for shared learning.

How you learn

You learn through hybrid interactive lectures, seminars of which some will be classroom based, guided study and discussion groups, and experiential learning. Collaborative multi-professional working enables you to consider a whole systems approach to influencing and setting direction in the delivery of improvements in prescribing practice. The virtual learning environment is used to support your learning.

Assessment includes a portfolio of evidence, a structured clinical examination of practice, written examination and evidence of having passed a period of supervised supernumerary practice experience. Throughout you are supported and assessed by your DPP or PA. You should ensure that you have exposure to other prescribers during this practice period.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

The entry requirements must be in place before we can consider your application. You must complete your application in full and provide evidence of how you meet these requirements. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

You must:

• be an NMC registered first level nurse, midwife, and/or specialist community public health nurse and have normally at least three years post registration experience. Of these three years, the year immediately preceding you must have been working in the clinical field in which you intend to prescribe. Note: one year’s post registration experience applicants may be considered with discussion of appropriate experience. If you work part-time you must have practiced for a sufficient period to be deemed competent by your employer

or

• be registered with the HCPC in one of the relevant allied health professions and normally have at least three years relevant post-qualification experience in the clinical area in which you will be prescribing and be working at an advanced practitioner or equivalent level.

You must also:

• be professionally practicing in a role where there is an identified need to prescribe
• have a satisfactory up-to-date enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check undertaken within the last three years and be current for the duration of the time you are studying the module
• evidence successful relevant study at academic level 6 within three years upon commencement of the module
• successfully complete a clinical skills module or have written evidence of equivalent assessment within practice
• have an identified designated prescribing practitioner (DPP) or NMP practice assessor (PA) who will provide supervision, support, and opportunities to develop your competence in practice.
• if you are prescribing for children ensure you have a DPP or PA who is experienced and competent in prescribing for children
• have the support of your manager who must certify your clinical competence to prescribe and confirm that you will be supported to fulfil all the theory and practice required to study the module
• have the support of your organisational non-medical prescribing lead who must confirm that there are clinical governance arrangements in place to support prescribing
• successfully pass a drug calculations entry test with a mark of 80% or above.
• provide a personal statement that details how you are going to utilise prescribing in your practice area and how this will impact the care of service users.

Note: you must declare if you have previously studied a prescribing programme at another higher education institution on your application.

Employability

Career opportunities

Professional recorded V300 qualification to the NMC independent/supplementary prescribing (nurses, midwives and specialist community public health nurses).

Professional annotation to the HCPC independent/supplementary prescribing (physiotherapists, podiatrists, therapeutic radiographers and advanced paramedic practitioners).

Professional annotation to the HCPC supplementary prescribing (diagnostic radiographers and dietitians).