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.

• HEENE-funded places are available for eligible applicants.
• Standard University fee applies once all funded places have been allocated.

This award 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. This module is delivered over 18 weeks including a one-week initial block and weekly attendance. This will be undertaken via hybrid teaching including online learning and up to 24 hours face to face contact via seminars. This is also a final week block of study. You share your learning with students undertaking the award at undergraduate level 6. You spend 12 negotiated days in supervised supernumerary practice with a prescribing medical practitioner 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 2 and 17. To facilitate the integration of theory and practice these practice days should span the entirety of the award.

Before submitting your application you must read the additional information in the Guide for Advancing Non-medical Prescribing application process. This will guide you in completing your application. You must complete your application fully following the information detailed in this document. Applications which are not fully complete will not be considered.

Applications for this module are now closed. Applications for the 2021 academic year will be available in June.

Where you study

Teesside University campus

Course details

What you study

This is a multi-professional, specialist 40-credit award that prepares eligible nurses, midwives, specialist community public health nurses, physiotherapists, therapeutic radiographers, chiropodists/podiatrists and advanced paramedic practitioners to prescribe as independent/supplementary prescribers. The award 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).

Learning is facilitated by the teaching team which includes nurses, pharmacists, and medical practitioners and provides many opportunities for shared learning.

How you learn

You learn through interactive lectures, seminars of which some will be classroom based, guided study and and discussion groups, and experiential learning. Collaborative working groups enable 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 consists of a portfolio of evidence, an objectively structured clinical examination, written examination and evidence of having passed a period of supervised supernumerary practice experience. This practice period is spent with a designated medical practitioner (DMP) who provides supervision, support and opportunities to develop competence in practice. This DMP will be your nominated practice mentor and is responsible for your assessment of practice. You should ensure that you have exposure to other prescribers during this practice period.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

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

Therefore you must:

• be an NMC registered first level nurse, midwife, and/or specialist community public health nurse and have 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. 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 disclosure and barring service check undertaken within the last three years. This must be enhanced for working with children and/or adults and must be current for the duration of the time you are studying the module
• demonstrate the ability to study at academic Level 7 normally evidenced by successful relevant previous study within three years upon commencement of the programme.
• successfully complete a clinical skills module or have written evidence of assessment within practice.


• have an identified designated medical practitioner (DMP) who meets specific requirements to mentor and who provides supervision, support, and opportunities to develop competence in practice
• have a DMP who is experienced and competent in prescribing for children if you will be 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 fulfill 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 20-question drug calculations entry test with a mark of 80% or above.

Under recognition of prior learning (RPL) you may be awarded credits for previous study or related work experience which can be credited towards the course you want to study. Find out more about RPL.

Applicants are required to have completed a maths entry test as Teesside University or assessment directly with the Course Leader.

Please 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).