Independent/Supplementary Prescribing (V300)

Program Overview

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This Level 7 postgraduate program prepares nurses, midwives, and allied health professionals for independent/supplementary prescribing roles. Through blended learning, participants gain knowledge and skills in prescribing medications, critical thinking, and patient care. The program includes supervised practice placements and assessments to ensure proficiency in prescribing practices. Graduates can pursue careers as prescribers in healthcare settings or roles requiring advanced prescribing knowledge.

Program Outline

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Objectives:

• Equip participants with the knowledge and skills required to prescribe medications from the BNF within their professional scope of practice and regulatory authorization.
• Develop critical thinking abilities for making effective prescribing decisions and ensuring safe and quality patient care.
• Promote greater collaboration within the prescribing team, fostering innovation and optimizing service delivery.

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Description:

• Delivered through a blended learning format, combining lectures, tutorials, action learning sets, and self-directed study.
• Focuses on real-world scenarios through case study analysis and guest speaker visits.

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Outline:

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Program Content & Structure:

• 45 credits worth of learning across two modules.
• Semester-based delivery, starting in January and continuing through August.
• 50/50 split between classroom theory and supervised practice placements.

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Modules:

• PRES 5005 - Applied Prescribing (30 credits): Covers the core principles, legal aspects, ethical considerations, and practice skills for independent and supplementary prescribing.
• PRES 5006 - Pharmacology for Prescribers (15 credits): Explores the pharmacology, therapeutic uses, and potential adverse effects of drugs relevant to the program participants’ field of practice.

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Module descriptions:

• PRES 5005: Equips students with the necessary knowledge and skills required to independently prescribe medications from the BNF.
Covers core topics such as legislation, ethics, risk management, patient safety, drug prescribing practices, and reflective practice exercises. Includes case study discussions, simulations, and opportunities to develop communication, decision-making, and critical thinking skills.
• PRES 5006: Focuses on the pharmacological principles relevant to prescribing practice.
Explores drug classifications, mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetics, drug interactions, safe and effective drug use, and legal considerations associated with prescribing. Utilizes a variety of resources and learning strategies such as case studies, individual study, group discussion, and presentations.

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Assessment:

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Assessments are conducted through:

• Formative assessments, including case study analyses, group work, and self-directed learning exercises.
• Summative assessments, such as written examinations and assignments that assess knowledge acquisition, clinical reasoning, and decision-making proficiency.

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Teaching:

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Teaching methods:

• Interactive lectures
• Practical tutorials
• Group work
• Individual study
• Online learning resources
• Case study analyses

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Teaching staff:

• Experienced academic team of clinicians and academics with expertise in prescribing, pharmacology, and patient safety.
• Visiting experts from healthcare and clinical practice settings.

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Careers:

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Graduates can pursue careers:

• **As independent or supplementary prescribers in various healthcare settings.

• **In roles that require advanced prescribing knowledge and skills within their respective professions.

• **Within healthcare education, research, and policy domains related to prescribing practices.
• NHS policy promoting extended roles for nurses, midwives, and AHPs.
• Students may be eligible for funding from the Education Commission Unit of the East Midlands Strategic Health Authority.
• Students must be registered nurses, midwives, or AHPs.
• Candidates should have a minimum of two years of clinical experience and be competent in patient assessment and evaluation.
• Applicants require support from a suitably qualified Practice Supervisor and Practice Assessor.
• An Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check is required within 3 years of starting the course.
• The program schedule may vary slightly from year to year.
• DMU was shortlisted for the Postgraduate Award in the 2024 Whatuni Student Choice Awards (WUSCAs).