Barber, P. and Robertson, D. (2009) Essentials of Pharmacology for Nurses. Berkshire. Open University Press
McKinnon, J. (2007) Towards Prescribing Practice. West Sussex. John Wiley & Sons
Simonson,T. Aarbakke, J. Kay, I. Coleman, I. Sinnott, P. Lysaa, R (2006) Illustrated Pharmacology for Nurses, London, Hodder Arnold

Be registered with the NMC on part 1,2 and 3.
Have appropriate experience in the area of practice in which he/she will be prescribing. This equates to 12 months prior experience in areas of which the registrant is going to prescribe if employed full time, and 3 years if part time.
Produce evidence of capability to study at academic level 3.
Support from a recognised employing organisation in writing with access to a designated recognised/appropriate prescriber (medical practitioner) who will provide the student with facilitation, support, opportunities to develop and assess prescribing competence in practice. (A recognised employing organisation refers to NHS organisations and those specifically identified by the NHS).

Access to a period of 78 hours facilitated clinical prescribing preparation with recognised/appropriate prescriber.
Access to clinical skills laboratory.
Specialist visiting lecturers.
Libraries- CD ROM, Internet.
Computer facilities, videos, text books, professional journals.
Health service documentation and reports.
Blackboard

Contact Hours : (140)
108 hours Presentations and lectures
8 hours Discussion and group work
6 hours Personal formulary formation
16 hours Directed study
2 hours OSCE and examinations

Independent Study Hours: (160)
80 hours Reading and study
40 hours Portfolio development
40 hours Assignment preparation

Policies and procedures of independent & supplementary nurse prescribing. Construction of clinical management plans. Consultation, decision making, therapy and referral. Influences on and psychology of prescribing. Prescribing in a team context. Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics, and 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. Drug licensing, monitoring procedures and reporting of adverse drug reactions. Cost effective prescribing. Record Keeping. Assessment and Prescribing in Adults and Children.

a) Personal portfolio of prescribing development; maximum word limit 6000: including the production of a clinical management plan with rationale module mark weighting 100%; fulfilment of learning outcomes 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
b) Exam - written examination one hour in length inclusive of reading time, which includes multiple choice question paper and short answers with a pass mark of 80% pass or fail. Fulfilment of learning outcomes 3, 4, 5, 6 .
c) OSCE exam 30mins which includes consultation skills, drug calculations and prescription writing. Fulfilment of learning outcomes 1, 2, 3 pass or fail.
d) Completion of period of clinical prescribing preparation (78 hours within independent study hours) with assessment in prescribing competencies identified within the clinical prescribing preparation handbook; module mark weighting pass/fail; fulfilment of all the learning outcomes.
e) Numeracy test 30 minutes, pass mark 100% pass or fail. Fulfilment of learning outcome 9.

all individual elements of the assessment process must be passed to successfully complete the module

If any evidence of unsafe and/or dangerous practice is recognised in any part of the assessment process, this will mean an automatic fail of that individual element.

Formative Assessment / Feedback:
presentation, tutorials