Module Descriptors
INDEPENDENT AND SUPPLEMENTARY NURSE PRESCRIBING
NURS60241
Key Facts
Faculty of Health Sciences
Level 6
30 credits
Contact
Leader: Sarah Woolley
Hours of Study
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities: 140
Independent Study Hours: 160
Total Learning Hours: 300
Assessment
  • PORTFOLIO weighted at 40%
  • EXAMINATION - UNSEEN IN EXAMINATION CONDITIONS weighted at 40%
  • CLINICAL PRACTICE weighted at 0%
  • ASSIGNMENT weighted at 20%
  • PRACTICAL IN EXAMINATION CONDITIONS weighted at 0%
  • NUMERACY TEST weighted at 0%
Module Details
Module Texts
Courtenay,M. Butler,M. (2002), Essential Nurse Prescribing, London, Greenwich Medical Media Limited (ISBN 1 84110 108 7).
Humphries,J.L. Green,J. (2002), Nurse Prescribing, 2nd edition, Basingstoke, Palgrave (ISBN 0 333 93092 4).
Simonson,T. Aarbakke, J. Kay, I. Coleman, I. Sinnott, P. Lysaa, R (2006) Illustrated Pharmacology & Nurses, London, Hodder Arnold.
Module Additional Assessment Details
Formative feedback: PBL presentation, seminar presenation, tutorials

Summative
a) Personal portfolio of prescribing development; word limit 5000: module mark weighting 40%; fulfilment of learning outcomes 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. Module mark weighting 40%. 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) Production of clinical management plan with rationale. Word limit 2000; Module mark weighting 20%. Fulfilment of learning outcomes 2, 3, 4, 6.
e) 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.
f) 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.

Module Indicative Content
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.
Module Learning Strategies
Student centred learning
Key lectures, use of specialist speakers 60%. problem based learning 20%, student seminars, discussion and debate 10%, reflection on practice and portfolio development 10%

Facilitated clinical prescribing preparation with recognised/appropriate prescriber (78 hours)
Module Resources
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.
Module Special Admissions Requirements
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).