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Practice Certificate in Non-Medical Prescribing for Nurses and Midwives (V300)
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Module details
Module code
6NU571 (Level 6), 7NU612 (Level 7)
Module level
Level 6 and 7
Module credits
Next course date
September and January
St Helena, Chesterfield
Module description
About this module.
This module enables nurses to develop the necessary skills and knowledge to practice as independent prescribers, and to meet the standards set by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
This course is for practitioners who are registered as a Nurse or Midwife and in good standing with the Nursing and Midwifery Council. Applicants must have been registered for at least 1 year, with appropriate post-registration patient-orientated experience, in a relevant practice setting and an identified area in which to develop independent prescribing practice.
Prescribing by a range of professionals has developed over a number of years, enabling improvements to the efficiency and effectiveness of health care provision. The practice certificate and post-graduate practice certificates in non-medical prescribing have been developed to meet the growing demand for prescribing courses nationally and locally. The course is one core 40 credit module studied over two semesters that enables practitioners to work autonomously when making clinical decisions for the people in their care, with an awareness of personal limitations within their expanding scope of professional competence. This inter-professional programme enables learners to develop their knowledge and skills to become qualified Non-Medical Prescribers (NMP) (also known as Independent / Supplementary prescribers) as recognised by their respective professional regulatory body.
How you are assessed
Practical : Requires the completion of an OSCE for prescribing
Exam 1 : requires the successful completion of calculations test (100% pass mark) and an examination in pharmacology and its application to practice (80% pass mark
Course Work : requires the presentation of an evidence-based poster detailing specific drugs, and the submission of an essay.
Additionally : practice sign-off (verifying 12 days / 90 hours of clinical practice)
On completion, you will be awarded the:
- Practice Certificate in Independent and Supplementary Prescribing for Nurses and midwives (Level 6)
- Postgraduate Practice Certificate in Independent and Supplementary Prescribing for Nurses and midwives (Level 7)
Course team
- Jill Gould : Senior Lecturer; Programme Leader, DN and community prescriber
- Alan Bloomer: Pharmacist Lecturer and Independent Prescriber
- Margaret Stone: Pharmacist Lecturer
- Rachel Lewis: Pharmacist Lecturer and Independent Prescriber
- Jennifer Lee: Pharmacist Lecturer and Independent Prescriber
- Dr Gerri Mortimore : Lecturer Advanced Practice, Independent Prescriber and Advanced Nurse Practitioner
- Donna Brewster: Lecturer Advanced Practice, Independent Prescriber and Advanced Nurse Practitione
- Helen Johnson: Lecturer Advanced Practice, Independent Prescriber and Advanced Nurse Practitioner
To speak with a member of the academic team please contact [email protected]
Learning outcomes
- Select and evaluate sources of information and apply knowledge of pharmacology to promote informed choice and safe, appropriate, cost-effective prescribing practice.
- Apply clinical assessment, consultation, investigation and communication skills to guide the diagnosis, shared decision-making, treatment planning, accurate advice and safety-netting for people in your care.
- Evaluate key professional, ethical, legal and governance principles in relation to roles, team working, continuing development, public health and influences on prescribing practice.
Entry requirements
Academic pre-requisites.
To undertake the course at Undergraduate level, Nurses or midwives need to have a professional qualification.
Applicants wishing to undertake the programme at academic level 7 (postgraduate) should normally have a first degree. If applicants do not hold a first degree, they may study at Level 7 on this condition: They have successfully undertaken a minimum of one Level 7 (postgraduate) module within the past 5 years.
Professional (NMC, 2018) Requirements
Approved education institutions, together with practice learning partners must:
- Ensure that the applicant is a registered nurse (level 1), a registered midwife or a SCPHN before being considered as eligible to apply for entry onto an NMC approved prescribing programme (Pre-admission Portfolio- PAP)
- Ensure that applicants for Nonmedical prescribing (V300) supplementary/independent prescribing programmes have been registered with the NMC for a minimum of one year prior to application for entry onto the programme (PAP)
- Confirm that the necessary governance structures are in place (including clinical support, access to protected learning time and employer support where appropriate) to enable students to undertake, and be adequately supported throughout, the programme (PAP/Audit)
- Confirm on entry that any applicant selected to undertake a prescribing programme has the competence, experience and academic ability to study at the level required for that programme (University application, PAP)
- Identify a suitably qualified Practice Assessor and Practice Supervisor(s) (PAP and DPP/PA/PS portfolio)
Practice learning partners must:
- Clinical/health assessment
- Diagnostics/care management
- Planning and evaluation of care (PAP)
- The applicant will need written confirmation from practice learning partners of their support for the nurse to undertake the programme
- Practice learning partners must confirm they have the necessary clinical governance infrastructure in place (including a Disclosure and Barring Service check) to enable the registrant to prescribe once they are qualified to do so
- Employers should not put registrants forward if they have not demonstrated the ability to diagnose in their area of speciality. It should be possible to identify whether a registrant has these skills through continuing professional development (CPD) reviews within the workplace setting. Alternatively, or to help guide this, a “pre-admission portfolio” is available for applicants who require evidence of suitability
- The applicant has been assessed as competent to take a clinical history, undertake a clinical assessment, and diagnose in the area of practice in which they intend to prescribe
- The applicant has sufficient knowledge to apply prescribing principles taught on the programme to their own area and field of practice
To help with the above, and for nurses who are self-employed, the “Pre-admission portfolio” is available and numeracy skills are tested by the university pre-admission using an online calculations test.
Fees and funding
(august - july 20undefined).
If you are funding your own study, the full cost of this module is £2,000.
Please note fees normally increase in line with inflation and the University's strategic approach to fees, which is reviewed on an annual basis. The total fee you pay may therefore increase after one year of study.
Funding your studies
Find out more about fees, postgraduate loans and support you may be entitled to.
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Alumni discount for Derby graduates
We offer a discount on postgraduate course fees for all Derby alumni.
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How to apply
As a professional course, you need to apply directly to the University as well as provide evidence of meeting the specific professional requirements. The entry requirements are assessed through an additional professional form and your University application cannot be considered until we receive and review this form. Find out more about how to meet the professional requirements .
Before you begin your application make sure you have:
Your qualification details including grades and dates taken. You will have the opportunity to upload scanned copies of your qualification certificates/transcripts in the application. If you have no formal qualifications, you can also state this in your application.
A scanned copy of your passport or other official photographic ID e.g. photo driving licence. This will help us verify your application to study with us. If you do not have any photo ID, we will accept a scanned copy of your birth certificate. International applicants can only provide a copy of their passport for visa assessment purposes.
Your work experience (optional). You can upload a CV into your application or provide the company names and addresses of up to three of your employers.
A personal statement showing your interest for the course/subject. This is a mandatory requirement and you will be able to upload it into your application. You may want to include your reasons for applying for the course, your experience in the field, how you feel you would benefit from studying and relevant information about your previous studies. You could also tell us about your non-academic experiences such as hobbies, interests, participation in any clubs, societies or voluntary work.
A relevant reference for the course you have applied for. The reference should be in written format and supplied on company-headed paper, signed and dated from either a manager, supervisor, tutor or teacher.
If you need to supply two references, this usually means you need to provide one academic reference from any recent study and one employer reference.
LBR applications
- If you are applying for an LBR funded place, please apply directly to the University
- Find out more about LBR and whether you are eligible for an LBR course
Self-funded applications
- If you are financing your study yourself, please Apply directly to the University.
Apply directly to the University
Before you begin your application to the university make sure you have:
- If you are applying for an LBR funded place, please apply directly to the University
If you want to find out more about studying a short course, please contact us and we will get back to you as soon as we can.
Additional information about your studies
Minimum numbers.
Please note that this course is subject to minimum numbers in order to run.
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2024/25 entry applications also open for 2025/26
CPD Masters Certificate of Professional Development in Independent Prescribing for Pharmacists
Level 7 (postgraduate), 40 credits, course cost.
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The overall aim of the programme is to develop the personal, professional, clinical and diagnostic skills required to deliver person-centred care as a pharmacist independent prescriber.
The course will provide the skills and knowledge required to ensure safe and effective practice as an independent prescriber. Successful completion of the course will demonstrate your competence to allow application for annotation on the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) or Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland's (PSNI) registers as an independent prescriber.
Course content
The module comprising the programme cover a range of topics related to practice as an independent prescribing pharmacist and aligns with the GPhC Standards for the education and training of pharmacist independent prescribers (January 2019).
The outline syllabus for the programme is as follows:
- The role of the pharmacist prescriber
- Legal and ethical responsibilities in prescribing
- Equality and diversity in prescribing
- Clinical history taking
- Individual patient variation
- The role of the patient and incorporating patient preferences in prescribing
- Evidence based medicine in clinical decision-making
- Evaluating risks and benefits in clinical decision-making
- Recognising limits of competence
- Patient activation
- Public health in prescribing
- Safeguarding vulnerable patients
- Competence and capacity
- Testing and investigations
- Interpreting and adjusting treatment plans
- Emerging technologies in prescribing
- Record keeping
- Managing influences on the prescribing
- Clinical governance and health economics in prescribing
- Dealing with concerns about own and others prescribing
- Accountability, liability and competence in prescribing
- Other relevant, emerging or pressing concerns relating to prescribing
Teaching and learning
Study days including assessment days (subject to change)
For September 2024, there will be two sets of study days running due to the maximum capacity permitted on the days. If offered a place on the programme, you will be offered a place on one of these sets of study days and should ensure that you are potentially able to attend either set of dates when you submit your application. Students will be required to attend their allocated dates and there will be no capacity to switch between these dates. There are a total of seven study days, four are face-to-face campus based study days and three are online. Study days - set 1
- Wednesday 4 September 2024
- Monday 4 November - Thursday 7 November 2024
- Monday 6 January 2025
- Tuesday 7 January 2025
Study days - set 2
- Thursday 5 September 2024
- Monday 18 November - Thursday 21 November 2024
- Wednesday 8 January 2025
- Thursday 9 January 2025
The following are requirements of the programme
- All study days must be attended
- The programme should normally be completed within 12 months of registration
- All assessment must be passed
Course structure
The programme comprises one 40 credit module (7208CPPHAR Independent prescribing for pharmacists). All assessments (see below) and a period of learning in practice (see below) have to be completed successfully in order to be awarded the Masters Certificate of Professional Development (MCPD).
The programme adopts a blended approach to learning with seven face-to-face campus-based study days and is structured so that students can implement and consolidate their learning in their day-to-day practice. The study days are supplemented by online content and self-directed study. In addition, 90 hours of supervised learning in practice with a designated prescribing practitioner (DPP) must be completed.
This programme covers a large amount of learning in a very short space of time. Students need to engage fully with the programme. Over the six months you are required to attend study days (see attendance below) and have enough time to complete self-directed learning, 90 hours of supervised learning in practice as well as assessment preparation.
The programme has two intakes per year in Spring/March and Autumn/September and runs as a standalone course, as well as an embedded option in our Clinical Pharmacy programmes:
- Clinical Pharmacy for Secondary and Tertiary Care
- Clinical Pharmacy for Primary Care and Community Pharmacy
Students will be assigned a named tutor at the beginning of your programme who will help to guide you with any queries that you have during the course and can give you formative feedback on assignments and e-portfolio entries. In addition, all students will be supported by a Designated Prescribing Practitioner (DPP), who must be identified before applying for the programme.
Area of practice intended for prescribing training
It is essential that you take time to define your area of practice before applying for the programme. As your clinical experience is assessed in relation to your chosen area of practice during the application and selection process. You may find it helpful to discuss your plans with your line manager, service lead or DPP to ensure that you have a plan in mind and that you can demonstrate your experience in that area in the supplementary application from.
Learning in practice
The programme you to demonstrate how their learning is applied in the prescribing practice through ninety hours of supervised practice. Further, your DPP will assesses your competence to prescribe in a real-world setting at the end of this practice period practice in line with the RPS Prescribing Competency Framework. This forms part of the portfolio assessment, please see below.
A significant portion of the learning in this programme is undertaken via self-study of online content and discussion with tutors and your DPP. However, students are required to attend the university for seven study days. ALL study days must be attended in order to complete the programme and if absent from any of the study days, an alternate day, which may be some months later, must be attended to complete the course.
Please note that where a student cannot attend a study day, the issue must be identified in advance (wherever possible) so that an alternative study day can be offered. However, alternative study days may be some months later, with the following cohort, and this may delay your completion of the course.
If you are unsure if you can attend the study days before joining the programme, you should look to join a later cohort.
Indemnity Insurance
Pharmacists are generally advised to have professional indemnity insurance in their professional role. Pharmacists undertaking independent prescribing training are advised to check with their insurer that they are fully covered in this role as well as their future role as a qualified prescriber.
Entry requirements
How to apply.
To apply for this programme, you are required to complete an LJMU online application form. You will need to provide details of previous qualifications and a personal statement outlining why you wish to study this programme.
Please complete the LJMU online application form and submit the supporting documents listed below. Please download and complete the documents before starting the online application. When completing the LJMU online application form, select:
- Level of entry: ‘Postgraduate Taught’
- Mode of study: ‘Continuing Professional Development’
You will find Independent Prescribing for Pharmacists via the ‘browse courses’ button or the search function at the top. Please ensure you select the correct course and entry date – March/Spring or September/Autumn. For Current/Previous Qualifications, you only need to include details of your pharmacy qualification and other university qualifications. Details of GCSEs, A-levels or International Baccalaureate are not required. A personal statement is required for both the online application and the supplementary application form; these can be identical. Your personal statements should reflect your suitability and aptitude for the programme.
For the application to be accepted by the online system, this section should be at least 3,000 characters long and include that you:
- Are a registered pharmacist with the GPhC or PSNI
- Have good standing with the GPhC and/or PSNI and any other healthcare regulator you are registered with
- Demonstrate you have relevant UK-based pharmacy experience
- Have identified an area of clinical practice in which to develop your prescribing skills
- Demonstrate that you understand, recognise and can articulate the skills and attributes required of a prescriber
- Demonstrate how you reflect on your own performance and take responsibility for own CPD
- Have a DPP who conforms to specified criteria and has agreed to supervise your learning in practice component of the programme
- Have appropriate indemnity insurance
Please take time to define your area of practice before applying. You may find it helpful to discuss your plans with your line manager, service lead or DPP to ensure you have a plan in mind and can demonstrate your experience in that area. Your area of clinical practice should be a clinical area narrow enough to make the workload manageable and where you have ready access to patients at a time that your DPP can provide supervision. Please upload the following documents to your online application within 24 hours of submission.
- Complete the Supplementary application form
- DPP admissions declaration . Details of the requirements for DPP Designated Prescribing Practitioner admissions guide
- Professional reference template
- Purchase order if your employer is paying all/a proportion of your course fees
- Employer’s declaration to include confirmation of a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service enhanced criminal convictions check
- Satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service enhanced criminal convictions check if self-employed
- Copies of three recent pieces of evidence supporting the written statements in Question 10 of the supplementary application form. You should select entries that reflect evidence of your recent UK practice.
You can email copies to the Programme Administrator: [email protected]. This could result in you being offered a place on the next intake due to demand. There are two cohorts – in spring (March) and autumn (September). The deadline for applications to the autumn 2024 cohort is 8 July 2024.
A balance of approaches to summative assessment is taken to ensure that the full breadth and depth of the student 's knowledge and skills are assessed, whilst maintaining relevance to the workplace. There are four summative assessments within the programme (see table below), which are normally completed within six months of their expected completion date. The period of supervised learning in practice, totalling 90 hours, should be completed within a single 6 month period.
Assessments within 7208CPPHAR Independent prescribing for pharmacists:
Assessments
Case series
Critical reflection
Portfolio (including learning in practice declaration)
As patient safety is always paramount throughout the programme, all summative assessments need to be passed and no compensation or condonation is allowed. Feedback and opportunities to identify and addresses errors throughout the programme to allow students to learn and train safely. However, students will not complete the programme if they are assessed as being a risk to patients and the public.
The programme was accredited by the GPhC in October 2023. Successful completion of the programme will result in the student being issued with a Practice Certificate in Independent Prescribing, which entitles them to apply for annotation as an independent prescriber on the GPhC or PSNI register of Pharmacists.
Please note that that successful completion of an accredited course is not a guarantee of annotation or of future employment as a pharmacist independent prescriber.
The GPhC accreditation reports and the timescales for future accreditations can be viewed here.
The University may make changes to a programme of study or module where such changes are deemed to be beneficial to students, are minor in nature and unlikely to impact negatively upon students or become necessary due to circumstances beyond the control of the University.
Further guidance on programme changes.
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