Non-medical Prescribing Programmes

The University of Northampton offers a range of modules at both level 6 and level 7 leading to a prescribing qualification. The modules aim to equip students with the theoretical knowledge and practical experience required to become a non-medical prescriber and at present these include the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) approved programmes leading to the NMC qualifications in prescribing: Why study for a prescribing qualification?

Overview
Content
Additional information
How to apply
Fees and funding

Course level

Postgraduate

Modes of study

Part time

Attendance

Six months part-time course. 26 university days. Twelve days supervised practice (work-based learning).

Location

Park Campus

Entry requirements

Students need to have been registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as a first level nurse* for at least three years and have considerable experience working in the area of practice that they want to independently prescribe. They also need to have the ability to study at minimum degree level, and as such, must provide evidence of recent academic study on application to the course. The support of an identified named medical practitioner and the student's manager/prescribing lead will be sought before a place on the course can be confirmed.

Where the applicant has not undertaken a programme of study to prepare them in diagnosis and physical assessment, the employer is responsible for confirming that the applicant is competent in taking clinical assessment, history and diagnosis and that the applicant is able to demonstrate appropriate numeracy skills equivalent to a pass at GCSE.

* Where the term 'Nurse' is used, the term also applies to registrants who appear on Parts 1 (Nurses), Part 2 (Midwives) and Part 3 (Specialist Community Public Health Nurses).

Length of study

26 weeks

Start date

September

School

School of Health

Course content

Available awards:

Nurse Independent and Supplementary Prescriber (NISP) NMC V300
Community Practitioner Nurse Formulary Prescriber (CPF) NMC V150 and V100

Please contact the programme leader, Fiona Major, for further information.

Special course features

This is a highly popular and sought after part-time programme offering both a nationally recognised qualification, recordable with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and academic accreditation at degree or Masters level
At the conclusion of the course students have the option to continue with their life-long learning in order to gain a BSc (Hons) or Masters level award
Successful candidates are eligible to prescribe independently from the British National Formulary in line with current legislation
The joint qualification of Supplementary Nurse Prescribing offers the additional option of prescribing within the remit of a defined Clinical Management Plan

Typical modules

NISP V300 is a 40 credit double module.

CPF V150 is a 20 credit module

CPF V100 is an integrated module only available within the specialist community practitioner and public health nursing courses.

V300 and V150 are offered at both Degree level 6 and MSc level 7 as stand alone modules or as part of an award.

Patterns of study

V300 double module is taught over a six month period including 26 designated university days and 12 days in practice as per NMC requirements.

'V100 module is taught over 12 weeks integrated within the specialist practice courses for Health Visitors, School Nurses and District Nurses only.

V150 module is delivered alongside the V300 or V100 in 10 university days and 10 days in practice as per NMC requirements.

For further information, visit the Non-medical Prescribing Programmes web page.

Assessment

Numeracy examination
20 short answer question applied pharmacology examination
An Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)
Completion of competency based practice portfolio

Application notes

For application and funding information, please contact admissions@northampton.ac.uk.

Full time fees

Part-time fees

Nurse Independent and Supplementary Prescriber (NISP) NMCV300 40 credits fee £1080

Community Practitioner Nurse Formulary Prescriber (CPF) NMCV150 20 credits fee £540

Funding for these modules may be available from NHS East Midlands subject to meeting the required criteria through Learning Beyond Registration which is accessible until March 2013. For further information on eligibility criteria please visit http://lbr.eastmidlands.nhs.uk/