Non-Medical Prescribing Programme

Course Content

• Course Details

  During this non-medical prescribing course you will develop the skills required to undertake a comprehensive and safe consultation, exploring theory and practical applications of knowledge to prescribing practice.

  The principles of pharmacology will be developed and applied to clinical situations through the development of a Competency portfolio linked Royal Pharmaceutical Society Framework for Prescribers (2016). Consideration will be given to differential diagnoses, diagnostic tools utilised in practice and the safety netting of all prescribing decisions. Theories and methods underpinning clinical reasoning and decision-making in healthcare, advanced communication strategies, legal and ethical issues of advanced assessment and evidence-based practice will be explored within the module.

  Teaching approaches are varied, using an active-blended learning approach and include lectures, interactive group work, online learning activities and enquiry-based learning. You will have access to tutor support throughout the module. Students will have 12 face-to-face taught days at the University, with online activity days and the completion of a competency portfolio over an 18-week period.

  The assessment strategies in this programme offer students the opportunity, through critical reflection, evaluation and synthesis to review their personal learning, development and practice in relation to prescribing. Assessment methods are varied and include:

  • Portfolio of evidence – providing a purposeful compilation of a student’s evidence and achievement in relation to prescribing within their area of practice. Completion of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (2016) Competency Framework will demonstrate practical application of the core competencies associated with Prescribing Practice – this is verified and signed off by the Practice Assessor, Practice Supervisors and the Academic Assessor (NMC) or a Designated Medical Practitioner for the HCPC module.
  • Short answer paper – an assessment under examination conditions, a written Pharmacology exam with open-ended questions requiring students to create an answer or choose from multiple answers.
  • Exam – an assessment under examination conditions to assess numerical skills and their application to Prescribing Practice.

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• Entry Requirements

  Admissions to the programme enables all nurse, midwife and SCPHN registrants OR Allied Health Professionals registered with the HCPC (including NHS, Self-employed or non-NHS employed registrants) to apply for entry to the programme.  Admission to the programme is dependent on the following minimum criteria:

  The applicant must be an NMC registered nurse (level 1), midwife or a SCPHN for at least 12 months or HCPC registered for 3 years prior to applying to the programme:

  • There must be an identified clinical need for prescribing by the employer.
  • Have employer support and protected learning time.
  • The applicant must have knowledge and experience in the area in which they intend to prescribe.
  • A current Disclosure and Barring Services check had been undertaken.

  Applicants should be assessed and approved by their employer as competent within their scope of practice, at history taking, assessment, diagnosis/care management, planning/evaluating care and have completed a period of clinical skills learning.  In the case of self-employed nurses/midwives, they will need to demonstrate how they meet this criteria directly to the module lead prior to enrolment onto our nurse prescribing course.

  The Admissions Policy for the Prescribing programme is in accordance with the University’s admissions for students, Equality and Diversity policies. It seeks to select the students from diverse educational and social backgrounds who can benefit from and motivation to complete the programme. The programme welcomes applications from those from a variety of educational qualifications and will consider on merit applicants with no formal qualifications.

  • An appropriate healthcare or bachelor’s degree with honours.
  • Students must be employed within a health and social care related environment and be a UK registered healthcare professional or
  • Students who do not have a relevant Bachelor’s degree must satisfy the University that by virtue of their professional standing, qualification and/or training that they are fit to register for, and to benefit them from, their proposed programme of study.

  As per the University of Northampton Academic Regulations where an applicant for admission to a programme is unable to present evidence relating to the general entry requirements, they may be considered for ‘special admission’.

  In such cases the Special Admissions Policy must be followed, which identifies principles governing the admission of associate students. In these circumstances applicants will be referred to the programme leader to discuss suitability for ‘special admission’.

  With your application you will be required to upload the following documents:

  • Relevant SIF Form which is related to your employment status – Employed at an NHS and non-NHS organisation (coming soon) or Self-employed (coming soon); and
  • A copy of your up to date Enhanced DBS certificate (Child and Adult workforce), issued within the last three years. We require to see all pages, even if they are blank as we must see the full completed certificate. If you do not have an Enhanced DBS certificate you can still make an application and the Admissions office will notify you of your options.

  You can find these documents on the postgraduate application guidance page.

  You can find information about how to apply for this course on the Health CPD application page.

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• Fees and Funding

  2023/24 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 23/24 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  • Part Time: £1,780 (40 credit)

  2022/23 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 22/23 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  • Part Time: £1,700 (40 credit)

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• FAQs

  Who do I contact for more information?

  If you are a Nurse, please contact the programme leader Julie Holloway for further information.

  Alternatively, please contact the Module Leader Krishna Gohil for further information.

  For information about the application process, email: prescribing@northampton.ac.uk

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Careers and Employability

This 40-credit level non medical prescribing course can be used as a module towards a BSc or Masters Programme within the University of Northampton or can be undertaken as a stand-alone module.