PMMPP2-Preparing to Prescribe for Nurses and Allied Health Professionals

Module Provider: Pharmacy
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring / Summer module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites: Pre-requisites: Applicants must meet the NMC or HCPC entry criteria for enrolment on this module and demonstrate the ability to study at level 7
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2019/0

Email: s.j.slade@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module enables nurses and allied health professionals to practise and develop as prescribers and to begin meeting the standards set by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) or Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), which after completion of PMMNP2, PMMAS1 or PMMAP2 will enable them to apply for annotation to the register to practise as prescribers.

The module can be studied as part of the Postgraduate Certificate in Independent Prescribing or as part of the MSc in Advancing Healthcare Practice.  Practitioners will be supported to reflect on their experiences by developing a professional portfolio of their learning which is mapped to the Royal Pharmaceutical Society Competency Framework for all Prescribers.

Aims:

To enable nurses and allied health professions to develop the core competencies required to prepare them to study for module PMMNP2, PMMAS1 or PMMAP2.  To demonstrate critical appraisal skills commensurate with Master’s level study.

Assessable learning outcomes:

The following learning outcomes are based on the programme requirements set by the HCPC and NMC for prescribing programmes.

Knowledge

1. Understand and use sources of information, advice and decision support in prescribing practice


2. Understand the way medicines work in relation to the disease process (pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics)


3. Understand how medicines are licensed and monitored


4. Understand the roles and relationships of others involved in prescribing, supplying and administering medicines


5. Recognise the unique implications and developmental context of the anatomical and physiological differences between neonates, children and young people


6. Understand how consultation models can support appropriate communication with patients


7. Understand the pathophysiology of the disease state(s) within the stated scope of practice

Skills

1. Apply knowledge of drug actions in prescribing practice


2. Apply evidence-based medicine (EBM) to individualise patient care

Behaviours

1. Continually advance own knowledge and understanding through continuing professional development and life-long learning


2. Demonstrate a systematic approach to medicines optimisation for patients within stated scopes of practice

Additional outcomes:

To gain the level 7 qualification practitioners will need to demonstrate Master’s level critical appraisal during their studies, including the implications to their own practice.  Nursing students who do not meet this outcome but demonstrate knowledge, skills and behaviours aligned to, and sufficient to pass, the level 6 module may be able to transfer to PM4PP2.

Outline content:

This module will focus on supporting practitioners to apply a range of clinical and scientific knowledge to develop as prescribing practitioners.  The content will also include consultation skills, prescribing in a team context, applied pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, evidence-based practice, professional aspects to prescribing, and using information resources.

Workplace-based learning will begin to focus on the practitioner’s individual scope of practice, applying the taught content to their own context and patient population.

Global context:

As an accredited programme this module can only be offered to UK practising nurses and allied health professionals who meet the entry criteria.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

This module will use a range of teaching and learning methods.  The University teaching is based around face to face workshops using a mixture of presentations, problem-based learning and case-based learning, facilitated by the programme team, specialists and other healthcare professionals.  The workshops are underpinned by directed learning via Blackboard and self-directed learning where practitioners are required to use a range of sources to gain information to support developing their knowledge and skills.

There are no mandatory hours of supervised workplace-based learning required for this module, but practitioners are encouraged to undertake activities to develop their knowledge, skills and behaviours in the workplace.  This will be guided by the professional portfolio of learning.  This experiential learning will be individual to the practitioner’s workplace and scope of practice therefore the ratio of hours that are work-based learning and wider independent reading will vary between practitioners.

This module is usually studied with PMMNP2, PMMAS1 or PMMAP2, although the two modules may be studied concurrently.  As a standalone module it is usually studied over two to three months, and there may be more than one cohort per year, therefore the distinction of hours by term is not possible.  The hours shown for autumn term below are spread over the entire module.

Summative assessment- Examinations:

1. 1 hour multiple-choice written examination paper
   
   
   
   • Numeracy
   
   
   • Pharmacology
   
   
   
   

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

During module:

1. Case study
   
   
   
   • Written report of approximately 2,500 words
   
   
   
   

Formative assessment methods:

1. Workplace-based assessments during workplace-based learning


2. Feedback on workplace-based learning from supervisors


3. Oral presentation to peers


4. Feedback from programme team during workshops


5. Development of own personal formulary/medication profile in pharmacology workshops


6. Mock prescription writing in using information sources workshops


7. Mock numeracy and pharmacology exam papers


8. Optional formative feedback on draft case study

Penalties for late submission:

As per standard

Assessment requirements for a pass:

All elements of assessment must be passed; there is no compensation between elements:

1. The numeracy section of the exam paper must be passed at 100%


2. The pharmacology section of the exam paper must be passed at 80%


3. The case study must be passed at 50% with all essential criteria met

Reassessment arrangements:

Reassessment will usually be arranged promptly to allow for students to continue their studies although where necessary may occur with the next cohort, within a three to four-month period.  Individualised timings may be required depending on the specific requirements for reassessment and ongoing further study.

Practitioners who fail one section of the exam paper but pass the other will only be required to resit the failed section.  For students who have passed all elements of the module except for the numeracy section of the exam paper, an exceptional third attempt is permitted for that section of the paper only.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

Last updated: 2 August 2019