Module outline V 150

Field name / Comments/notes
Title / Prescribing from the Community Practitioner Formulary for Registered Nurses without a Specialist Practice Qualification (V150)
Code / NA3115
Level / 6
Credit rating / 20
Pre-requisites / The pre-requisites are set by the NMC
  • Must be a registered nurse
  • Must intend to practise in an area of clinical need for prescribing and must be supported by the employer to do so
  • Must be deemed competent by employer in the relevant area of practice to undertake the programme (normally minimum of two years)
  • Must demonstrate the ability to study at level 6
  • Must demonstrate appropriate numeracy skills
  • Must have a practising community practitioner nurse prescriber as mentor

Type of module / Extensive over one semester
Aims / The aim of the module is to prepare nurses without a specialist practitioner qualification to prescribe safely, appropriately and cost-effectively from the community practitioner formulary for nurse prescribers, accepting personal and professional responsibility for related decision making and patient outcomes.
Learning outcomes/objectives / The learning outcomes are dictated by the NMC (2007) and are as follows:
On successful completion of the course students will be able to:
  • Assess and consult with patients, clients, parents and carers
  • Undertake a thorough history, including medication history and current medication (including over-the-counter, alternative and complementary health therapies) to inform diagnosis
  • Understand and apply the legislation relevant to the practice of nurse/midwife prescribing
  • Critically appraise and use sources of information/advice and decision support systems in prescribing practice
  • Understand the influences that can affect prescribing practice and demonstrate understanding by managing prescribing practice in an ethical way
  • Understand and apply knowledge of drug actions in prescribing practice
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the roles and relationships of others involved in prescribing, supplying and administering medicines
  • Prescribe safely, appropriately and cost-effectively
  • Practise within a framework of professional accountability and responsibility

Content /
  • Consultation, decision-making and therapy, including referral
  • Influences on, and psychology of, prescribing
  • Prescribing in a team context
  • Clinical pharmacology, including 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

Teaching and learning strategies / Keynote lectures, self-directed learning, critical reflection, portfolio, case analysis of treatment scenarios, group discussion, problem-based learning. The students will be encouraged to use studentcentral.
Student support / Teaching, supervision and support by lecturers and personal tutor (some of this support will be cohort-specific). Support from a mentor in order to enable the learning outcomes to be achieved in practice.
Studentcentral and on-line learning materials.
Learning resources are a central service of the university which provided learning support to all students.
Reading list / Basford,L.& Bowskill,D. 2001. Celebrating the present, challenging the future of nurse prescribing British Journal of Community Nursing 6(9): 467-471
Beauchamp,T.L.& Childress,J.E. 2001. Principles of Biomedical Ethics. 4th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press
Beckwith S and Franklin P 2006 Oxford handbook of nurse prescribing Oxford University Press
BJCN monograph 2002 Topics in Nurse Prescribing Wiltshire Mark Allen Publishing
Brookes,D. & A. Smith. 2006 Non-medical Prescribing in Healthcare Practice: a Toolkit for Students & Practitioners. London. Palgrave.
Courtney,M. 2001. Current Issues in Nurse Prescribing. Greenwich: Greenwich Medical Media.
Dale and Haylett 2004 Pharmacology Condensed. Edinburgh. Churchill Livingstone
Department of Health 2000. The NHS Plan. London: HMSO
Department of Health 1989. Report of the Advisory Group on Nurse Prescribing (1st Crown Report). London: DOH
Department of Health 1999. Review of the prescribing, supply and administration of medicines (2nd Crown Report). London: DOH
Galbraith et al.1999 Fundamentals of Pharmacology- a text for nurses and health professionals. Harlow. Addison Wesley Longman
Humphries,J.L.& J Green (Eds.) 2002 Nurse Prescribing. 2nd ed. Basingstoke: Palgrave
Hutton,M 2008 Essential Calculation Skills for Nurses, Midwives andHealthcare Practitioners
Leon Longe R., J.C. Calvert & L.Y Young 2000. Physical assessment: a guide for evaluating drug therapy. London. Applied Therapeutics
Prosser,S, B.Worster, J.McGregor, K. Dewar, P.Runyard &J. Fegan. 2000. Applied Pharmacology London, Mosby
Tingle J & A. Cribb Nursing Law and Ethics (2nd ed) Oxford; Blackwell Scientific






Medicines, Ethics and Practice: a guide for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians
Available from
Assessment tasks / The assessment regulations will conform to the University of Brighton General Examination and Assessment Regulations and the rules and regulations of BSc(Hons) Professional Practice. The assessment is in three parts:
  • Numeracy examination consisting of ten questions (pass mark 100% ie pass/fail)
  • Written examination consisting of twenty short answer and multi-choice questions to test pharmacological knowledge and its application to practice (pass mark 90%) (50 % of total mark).
  • Portfolio which demonstrates an understanding of legal and ethical issues, team-working, record-keeping, writing a prescription and numeracy, and how these apply to prescribing practice (pass mark 50%) (50% of total mark)
All assessments (which overall will test the attainment of the NMC standards and learning outcomes for the module) must be passed in order to pass the module. To ensure patient safety, two attempts only will be permitted.
Brief description of module content and/or aims (maximum 80 words) / This module aims to equip registered nurses, without a Specialist Practitioner qualification, with the knowledge, skills and competence to prescribe from the Community Practitioners’ Formulary and to become safe, effective and cost-effective prescribers within the community team.
Area examination board to which module relates / BSc(Hons) Professional Practice
Module team/authors/ coordinator / Sheila Hoad
Semester offered, where appropriate / One and two (must be completed within a year)
Site where delivered / Falmer
Date of first approval / January 2009
Date of last revision
Date of approval of this version
Version number / 1
Replacement for previous module
Field for which module is acceptable and status in that field / Nursing
Course(s) for which module is acceptable and status in course / BSc(Hons) Professional Practice (optional/mandatory)
School home / School of Nursing and Midwifery
External examiner / Karen Adams