Overview

This exciting course is aimed at experienced nurses giving them the opportunity to achieve professional and academic awards.

Summary

The Post Graduate Certificate Certificate in Non-Medical Prescribing is a one year part-time programme consisting of three modules of study in prescribing and gaining competencies in clinical practice over 15 days to attain the NMC V300 recordable qualification. It is designed to promote person-centred care by placing the patient at the heart of prescribing activity, and most importantly to keep public safety as the chief principle in guiding every aspect of programme design, and delivery.

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About this course

In this section

  1. About
  2. Attendance
  3. Start dates

About

The aim of this programme is to prepare nurses, midwives and specialist nurses to be able to incorporate safe, appropriate and cost-effective, person-centred prescribing into their practice.

This programme is available at undergraduate level (Level 6) to take account of the professional and academic background and achievement in the target population. Those studying at undergraduate level are expected to demonstrate an level of understanding consistent with the level of study being undertaken.

Within this overall aim, the course is designed to enable you as a student to:

Demonstrate understanding of the legislation regulating nurse prescribing; review the implications for your professional practice of undertaking the extended roles of prescribing and practice within a framework of professional accountability and responsibility; use diagnostic reasoning skills on the data acquired from history and health assessment to achieve appropriate diagnoses; apply knowledge of pharmacology in prescribing appropriate drugs to achieve defined health outcomes;

In addition you will be prepared to: prescribe safely, appropriately and cost-effectively within the administrative arrangements in operation; evaluate and document the effectiveness of drug therapy; empower patients/clients and their carers and families through education for safe and effective self-management of drug therapy with recognition of their right to make their own decisions; collaborate with others in the health care team in prescribing, supplying, administering and disposing of medications; and utilize up-to-date information from a range of sources in decision-making about prescribing; demonstrate theoretical knowledge relating to all aspects of non-medical prescribing including the genesis and development of non-medical prescribing in the United Kingdom; apply existing and new knowledge of pharmaco-therapeutics, legal and ethical issues and health assessment to the practice of person-centred non-medical prescribing;

You will also develop the academic skills to assimilate, synthesize and evaluate information at an appropriate level for each student and the elected level of study; and exercise sound judgement in the decision-making processes that are central to safe non-medical prescribing practice.

Attendance

This is a part time course normally completed over one academic year (ie September until the end of May).

Start dates

  • September 2019
How to apply

Modules

Here is a guide to the subjects studied on this course.

Courses are continually reviewed to take advantage of new teaching approaches and developments in research, industry and the professions. Please be aware that modules may change for your year of entry. The exact modules available and their order may vary depending on course updates, staff availability, timetabling and student demand. Please contact the course team for the most up to date module list.

In this section

  1. Year one

Year one

Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning

Year: 1

This level 7 module provides an opportunity for students to develop and enhance the knowledge base and practice of health assessment, in order that appropriate interventions and management can occur. Students will begin to develop their assessment skills under the guidance of a mentor during this module. Assessment is 100% coursework.

Prescribing in practice 7

Year: 1

This module will help to prepare nurses to undertake an active role in nurse prescribing within their specified area of practice. The legislative framework and professional and ethical principles, which underpin prescribing practice, are explored. Assessment is by a combination of coursework and examination.

Pharmacotherapeutics in Prescribing

Year: 1

This module provides the necessary pharmacological knowledge within the context of the underpinning pathophysiology that will enable the healthcare professional to prescribe safely, appropriately, and effectively within a collaborative health care team. It will be offered through a combination of e-learning, taught components and threaded discussion with supported group work. Assessment is by a combination of coursework and examination.

Entry conditions

We recognise a range of qualifications for admission to our courses. In addition to the specific entry conditions for this course you must also meet the University’s General Entrance Requirements.

In this section

  1. Entry Requirements
  2. English Language Requirements
  3. Teaching and learning assessment
  4. Exemptions and transferability

Entry Requirements

Applicants must satisfy the University’s general entry requirements and specific requirements for the course are detailed here with further conditions of application available on pre-course information available from the HEI

i) a pre-registration degree in Nursing or Midwifery, a post-registration degree in Nursing, Midwifery or Health Studies/Sciences or an Honours or non-Honours degree in another relevant subject area from a University of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland, from the Council for National Academic Awards, the National Council for Educational Awards, the Higher Education and Training Awards Council or from an institution of another country which is recognised as being of an equivalent standard; or(ii) An equivalent standard in a Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma or an approved alternative qualification; and provide evidence of the skills for evidence-based practice; and
(ii) Be entered on the NMC Professional Register as a First level Registered Nurse

or Midwife; and

Have a specialist level of knowledge in their area of practice as shown by one of:

(1) a Community Nursing qualification

(2) a Specialist Nursing qualification

(3) three years clinical experience including one year in the area in which

they will prescribe and additional education relevant to their area of

practice

English Language Requirements

English language requirements for international applicants
The minimum requirement for this course is Academic IELTS 7.0 and a score of at least 7 on each of the four aspects of this test.

Ulster recognises a number of other English language tests and comparable IELTS equivalent scores.

Teaching and learning assessment

The programme aims to deliver a structured curriculum of teaching, learning and assessment, enabling students to develop the necessary knowledge, skills and understanding .The learning experience encourages students to become active and motivated learners, who can seek information, question and analyse its validity and draw appropriate and logical conclusions.

Teaching, learning and assessment in the School are based on the belief that knowledge and information gained in the theoretical modules needs to be contextualised within practice. Ultimately, students are encouraged to build upon this to make connections between theoretical content and practice experiences thus facilitating an ability to suggest possible developments or enhancements in practice that in turn would lead to knowledge generation opportunities. This serves to help students understand the intimate link between theory and practice.

Teaching, learning and assessment take a variety of forms across the suite of modules as specified throughout this document. The strategies used are based on andragogical principles of adult learning such as self-direction and a capacity to draw upon experience. Teaching and learning in the programme has been informed by the Faculty Teaching & Learning Strategy that is an application of the University Teaching & Learning Strategy.

Exemptions and transferability

Students who have already taken the module Health assessment may at the discretion of the course Committee gain an exemption from that module. No exemptions can be made from the two core modules of the programme.

Careers & opportunities

In this section

  1. Career options
  2. Work placement / study abroad
  3. Professional recognition

Career options

Students who do this programme are normally already employed in the specialsim of their career choice. Successful attainment of this qualification places students in a strong position with the skills and knowledge to perform at a high level of practice, thus enhancing your career potential.

Work placement / study abroad

Students will gain their competecies in clinical practice over 15 days to attain the NMC V300 recordable qualification.

Professional recognition

Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)

Recorded by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) for the purpose of registration as a non-medical prescriber (V300)

Apply

How to apply Request a prospectus

This is a fully commissioned course.

APPLICATION PROCESS FOR NON-MEDICAL PRESCRIBING PROGRAMME

INTRODUCTION

The arrangements that must be in place before applicants commence the Non-Medical Prescribing Programme are laid down by NMC and are, by the nature of prescribing, complex. The university teams endeavour to work with Trusts as far as possible to ensure that maximum potential in populating the programme is achieved, and this works normally to great effect and with a spirit of ‘being in it together’.

The application process is as follows:

QUB and Ulster alternate the initial phase of taking application forms on annual basis. This is why the FIRST LETTERHEAD going out will have one or other institutions name on it.

The two Course Directors (Ulster and QUB) meet and using educational criteria divide up the application forms depending upon the candidate’s area of work, and experience (for link lecturer support purposes). This phase should be completed by the end of July, but this period usually extends until September, as for good reasons, applications rarely meet institutional deadlines.

From this point onwards students are processed through their receiving institution and any further correspondence is between the Course Directors or administrative support teams in QUB or Ulster.

Start dates

  • September 2019

Fees and funding

In this section

  1. Fees information

Fees (total cost)

Important notice - fees information Fees illustrated are based on 19/20 entry and are subject to an annual increase. Correct at the time of publishing. Terms and conditions apply. Additional mandatory costs are highlighted where they are known in advance. There are other costs associated with university study.
Visit our Fees pages for full details of fees

Northern Ireland & EU:
£1,967.00

Additional mandatory costs

Tuition fees and costs associated with accommodation, travel (including car parking charges), and normal living are a part of university life.

Where a course has additional mandatory expenses we make every effort to highlight them. These may include residential visits, field trips, materials (e.g. art, design, engineering) inoculations, security checks, computer equipment, uniforms, professional memberships etc.

We aim to provide students with the learning materials needed to support their studies. Our libraries are a valuable resource with an extensive collection of books and journals as well as first-class facilities and IT equipment. Computer suites and free wifi is also available on each of the campuses.

There will be some additional costs to being a student which cannot be itemised and these will be different for each student. You may choose to purchase your own textbooks and course materials or prefer your own computer and software. Printing and binding may also be required. There are additional fees for graduation ceremonies, examination resits and library fines. Additional costs vary from course to course.

Students choosing a period of paid work placement or study abroad as part of their course should be aware that there may be additional travel and living costs as well as tuition fees.

Please contact the course team for more information.

Contact

Course Director regarding course content:

Dr Rosario Baxter

E: rcs.baxter@ulster.ac.uk

M: +44 (0)75 3326 1298

Admissions contact regarding application process:

Mrs Karen Devlin

E: lk.devlin@ulster.ac.uk

T: +44 (0)28 7012 3604

For more information visit

Faculty of Life and Health Sciences

School of Nursing

Testimonials

'A great course, very challenging but well worth while doing for my current role and future career prospects '

'Tremendous support from the teaching team, a brilliant experience'