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School of Nursing & Midwifery

NU7511 Prescribing Medicinal Products & Ionising Radiation (10 ECTS)

Learning Outcomes

Following completion of this module the student should be able to:

MLO-01

Demonstrate a systematic understanding of the regulatory framework associated with prescribing, including the legislation and professional guidelines, supporting safe prescribing.

MKO-02

Critically utilise evidence based knowledge and skill of patient/client assessment and consultation to achieve a holistic approach to patient/client care in the prescribing of medicinal products and ionising radiation.

MLO-03

Apply expert skills in clinical decision making in relation to prescribing medicinal products and ionising radiation.

MLO-04

Demonstrate a critical understanding of pharmacotherapeutics, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and radiological sciences.

MLO-05

Demonstrate knowledge of the role of the multi-disciplinary team and effective communication processes involved in safe medication management and appropriate use of ionising radiation (X-Ray).

Methods of Teaching and Student Learning

Small group teaching, seminar, class debate, group work and online guidance/content, supervised clinical practice.

Module Learning Aims & Rationale

The introduction of nurse prescribing in Ireland is central to the expansion of nursing practice aimed at improving the overall care experience for patients and clients. The aim of this module is to equip nurses with the necessary knowledge, skills, attitudes and competencies to prescribe medicinal products and ionising radiation safely and within their scope and field of practice.

Module Content

  • Risk management in medication management.
  • Public health issues for prescribing.
  • Evidence – based practice and clinical governance in relation to prescribing.
  • Legislation for nursing practice and medication management.
  • Legal liability and clinical indemnity for prescribing & expansion of nursing practice.
  • Awareness & reporting of fraud.
  • Substance abuse/dependence.
  • Budgetary considerations
  • Ethics and prescribing
  • Documentation requirements of prescribing.
  • Pharmacotherapeutics, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics.
  • Pharmacovigilance.
  • Process for identification & treatment of adverse reactions and interactions.
  • Medication error/near miss reporting.
  • Prescribing for special populations.
  • Pharmacoeconomics.
  • Influences on and psychology of prescribing.
  • Applied biosciences to prescribing process.
  • Steps of the prescribing process.
  • Prescription writing & documentation of plan of care including patient/client response. National & local health care providers’  guidelines, policies & protocols for prescribing.

Module Content - Prescriptive Authority – Ionising Radiation (In adults and children)

  • Risk management
  • Evidence – based practice and clinical governance in relation to prescribing ionising radiation.
  • Legislation for nursing & prescribing ionising radiation.
  • Legal liability and clinical indemnity for prescribing ionising radiation.
  • Principles of ionising radiation.
  • Radiation physics.
  • Radiation biology.
  • Imaging modalities.
  • Dosimetry.
  • Principles of radiation protection.
  • Practical aspects of radiation protection in X-ray.
  • Radiation protection during pregnancy.
  • Radiation protection techniques.
  • Writing & processing an x-ray request form.
  • National & local health care providers’ guidelines, policies & protocols for prescribing.

Recommended Reading List

Indicative Resources

  • An Bord Altranais (2000a) Scope of Nursing and Midwifery Practice Framework (2000) Dublin, An Bord Altranais.
  • An Bord Altranais  (2003) Guidance to Nurses and Midwives on Medication Management. Dublin. An Bord Altranais. 
  • An Bord Altranais (2005) Requirements and Standards for Nurse Registration Education Programmes. 3rd Edn., Dublin. An Bord Altranais. 
  • An Bord Altranais and National Council for the Professional Development of Nursing and Midwifery, (2005) Review of Nurses and Midwives in the Prescribing and Administration of Medicinal Products. Dublin. An Bord Altranais and National Council for the Professional Development of Nursing and Midwifery.
  • An Bord Altranais. (2007) Nurses Rules, 2007, Dublin, An Bord Altranais.
  • An Bord Altranais (2007), Requirements and Standards for Post-Registration Nursing and Midwifery Education Programmes – incorporating the National Framework of Qualifications 1st Edn., Dublin.
  • An Bord Altranais (2010) Practice Standards for Midwives. Dublin, An Bord Altranais. An Bord Altranais.
  • Biggs G., Freedman R. & Yaffe S. (2008) Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation: A Reference Guide to fetal and Neonatal Risk 8th Edition. London, Williams & Wilkins.
  • Department of Health and Children (2008) Report of the Commission of Patient Safety and Quality Assurance: Building a Culture of Patient Safety. Dublin. Department of Health and Children.
  • Government of Ireland Nurses and Midwives Act 2011 (No. 41 of 2011) Irish Statute Book.Dublin. Government of Ireland.
    Greenstein B, Gould D (2009) Trounces Clinical Pharmacology for Nurses.18th Ed. London. Churchill Livingston.
  • Health Information and Quality Authority (2010) Draft National Standards for Better, Safer Healthcare. Dublin. Health Information and Quality Authority.
  • Health Service Executive (2009) A Guiding Framework for the Implementation of Nurse Prescribing of Medical Ionising Radiation (X-Ray) in Ireland. Dublin. Office of Nursing Services Director.
  • Hitner H. (2012) Pharmacology: An Introduction. San Francisco, Career Education.
  • Jordan S. (2010) Pharmacology for Midwives: The Evidence Base for Safe Practice 2nd Edition. Basingstoke, Palgrave.
  • Katzung B., Masters S & Trevor A. (2011) Basic and Clinical Pharmacology 12th Edition. New York, McGraw-Hill.
  • Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (2014) Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics for Registered Nurses and Registered Midwives.Dublin. Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland.
  • Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (2017) Advanced Practice (Nursing) Standards and Requirements.Dublin, Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland.
  • Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (2015) Guidance to Nurses and Midwives on Medication Management Dublin. Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland.
  • Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (2008) Requirements and Standards for Nurse Education Programmes for Authority to Prescribe Ionising Radiation (X-Ray).Dublin Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland.
  • Quality and Qualifications Ireland (2014) The National Framework of Qualifications – an Overview NFQ) - Policy Summary, Dublin
  • Remedios D., McCoubrie P. on behalf of the Royal College of Radiologists Guidelines Working Party (2007). Making the Best Use of Clinical Radiology Services: a new approach to referral guidelines. Clinical Radiology 62 (10), 919-920 (editorial).
  • Royal College of Radiologists (2007) Making the Best Use of Clinical Radiology Services. Referral Guidelines. 6th EditionThe Royal College of Radiologists, London.
  • Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (2015) Prescriptive Authority for Nurses and Midwives, Standards and Requirements. Dublin. Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland.

*Other readings will be provided by individual lecturers.