NU7512 Prescribing Medicinal Products (10 ECTS)

Learning Outcomes

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

• Demonstrate a systematic understanding of the regulatory framework associated with prescribing, including the legislation and professional guidelines, supporting safe prescribing.
• 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
• Apply expert skills in clinical decision making in relation to prescribing medicinal products
• Demonstrate a critical understanding of pharmacotherapeutics, pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics
• Demonstrate knowledge of the role of the multi-disciplinary team and effective communication processes involved in safe medication management Methods of Teaching and Student Learning: Lecture/group discussion, Student-led discussion, e-learning, 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. Nurse prescribing ensures that ‘patients receive the right care from the right person in the right setting’ (Dept. of Health & Children, 2007).  The aim of this module is to equip nurses with the necessary knowledge, skills, attitudes and competencies to prescribe medicinal productssafely and within their scope and field of practice. 
Module Content - Prescriptive Authority – Medicinal Products

• 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.

Recommended Reading List

Indicative Resources

• An Bord Altranais (2000a) Scope of Nursing and Midwifery Practice Framework (2000) Dublin, An Bord Altranais.
  
• An Bord Altranais (2000b) Code of Professional Conduct for each Nurse and Midwife. Dublin.  Dublin, An Bord Altranais.
  
• An Bord Altranais (2000) Guidance for Nurses and Midwives on the Development of Polices, Guidelines and Protocols. Dublin, An Bord Altranais.
  
• An Bord Altranais (2002) Recording Clinical Practice Guidance to Nurses and Midwives. Dublin, An Bord Altranais.
  
• An Bord Altranais (2007) Guidance to Nurses and Midwives on Medication Management Dublin. An Bord Altranais.
  
• An Bord Altranais (2010) Practice Standards for Midwives. Dublin, An Bord Altranais.
  
• BNF (2011) British National Formulary. London, BMJ Publishing Group/RPS Publishing.
  
• 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.
  
• Greenstein B, Gould D (2009)Trounces Clinical Pharmacology for Nurses18th Ed. London. Churchill Livingston.
  
• Health Information and Quality Authority (2010) Draft National Standards for Better, Safer Healthcare. Dublin. Health Information and Quality Authority.
  
• 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. 
  
• Lee A., Inch S. & Finnegan D. (2000) Therapeutics in Pregnancy and Lactation. Oxford, Radcliff.
  
• National Council for the Professional Development of Nursing and Midwifery (December 2010) Nurse and Midwife Clinical Competency Determination and Competency Development Planning. NCNM, Dublin.

*Other readings will be provided by individual lecturers.