Non-medical Prescribing for Nurses, Pharmacists and Allied Health Professionals

What you will study

Programmes available to study include:

• Independent/Supplementary Prescribing for Nurses (*includes Midwives and SCPHN) (V300) NHS6A5 (undergraduate) or NHS7C1 (post-graduate) Approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
• Independent Prescribing for Pharmacists: NHS7A6 (post-graduate) Approved by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) Pending reaccreditation outcome December 10 2021
• Supplementary Prescribing for Allied Health Professions: NHS736 (post-graduate) Approved by Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
• Independent and Supplementary Prescribing for Allied Health Professionals: HLT704 Approved by Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)

The Independent/Supplementary prescribing for nurses (V300), Independent prescribing for pharmacists, Supplementary Prescribing for Allied Health Professions and Independent and Supplementary Prescribing for AHP modules provide an educational programme for Nurses, Midwives or Specialist Community Public Health Nurses, Pharmacists and Allied Health Professions to prepare them for recording as non-medical prescribers by their respective professional bodies (NMC, GPhC and HCPC). The module is delivered at undergraduate (Level 6) for nurses and post-graduate (Level 7) for nurses and post-graduate (Level 7) only for Pharmacists and Allied Health Professionals.

The above programmes are all 40 credit module either at Level 6 or Level 7 and are delivered on a part time basis. The programme consists of 400 hours of student effort and consists of 26 theoretical days (1 study day per week) and a minimum of 78 hours of placement practice learning for Nurses and 90 hours for Pharmacists and Allied Health Professionals delivered over a six-month period. Within this, a minimum of one day each week will be spent in University undertaking blended theoretical learning.

• Community Nurse Prescribing Theory (V100): NHS 6A1; Community Nurse Prescribing Practice (V100): NHS 6A2
  For students on the SCPHN and Community Specialist Practice Programme only Approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)

Community Nurse Prescribing Theory (V150) and Community Nurse Prescribing Practice (V150) is a 10 credit module and prepares nurses for recording as nurse prescribers by the NMC and be able to prescribe from the Nurse Prescribers’ Formulary for Community Practitioners. The module is delivered at undergraduate (Level 6). The taught element is a total of 13 days of theoretical learning and 50 hours of placement practice learning over 6 months. If you have undertaken the 2018 NMC Undergraduate pre- registration programme you may be able to RPL against the Community Nurse Prescribing Theory (V150) module. You can contact postregadmissions@glyndwr.ac.uk. if you need any further information about this.

• Community Nurse Prescribing Theory (V150): NHS 6A3; Community Nurse Prescribing Practice (V150): NHS 6A4 Approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)

Community Nurse Prescribing Theory (V100) and Community Nurse Prescribing Practice (V100) is a 10 credit module prepares nurses for recording as nurse prescribers by the NMC and be able to prescribe from the Nurse Prescribers’ Formulary for Community Practitioners. The module is delivered at undergraduate (Level 6). The taught element is a total of 13 days of theoretical learning and 50 hours of placement practice learning over 6 months. This theory module is taught on the SCPHN and Community Specialist Practice programmes only.

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the programme that will take the form of either core or option modules. Modules are designated as core or option in accordance with professional body requirements and internal academic framework review, so may be subject to change.

Entry requirements & applying

Independent/Supplementary prescribing for Nurses* (V300), (*includes Midwives and SCPHN)

For nurse, midwives and specialist community public health nurse applicant must meet ALL of the following criteria:

• Valid registration on Part 1, 2, and 3 of the Professional Register maintained by NMC.
• Have at least three years’ post-registration clinical nursing experience as a practising nurse, midwife or specialist community public health nurse and be deemed competent by your employer to undertake the programme. Of these three years, the year immediately preceding application to the programme must have been in the clinical field in which you intend to prescribe, e.g. Neonates, mental health. Part-time workers must have practised for a sufficient period to be deemed competent by their employer.
• Have appropriate experience in the area of practice in which they will be prescribing; the employing organisations will assess and confirm the appropriate experience AND competency in areas of practice. The NMC require employers to undertake an appraisal of a registrant’s suitability to prescribe before they apply for a training place. This includes the applicant’s ability to diagnose in their area of speciality and appropriate numeracy skills.
• Applicants may enrol on a clinical assessment diagnosis and treatment module which starts in Semester 1 (October) prior to accessing the prescribing module in Semester 2 (January).

Independent prescribing for Pharmacists

For pharmacists you must meet ALL of the following criteria:

• Applicants are registered as a pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) or in Northern Ireland, with the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI)
• Applicants are in good standing with the GPhC and/or PSNI and any other health care regulator with which they are registered.
• Applicants must have at least two years’ appropriate patient-orientated experience post registration, in a relevant UK practice setting.
• Applicants must have an identified area of clinical or therapeutic practice in which to develop independent prescribing practice.
• They must also have relevant clinical or therapeutic experience in that area, which is suitable to act as the foundation of their prescribing practice while training.
• Applicants must have a designated prescribing practitioner (DPP) who has agreed to supervise their learning in practice for a period of at least 90 hours of learning in practice.
• Opportunities are provided that enable NHS, self-employed or non- NHS employed registrants to apply for entry onto the approved prescribing programme.
• Confirm that the necessary governance structures are in place (including clinical support, access to protected learning time and employer support where appropriate) to enable students to undertake, and be adequately supported throughout, the programme.
• No record of prior learning will be considered on this programme as University Regulations do not allow RPL/RPEL on part of a module.
• Applicant selected to undertake a prescribing programme has the competence, experience and academic ability to study at the level required for that programme.
• On application, they must ensure that the Designated Prescribing Practitioner has training and experience appropriate to their role. The Designated Prescribing Practitioner must have agreed to provide supervision, support and shadowing opportunities for the student for a minimum of 90 hours of supervised practice, and be familiar with the GPhC’s requirements of the programme and the need to achieve the learning outcomes.

For both nurses and pharmacists

• For level 6 Nurses and Midwives must provide evidence of being able to work at level 6, e.g. possession of a relevant diploma and/or may be asked to submit evidence of relevant experience and/or study.

• For level 7 (Pharmacists, Nurses, Midwives and SCPHN), all applicants must hold a degree.
• Pharmacists must endorsement from their employer or sponsoring organisation identifying that applicants have an appropriate area of clinical practice requiring prescribing skills and that they have up-to-date clinical, pharmacological and pharmaceutical knowledge relevant to their intended area of practice
• Pharmacists, Nurses, Midwives and SCPHN who will be prescribing for children must have a Designated Prescribing Practitioner who is experienced and competent in prescribing for children.
• An offer of a place on the Independent Prescribing programme is conditional upon a DBS disclosure being deemed satisfactory by WrexhamUniversity.
• All proposed Designated Prescribing Practitioners will have their professional registration practice status confirmed.
• Complete a Non-Medical Prescribing application form and Wrexham University Generic Application Form.
• Complete a NMP Short placement educational audit form as part of the application process.
• Have the confirmed agreement from the Trust’s Non – Medical prescribing lead or equivalent in order to undertake the course (This will be done on the application form and checked at interview).
• There is no compensation allowed on this programme – All pharmacists students must complete all elements of assessments in order to pass the module.
• All short listed applicants must attend an interview

Admission Criteria for Independent and Supplementary Prescribing for Allied Health Professions and Supplementary Prescribing for Allied Health Professionals module:

All physiotherapists, chiropodists/podiatrists, radiographers, dieticians and paramedics must meet all of the following criteria:

• Be registered with the Health Professions Council as either a physiotherapist or a podiatrist/chiropodist or a radiographer
• Paramedics must be an advanced practitioner
• Be professionally practising in an environment where there is an identified need for the individual to regularly use independent or supplementary prescribing
• Normally have 1 years of clinical experience since registration.
• Be sponsored by their employing organisation
• Have a Practice Educator who has agreed to provide for the duration of the programme:
o opportunities for the student to develop competence,
o supervision, support and practice assessment
• The Practice Educator must be recognised by the employer as having experience in the relevant field of practice and attended preparation for the Practice Educator role
• Have the ability to study at a minimum academic level 7.
• Have a satisfactory enhanced DBS clearance.
• Have confirmation from his/her clinical manager that he/she is competent to take a history, undertake a clinical assessment and diagnose in their area of speciality.
• Complete an application form for interview.
• The selection process will include an interview for all short listed applicants.
• All applicants must attend a panel interview with representative from academia and service.
• All applicants must complete an educational audit form.

Admissions Criteria for Community Nurse Prescribing Theory and Practice (V100) and Community Nurse Prescribing Theory and Practice (V150) module

All nurse applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

• Hold valid registration on Part I of the Professional Register maintained by the NMC.
• Normally have 2 years of clinical experience since registration.
• Be sponsored by their employing organisation
• Be practising in/intending to practise in an area of clinical need for which prescribing from the Community Practitioner Formulary will improve patient/client care and service delivery.
• Have a Practice Supervisor and Practice Assessor who is a practising non-medical prescriber who has agreed to provide supervision for the duration of the programme. Further information about the roles is provided in the application form.
• Have the ability to study at a minimum academic level 6.
• Have a satisfactory enhanced DBS Clearance.
• Have confirmation from his/her nurse manager that he/she is competent to take a history, undertake a clinical assessment and diagnose in their area of speciality.
• Demonstrate appropriate numeracy skills.
• Complete an application form for interview.

Admissions Criteria for Community Nurse Prescribing Theory and Practice (V100) module

In addition to the above all applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Secured a place on the Specialist Community Public Health Nursing and Community Specialist Practice – District Nursing programme.

All Programmes

Private sector – Non NHS settings

Pharmacists, Nurses and Allied Health Professionals who work outside NHS settings where clinical governance systems may differ or may not be applied in the same way, must ensure they comply with requirements to demonstrate their competence to practice. Students will be required to show in their application form and provide written evidence at interview of:

• how they audit their practice
• keep up to date with current guidance, and
• how they safeguard the patients in their care within a clinical governance framework.
• name and address of premises
• provide information if the placement area is currently been reviewed or been recently reviewed by Health Improvement Wales (HIW) or Care Quality Commission (CQC)
• provide evidence at interview of the necessary governance structures in place (including clinical support, access to protected learning time and employer support where appropriate) to enable applicant to undertake the programme.
• provide two references with the application (1 x academic and 1 x professional). A clinical reference must be provided to include professional registration number of the referee for confirmation.

Applying

Applicants are advised to review the ‘Preparation for Prescribe Toolkit’ before application to the programme. This introduces the student to the use of online resources, and also the concept of active learning. This is a free online implementation tool kit for non-medical prescribers. It is available on the following link: https://www.surreytoolkit.uk/ 

You will need to apply to the health board for a commissioned place to study on the programme. Private Sector, Non –NHS applicants can apply directly to the university but available places will depend on the number of commissioned places.

Independent and Supplementary Prescribing for Nurses, Independent Prescribing for Pharmacists and Independent and Supplementary prescribing Allied Health Professionals, Supplementary Prescribing for Allied Health Professionals.
There is one intake a year starting in January and is taught every Tuesday for 26 weeks. Provisional start dates are as follows:
January 11 2022 for 26 weeks finishing on July 5 2022
January 10 2023 for 26 weeks finishing on July 4 2023 Closing date for 2022 applications will be October 15 2022 Closing date for 2023 applications will be October 15 2023

Community Nurse Prescribing Theory (V100) and (V150)
There is one intake a year starting in September /October and is taught every Wednesday morning from 0900 – 1200 for 13 weeks Provisional start dates are as follows:
September 28 2022 for 13 weeks
Closing date for 2022 applications will be July 15 2022

Community Nurse Prescribing Practice (V100) and (V150)
There is one intake a year starting in September/October and is taught every Wednesday morning from 0900 – 1200 for 13 weeks Provisional start dates are as follows:
September 28 2022 for 13 weeks
Closing date for 2022 applications will be July 15 2022

Contact postregadmissions@glyndwr.ac.uk for an application pack.

All students are interviewed by the Programme Leader or Deputy Programme Leader and the Medicines Management lead (this is a Pharmacist for Pharmacist applicants) from the employing organisation for their eligibility for the programme and any supportive evidence is confirmed at interview. The student’s place on the programme cannot be confirmed until all evidence of entry requirements have been checked by a member of the programme team. In addition, because of the requirement for practice-based learning, all students should be working in a role which requires them to meet the learning outcomes of the programme. i.e. in a position which requires a level of autonomy, or in a role working towards this.

Teaching & Assessment

We offer workshops and support sessions in areas such as academic writing, effective note-making and preparing for assignments. Students can book appointments with academic skills tutors dedicated to helping you deal with the practicalities of university work. Our student support section has more information on the help available.

Independent and Supplementary Prescribing for Nurses, Independent Prescribing for Pharmacists and Independent and Supplementary prescribing Allied Health Professionals, Supplementary Prescribing for Allied Health Professionals.
Practice Assessment Document including initial student profile, learning contract, record of practice hours, reflective log of practice hours, mid-point review, Clinical Management Plan, Service user and carer feedback, Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) in practice, Achievement of RPS Competencies, personal formulary drugs from within the individual practitioner’s scope of practice and confirmation of achievement. You will complete supervised practice experience (78 hours for Nurses, 90 hours for Pharmacists and Allied Heath Professionals (12 days)) of learning in-practice with the Practice Supervisor and Practice Assessor for Nurses, Midwives and SCPHN, Practice Educator for Allied Health Professionals and Designated Prescribing Practitioner for Pharmacists. You will also undertake an Unseen Examination Part 1 Numeracy test (pass mark 100%) and Unseen Examination Part 2) 20 MCQ/short answer question (pass mark 80%).

Community Nurse Prescribing Theory (V100) and (V150)
You will undertake an Unseen Examination Part 1 Numeracy test (pass mark 100%) and Unseen Examination Part 2) 20 MCQ/short answer question (pass mark 80%).

Community Nurse Prescribing Practice (V100) and (V150)
Practice Assessment Document consisting of one short reflective piece about an aspect of prescribing practice, Writing a prescription OSCE, Achievement of RPS Competency framework for all Prescribers: including service-user/carer feedback. Practice Assessor to confirm that the nurse, midwife or SCPHN has satisfactorily completed at least 50 hours of supervised practice including sign-off by the PA of competence as a community practitioner nurse prescriber (V100/V150).

Career prospects

Our Careers & Employability service is there to help you make decisions and plan the next steps towards a bright future. From finding work or further study to working out your interests, skills and aspirations, they can provide you with the expert information, advice and guidance you need.

Successfully complete the programme and you’ll be able to record your qualification with your respective professional body. Apply for clinical posts in a range of areas of practice that requires a non-medical prescriber. You’ll also be able to improve your performance, and enhance patient care in the role in which you are already working.

Fees & funding

You do not have to pay your tuition fees upfront.

The fees you pay and the support available will depend on a number of different factors. Full information can be found on our fees & finance pages. You will also find information about what your fees include in the fee FAQs.

All fees are subject to any changes in government policy, view our postgraduate fees.

Programme specification

You can see the full programme specification here.

Course Dates

This course is now closed for January 2025 entry. If you wish to register your interest for January 2026 entry, please email postregadmissions@wrexham.ac.uk.