1. Non-Medical Prescribing
Practice Based Learning and Assessment

2. NMP course: overview 26 days theoretical attendance
9 days classroom attendance
16 days virtual attendance
2 x ½ days examinations
12 days (90 hours) in practice
Total 38 days over a 18/19 week period

3. Points to consider… Generic course
Theoretical knowledge base NOT therapeutics course
Principles to be applied to student’s area of practice
Blended learning course, students require to fulfil all elements totalling 38 days

4. Assessments Pharmacology (nurses and AHPs)
Exam – numeracy and pharmacology or
Consultation Skills (pharmacists)
Written critique
Work Based Learning (all)
OSCE and viva
Principles of Prescribing Practice (all)
Portfolio and Competency Profile

5. DMP Mentor and Learning in Practice webfolio
Flow chart (timeline)
OSCE criteria and guidelines
Competency Profile
NPC medical mentor’s guide (currently under review)
Personal Formulary template

6. Personal (P) formulary
Negotiate and identify priorities for prescribing practice
During the programme develop competence and confidence in prescribing these medicines
Identifies specific drugs (or may identify groups)
No minimum or maximum number
Add to this list by continuing negotiation

7. Personal (P) formulary
Focus for learning during the programme
Portfolio evidence should present only drugs identified in Personal formulary
Formulary relates to role and competence, registrant’s own boundaries to practice
Cognisant of legal parameters for prescribing

8. Legal parameters for Non-Medical Prescribing
Independent Nurse prescribers (V300) - BNF
Independent Pharmacist prescribers - BNF
Supplementary prescribing
AHP Supplementary prescribers
AHP Independent prescribers
Independent Community Nurse (V100, V150) prescribers - Nurse Prescribers’ Formulary

9. Supplementary prescribing
Independent Prescriber (doctor or dentist)
Supplementary (non-medical) Prescriber
Tri-partite agreement including patient
Clinical Management Plan Template
Supplementary Prescriber prescribes within range stated on CMP
Review by Independent Prescriber

10. Student Competency Profile
All competencies to be achieved
Initial review by 1st February 2016
Mid-way, formative assessment by 14th March 2016
End, summative assessment by 9th May 2016
Submission by 9th May 2016
Is this completed appropriately for external scrutiny... ? (consider external examiners, investigating managers, courts...)

11. Competency profile Developed by National Prescribing Centre
Most recent publication in May, 2012; currently being reviewed
Competencies as:
combinations of knowledge, skills, motives and personal traits
related to effective performance

12. The single competency framework for all prescribers (NPC, 2012)
- The consultation - Prescribing effectively - Prescribing in context

13. OSCE assessment in practice
Patient consultation
Assessed by DMP
Video recorded
Submit by 15th April 2016
Programme team to review (viva)
Write a prescription (marked by tutors)

14. What is a designated medical practitioner expected to do? (NPC, 2005)
Allow opportunities for the trainee to carry out consultations and suggest clinical management and prescribing options, which are then discussed with the DMP
Help ensure that the trainees integrate theory with practice
Take opportunities to allow in-depth discussion and analysis of clinical management using a random case analysis approach, when patient care and prescribing behaviour can be examined further
Assessment and verification of competence to assume the prescribing role

15. What is a designated medical practitioner expected to do? (NPC, 2005)
Establish a learning contract
Plan a learning programme which will provide the opportunity for the trainee to meet their learning objectives and gain competency
Facilitate learning by encouraging critical thinking and reflection
Provide dedicated time and opportunities to observe how the DMP conducts a consultation / interview with patients and / or carers and the development of a management plan

16. Learning contracts Identify: What the student needs to know
How they will acquire knowledge
How new knowledge / new skill will be recognised and evaluated
Suggest start with Learning Outcome 1
Develop a learning contract for each of the Learning Outcomes

17. Role of the DMP mentor: summary
Clinical supervisor
Supporting appropriate levels of confidence
Formative feedback
Assess student’s competency as a prescriber in practice by O.S.C.E.
Assess competency as a prescriber in practice by Competency Profile

18. What should a DMP with doubts about the student’s competence?
Discussion with student
Contact with the student’s Personal Tutor
Formation of action plan in conjunction with PT and student
Review of action plan at specified intervals
Discussion with student’s manager and / or NMP Lead
Failing to fail??

19. NMP Course Team Claire Callaghan, Programme Leader, Nurse
Senior Lecturer
Anna Billing, Nurse
Janine Hill, Nurse
Sessional Lecturer
Mark Magas, Pharmacist
Senior Lecturer,
Mark Stigant, Physiotherapist

20. Contacts claire.callaghan@cumbria.ac.uk anna.billing@cumbria.ac.uk

21. Information sources
Supplementary prescribing
Prescribing controlled drugs changes
Pharmacist independent prescribing FAQ (online archive)
Nurse prescribing FAQ (online archive)
Outline Curriculum Framework for Education Programmes to prepare Physiotherapists and Podiatrists as Independent/Supplementary prescribers and to prepare Radiographers as Supplementary Prescribers
A single competency profile for all prescribers
Training Non Medical prescribers in practice