HLNU905 – Prescribing Practicum

Module code

HLNU905

Module title

Prescribing Practicum

Prescription

This module enables students to develop knowledge skills and competence for prescribing within their area of nursing practice. During this practicum, students will be supervised by a designated prescriber and academic staff member, who will support the student's practice development towards achieving the requirements for Nursing Council of New Zealand Nurse Practitioner Scope of Practice (Prescribing). Evidence of prescribing practice will be presented in an E- Portoflio

NZQA Level

Level 9

NZQA Credits

Delivery method

Web-Based

Learning hours

Total learning hours: 300

Resources required

Learning Outcomes: Upon successful completion of this module students will be able to:

1. Define and clearly articulate an area of advanced practice and understand the regulatory,
legislative and professional frameworks that govern prescribing

2. Demonstrate advanced health assessment, diagnostic decision making and prescribing
skills, recognising the significance of client contextual data including current drug therapies

3. Articulate advanced knowledge of pharmacotherapeutics and its evidence base for safe
prescribing practice including pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics principles and
recognition of interactions and contraindications

4. Demonstrate advanced practice in planning interventions with clients and families including
prescribing medications or appliances within area of practice

5. Evaluate therapeutic plans and manage responses to drug therapy including adverse drug
reactions and interactions and/or appliances in collaboration with clients and families

6. Critically evaluate how context influences prescribing practice

7. Critical appraisal of clinical trials, including relevant research methodologies.
Content: - Conceptual and evidence bases for advanced nursing and prescribing practice
- Role of the Nurse Practitioner (Prescribing) within an area of practice including rationale for
prescribing variations
- Professional, regulatory and legal responsibilities for advanced nursing practice with
prescribing
- Critical thinking and scholarship for health assessment , clinical reasoning and prescribing
practice
- Pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinectics and the professional and contextual considerations
for prescribing practice including management of adverse drug reactions and interactions.
- Leadership in advanced practice for specific populations and health outcomes
- Independent and collaborative practice within health teams at the advanced level
- Critical reflection and peer review of client cases to evaluate effectiveness of own practice
- Interpreting research as evidence for clinical decision making in prescribing
- Ethical issues related to clinical trials and drug research
Teaching and Learning Strategy: Teaching and learning methods will include workshop sessions, online activities and clinical practice supervision. Visiting clinical scholars and Nurse Practitioners will participate in learning activities with students enabling them to engage in critically reflexive discussions about their practice.

The online learning activities will include discussion forums for reflection on the Nurse Practitioner (prescribing) competencies, case reviews and approaches to developing evidence of practice development. Resources to support the synthesis of practice knowledge and skills will be developed online within the student's area of practice.

Guidance in clinical case reviews is central to the reflexive approach for learning in the module. Students will be assigned a clinically expert nurse or other authorised prescriber (clinical supervisor) within their practice specialty to support their practice development. Relationships with interdisciplinary colleagues will also enhance practice development for prescribing.
Required Textbooks: Bullock, S., & Manias, E. (2014). Fundamentals of pharmacology (7th ed.). Frenchs Forest, NSW: Pearson.

World Health Organisation. (2000). Guide to good prescribing - a
practical manual. Geneva: World Health Organisation. http://whqlibdoc.who.int/hq/1994/whodap94.11.pdf

NCNZ. (2009). Nurse Practitioner scope of practice - guidelines
for applicants.
http://www.nursingcouncil.org.nz/download/74/np-guidelines-sept09.pdf

NCNZ. (2008) Competencies for nurse practitioner scope of practice. http://www.nursingcouncil.org.nz/download/74/np-competencies-sept09.pdf