Non-medical Prescribing for Health Care Professionals - Level 6

The  goal of non-medical prescribing is to enable faster access to medicines for patients/clients and carers. This is an activity that requires health professionals to expand their skills and knowledge, developing their role proficiently and effectively and in line with their professional code of conduct/ethics.

The course meets the requirements and standards of both the NMC and HCPC and prepares you to prescribe safely and competently as an independent prescriber or supplementary prescriber to meet the needs of clients/patients and carers with whom you work.

Supplementary prescribing is a voluntary partnership between a registered medical practitioner (a doctor or dentist) and a named health professional to implement an agreed patient-specific written Clinical Management Plan (CMP) with the patient’s agreement.

Independent prescribing is prescribing by a practitioner responsible and accountable for the assessment of patients with undiagnosed or diagnosed conditions and for decisions about the clinical management required, including prescribing.

You are required to reflect systematically on your learning using a reflective learning journal to evaluate and apply knowledge and skills to achieve the assessments of the programme. Key aspects of the course are the practice assessment and standards of proficiency documentation, the personal development plan, reflective learning journal and pharmacology presentation.

If you are undertaking the course to enhance their clinical role, the Level 6 Non-medical Prescribing for Health Care Professionals course will be sufficient. However, if you already have a first degree and wish to progress with your study, you may wish to apply for and undertake the Principles of Prescribing for Health Care Professionals Level 7.

The Prescribing courses are available to practitioners working in both the NHS and Independent sector. You must meet NMC or HCPC entry criteria; in addition, you must meet your specific employer's entry requirement as well as the University academic entry criteria for your chosen level of study.

You must have three years post-registration experience, with the last 12 months being in the area you intend to prescribe within. Please see entry requirements section for more information.

The non-medical prescribing for health care professionals course consists of the following pathways:

• Independent and Supplementary Prescribing for Nurses and Midwives (Level 6)
• Supplementary Prescribing for Allied Health Professionals (Level 6)
• Independent and Supplementary Prescribing for Allied Health Professionals (Level 6)
• Independent Prescribing for Podiatrists and Physiotherapists - conversion (Level 6)

The modules are delivered together and you enrol on the module that is relevant to your profession and clinical background.