Nonmedical prescribing course books on medical prescribing course books
You may be interested in taking a nonmedical prescribing course as a healthcare professional. These courses allow healthcare professionals to prescribe medication within their scope of practice.
The content below is relevant to all students (including allied health care professionals) wanting to study a nonmedical prescribing course to become independent prescribers or undertake supplementary prescribing.
Review of The Textbook of Non–Medical Prescribing
The Textbook of Non-Medical Prescribing is a comprehensive resource for nurses looking to expand their knowledge of nonmedical prescribing. The textbook covers various topics, from pharmacology and therapeutics to nurse-patient communication and patient assessment.
One of the benefits of this textbook is that it provides a comprehensive overview of nonmedical prescribing. The textbook covers a broad range of topics, making it an excellent resource for nurses new to the field of nonmedical prescribing. In addition, the textbook includes several helpful illustrations and diagrams, which can help nurses visualize complex concepts.
However, there are a few drawbacks to this textbook. First, the textbook is quite expensive. Second, the textbook is relatively dense and technical, making it challenging for some nurses to understand. Finally, the textbook does not include much practical information on prescribing medications.
Overall, The Textbook of Non-Medical Prescribing is a comprehensive resource that can be extremely helpful for nurses new to nonmedical prescribing. However, the textbook is quite expensive, and it does not include much practical information on how to prescribe medications.
Review of the Nurses! Test yourself in nonmedical prescribing book
The Nurses! Test yourself in nonmedical prescribing book is an excellent resource for nurses who want to learn more about prescribing medication. The book is filled with helpful information on various medications, including their uses, dosages, and potential side effects. This is a great reference book for nurses who want to feel more comfortable prescribing medication to their patients.
One downside of the book is that it does not provide any information on administering the medication. This can be a bit confusing for nurses unfamiliar with prescribing medication, as they will need to find this information elsewhere. However, the book is an excellent resource for nurses who want to learn more about prescribing medication.
Books for pharmacists and nurses to revise anatomy and physiology
Several books would be suitable for pharmacists and nurses to revise anatomy and physiology. One option would be the “Anatomy & Physiology for Nurses at a Glance” book, which provides a concise and easy-to-understand overview of the topic. Another option would be the more comprehensive “Textbook of Anatomy and Physiology for Nurses”, which covers all the essential topics in greater detail. Whichever book you choose, ensure it is up-to-date and relevant to your qualifications.
Nonmedical prescribing course length
I intend to discuss a range of factors you should consider before beginning the pharmacist independent prescribing (IP) course or supplementary prescribing course – not in any particular order – with the first consideration being the course duration.
Essentially, you need to decide if you want to complete your independent prescribing course within six months or four months? That is a crucial decision because the shorter the duration, the greater the intensity and investment of time it will require from you- remember, time is something you can never get back. Hence, it would be best if you used it efficiently.
Although a 4-month course is shorter, I would recommend avoiding this. If you’re wondering why I do not recommend a fast-track course, explain why.
Remember the saying; the grass is not always greener on the other side; while a four-month course is enticing, it will require you to commit more of your time within a short period, which can be intense and very stressful.
And, if you’re like me, working full-time and juggling a family – which can be very stressful- then saving two months at the expense of added pressure doesn’t sound like a worthwhile investment.
University courses for nonmedical prescribing
So how do you decide? First, make sure the university you are considering is accredited by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPC) to provide the pharmacist independent prescribing course- you can find a list of universities accredited on the GPC website.
Once you have a list of accredited universities, consider the following; (1) do they offer a course that meets your time scale, i.e., a six-month or four-month course? ; (2) do they have a school of pharmacy? – I feel this is important because if they have a school of pharmacy, then they will have experience teaching pharmacists and possibly be better equipped; (3) does the university offer distance learning? – more on this later; (4) the course costs- most courses cost between £2,000-£3,500, but when you factor in travel time and days of work for study, then the course can end up costing upwards of £4000; (5) previous student reviews- always useful.
The nonmedical prescribing course
Honestly, this can vary from university to university. But what is expected in all the courses is; (1) essay writing- this was not my strong suit. However, to improve your writing, you must write and read more often. In addition, I would recommend that you brush up on referencing because this will be expected; (2) reflection on practice – critical. From a practical perspective, this is a crucial skill you must make a habit of. The Gibbs cycle of reflection is a good starting point; (3) exams- not all universities require pharmacists to sit numeracy tests now. Instead, the focus tends to be on clinical skills tested through Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) stations and case studies.
The OSCE stations include case studies where you will demonstrate the following; (1) how to take a patient history; (2) how to measure vitals such as blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation levels ; (3) examination of body systems. By the way, they expect you to relate the findings to disease and not just regurgitate parrot-fashion.
If you’re wondering how to best prepare for the OSCE stations, I suggest the following text; Bickley, L. (2017) Bates’ Guide to Physical to Physical Examination and History Taking (12th Ed). Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams, Wilkins.
If you think it ends here – then you’re wrong. During the course, you will also be required to; (1) map across the RPS framework competencies- here, you will have a set of standards and will be required to demonstrate how you meet these. Again, I would advise you to speak with your tutor to provide some examples before you begin. And finally, (2) submit a practice log- this is where you list the various activities you have undertaken, including time and date, to ensure you meet the 90 hours of supervision required.
Nonmedical prescribing competency framework
The nonmedical prescribing competency framework is a guide that helps nurses to prescribe medications for their patients. The competency framework provides a structure and guidance for nurses to develop and maintain the necessary skills and knowledge to safely and effectively prescribe medications. The framework consists of five core domains:
1) safe and effective medication prescribing
2) clinical pharmacology
3) therapeutics
4) patient assessment
5) nurse-patient communication
Within each domain, there are specific competencies that nurses must master to be considered proficient in prescribing medications. For example, the competency of “safe and effective medication prescribing” includes understanding the principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, identifying potential drug interactions, and knowing when and how to adjust medication dosages.
The prescribing competency framework is crucial because it helps nurses safely and effectively prescribe medications for their patients. The framework provides a structure for nurses to learn about the principles of pharmacology and therapeutics and assess patients’ needs and prescribe the most appropriate medications. By mastering the prescribing competency framework competencies, nurses can ensure that they are providing high-quality care to their patients.
Continued professional development and nonmedical prescribing
As a pharmacist prescriber, it is vital to participate in continued professional development (CPD) activities in order to stay up-to-date with the latest prescribing practices and pharmaceutical therapies. This allows you to provide the best possible care to your patients. CPD also helps to ensure that you know of any potential risks associated with prescribing medications. By participating in CPD activities, you can help ensure that you provide the highest quality of care possible to your patients.
Types of CPD activities
There are many different types of CPD activities that pharmacists can participate in. Some of the most common CPD activities include attending workshops and conferences, reading professional journals, and completing online training modules. It is essential to find activities that are relevant to your area of practice and that will help you stay up-to-date with the latest prescribing practices and pharmaceutical therapies.
Benefits of CPD
There are many benefits to participating in CPD activities as a pharmacist prescriber. CPD can help you:
– Stay up-to-date with the latest prescribing practices and pharmaceutical therapies
– Improve your patient care by ensuring that you are aware of any potential risks associated with prescribing medications
– Enhance your professional development and keep your skills up-to-date
– Meet other pharmacists who can support and guide your professional development journey.
To maintain the highest quality of care for patients, participation in CPD activities is essential for all pharmacist prescribers. Therefore, it is important to find activities that are relevant to your area of practice and that will help you stay up-to-date with the latest prescribing practices and pharmaceutical therapies.
Study tips and overall summary on the nonmedical prescribing course
At this point, you may be overwhelmed. And I don’t blame you because it’s a lot. But if you pace yourself, you can’t go wrong.
I would recommend dedicating 20-30 minutes a day to the academic side of things, and you will have a great course- trust me.
