Duration:
8 months, full-time (including 9 days of face to face teaching)
Start date:
September 2024
September 2025
Course type:
Assessed module (30 credits)
Overview
Are you an experienced practising nurse looking to improve the care you provide for your patients, and qualify as an independent and supplementary nurse prescriber? If so, this V300 Nurse Prescribing course is ideal.
On the course, you'll build your legal, ethical, professional, pharmacology and therapeutics knowledge. You'll develop a thorough understanding of the scope of your practice and gain the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) competencies needed to ensure safe prescribing practices.
When you complete the course successfully, you'll have the skills to undertake consultations with patients and prescribe safely in complex situations using the RPS Compentency Framework. You'll also be eligible to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as an independent/supplementary nurse prescriber.
Please note if you don't register your prescribing award within 5 years of completing the course you'll need to complete the course again before you can register as a prescriber.
Approval
This course has been approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), meaning the course meets the standards of education, training, conduct and performance required for nurses in the UK.
Entry requirements
Qualifications or experience
- For registered first level nurses with an upper second-class honours degree or higher and who are experienced practitioners.
- Applicants are required to be professionally practising in an environment where there is an identified need to regularly prescribe, and be able to demonstrate support from their employer/sponsor, line manager, non-medical prescribing lead and requires written support practice supervisor and assessor to mentor and support them throughout the course.
- Applicants to the programme are required to complete documentation to demonstrate they meet the entry requirements of the module.
- Applications will only be considered if all required documents are submitted, completed in full and submitted with the required signatures.
English language requirements
- English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 7.0, with a minimum score of 7.0 in Reading, Listening and Speaking components, and 6.5 in the Writing component.
If you don't meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
Selection process
- All offers are subject to Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance.
Qualifications or experience
- For registered first level nurses with a 2:1 honours degree or higher and who are experienced practitioners.
- Applicants are required to be professionally practising in an environment where there is an identified need to regularly prescribe, and be able to demonstrate support from their employer/sponsor, line manager, non-medical prescribing lead and requires written support practice supervisor and assessor to mentor and support them throughout the course.
- Applicants to the programme are required to complete documentation to demonstrate they meet the entry requirements of the module.
- Applications will only be considered if all required documents are submitted, completed in full and submitted with the required signatures.
English language requirements
- English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 7.0, with a minimum score of 7.0 in Reading, Listening and Speaking components, and 6.5 in the Writing component.
If you don't meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
Selection process
- All offers are subject to Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance.
What you'll experience
On this independent and supplementary V300 nurse prescribing course, you'll:
- Learn the skills and knowledge you need to qualify as an independent and supplementary prescriber within a clinical setting
- Earn 30 credits you can put towards other qualifications
- Build your practice in our clinical skills suite with our human patient simulators and our Anatomage virtual dissection table
- Develop your legal, ethical and professional knowledge and skills on topics relevant to pharmacology and therapeutics
- Build your understanding of evidence-based practice
- Learn from experts in the University's School of Medicine, Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, and the School of Dental, Health and Care Professions
- Get support from experienced clinical supervisors in practice
- Start in September and study for 8 months
- Commit to 26 days of study, spending 9 days at the University
- Complete 12 sessions of supervised practice
What you'll study
Full-time
Develop ethical, patient-centred approaches to evidence-informed prescribing decisions, considering drug actions to prescribing practice.
Enhance numerical and diagnostic skills needed for cost-effective, appropriate treatments within the boundaries of professional accountability and extend your prescribing practice through a variety of client consultations.
Values and the NHS Constitution
We embed the principles and values of the NHS Constitution in all our health and social care courses. When you apply for this course, we’ll expect you to demonstrate how your values align with the values of the Constitution.
Careers and opportunities
When you complete this independent and supplementary V300 nurse prescribing course, you'll be eligible to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as a nurse independent/supplementary prescriber.
Once registered, you'll be able to prescribe independently and in supplementary partnership with a medical or dental prescriber and the patient.
If you don't register your prescribing award within 5 years of completing the course, you'll need to complete the course again before you can register as a prescriber.
What can you do with a nurse prescribing award?
Previous students have worked in areas such as:
- mental health
- rheumatology
- minor ailments
- pain management
- nutrition
- travel medicine
- critical care
- cardiology
- renal disease
- HIV medicine
- primary care
You can also use your qualification in this Prescribing for Nurses course to get entry to higher-level courses in subjects such as advanced nursing practice or advanced clinical practice.
You can get help, advice and support from our Careers and Employability service for up to 5 years after you leave the University as you advance in your career.
Teaching
Teaching on this independent and supplementary V300 nurse prescribing course includes:
- online learning
- seminars
- workshops
- practice
- simulation
Teaching staff include experts from the School of Medicine, Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, and the School of Dental, Health and Care Professions.
How you're assessed
You’ll be assessed through:
- written examinations in pharmacology and calculations
- a written assignment
- a portfolio of competencies and reflective accounts
You’ll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark. You'll have access to mock exam questions and feedback, as well as online support packages for you to test your own knowledge.
You can get feedback on all practice and formal assessments so you can improve in the future.
How you'll spend your time
You'll study for around 26 days over the duration of this independent and supplementary V300 nurse prescribing course.
You’ll be in timetabled teaching activities such as seminars and simulation for about 9 of the 26 days. The rest of the time you’ll do independent study such as online learning and self-directed study. You'll also complete 12 sessions of supervised practice, each lasting 7.5 hours. This takes place with your employer.
Most timetabled teaching takes place during the day on Wednesdays, but there may be some teaching on Mondays and Tuesdays. We'll let you know what days you need to be at the University before you start the course.
Please note that university attendance is compulsory. If you don't attend all sessions, you may need to complete the course at a later date.
Supporting your learning
You'll get face-to-face support from teaching and support staff when you need it. These include the following people and services.
Types of support
Your personal tutor helps you make the transition to independent study and gives you academic and personal support throughout your time at university.
As well as regular scheduled meetings with your personal tutor, they're also available at set times during the week if you want to chat with them about anything that can't wait until your next meeting.
You'll have help from a team of faculty learning support tutors. They can help you improve and develop your academic skills and support you in any area of your study.
They can help with:
- improving your academic writing (for example, essays, reports, dissertations)
- understanding and using assignment feedback
- managing your time and workload
- revision and exam techniques
Library staff are available in person or by email, phone or online chat to help you make the most of the University’s library resources. You can also request one-to-one appointments and get support from the faculty librarian for science.
The library is open 24 hours a day, every day, in term time.
Course costs and funding
Tuition fees
2024 start
- UK, Channel Islands, and Isle of Man students: £1,800
- EU students: £1,800
2025 start
- UK, Channel Islands, and Isle of Man students: £1,800
- EU students: £1,800
This course isn't open to students from outside the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, or EU.
Funding your studies
Find out more how to fund your studies, including the scholarships and bursaries you could get. You can also find more about tuition fees and living costs, including what your tuition fees cover.
If you're a UK student, you may be eligible for a Government postgraduate loan, which you can use to help with course fees and living costs.
Applying from outside the UK? Find out about funding options for international students.
Tuition fees terms and conditions
Additional course costs
These course-related costs aren’t included in the tuition fees. So you’ll need to budget for them when you plan your spending.
Our accommodation section shows your accommodation options and highlights how much it costs to live in Portsmouth.
We recommend that you budget £75 a year for photocopying, memory sticks, DVDs and CDs, printing charges, binding and specialist printing.
You'll need to budget approximately £23 to register with the NMC.
You may have to read several recommended books or textbooks.
You can borrow most of these from the Library. If you buy these, they may cost up to £60 each.
Apply
Application process
During your application, ensure that you:
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Identify two appropriate individuals to act as a Practice Assessor and Practice Supervisor. Be sure to review the Practice Assessor and Practice Supervisor requirements before submitting.
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After submitting your application, please complete the Statement of Commitment form as follows:
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Section 1 – to be completed by applicant
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Section 2 – to be completed by the Non-Medical Prescribing Lead (NMPL) and line manager for your organisation. If your organisation does not have an NMP Lead, then the relevant manager must complete the form. If you're self-employed, you'll need to complete and sign all sections.
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Complete the Practice Assessor and Practice Supervisor form.
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Please note that typed signatures are not accepted.
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September 2024 start
To start this course in September 2024, please contact us.
September 2025 start
You can start this independent and supplementary V300 nurse prescribing course in September. If you're unsure which level to apply for please contact yvette.revell-smith@port.ac.uk.
Apply for this course using our online application form below:
Please select 'short course' as your subject area when filling out your application form.
Our courses fill up quickly, so submit your application as soon as you decide which course you want to study.
Admissions terms and conditions
When you accept an offer to study at the University of Portsmouth, you also agree to abide by our Student Contract (which includes the University's relevant policies, rules and regulations). You should read and consider these before you apply.