Entry requirements

Please view the Admissions Policy before applying.

1. Applicants must be an NMC  or HCPC registered healthcare professional who has been qualified for at least one year.
2. Applicants must be able to demonstrate the ability to study at Level 7. 
3. Applicants will normally have completed a physical assessment and history taking module or have a proven track record of the ability to assess and diagnose in their area of practice.  Verification of applicant’s track record is normally required from their line manager and/or in consultation with the programme lead.  
4. Applicants must have the support of their line manager and a suitably qualified and prepared Practice Assessor who can commit to 78 hours of supervision as a minimum. The Practice Assessor will be referred to as the Designated Prescribing Practitioner (DPP) and must meet the competencies set out in the Competency Framework for Designated Prescribing Practitioners (RPS 2019). The applicant should also have a named Practice Supervisor to meet the requirements of the Standards for Student Supervision and Assessment (SSSA) unless there are exceptional circumstances (NMC 2018).  Other Practice supervisors may contribute to student learning although it is not a requirement that they meet the DPP competencies.

Information before you apply

To qualify for a place on Independent Prescribing, the following forms and interview are required 3 months prior to the module start date:

1.    Complete the School Application above using the ‘Apply Now’ button.
2.    Complete the Prescribing Application Supplementary Information Form here.
3.    Your line manager is required to complete the Organisational Support Form here. 
4.    Your line manager, Trust Education or Prescribing Lead must complete the Educational Audit Form here. 
5.    You must have a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Enhanced Certificate which is valid for 3 years from the start of the module. Please email a scanned copy of your certificate to StudentSupport.ServicesRMS@rmh.nhs.uk.  
6.    You will be required to attend an interview. The interview should take 30 minutes, and you will be interviewed by staff of The Royal Marsden School’s Advanced Clinical Practice Team and a Patient Representative. Your interview will take place virtually, using MS Teams on 21 August 2024. An invite nearer the time will be sent to you with details. 
7.    Non-Medical Prescribing Committee, Study Leave and Funding Committees approval 
8.    Your Designated Prescribing Practitioner (DPP) and Practice Supervisor are required to complete the below declaration forms and online self-directed course from the University of East Anglia here unless they have completed assessor/ supervisor/ relevant training before. 
Designated Prescribing Practitioner (DPP) Declaration Form
Practice Supervisor Declaration Form 

All the forms and passing the interview outlined above are required for you to attend the Independent Prescribing module. You will not be permitted to start the module without these conditions being met.
 

Key topics

This programme will enable you to:

• Gain the knowledge and skills required to become a competent and effective independent prescriber and to meet the standards set out by the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC, 2018)
• Enhance your role in providing timely access to medicines and to improve patient experience and patient safety through the delivery of evidence-based prescribing and deprescribing
• Develop a systematic and critical approach to the assessment and diagnosis of service users through robust clinical reasoning and decision-making skills
• Nurture a reflective approach to your independent prescribing practice to continually improve clinical care through the application of contemporary research/evidence.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the module you should be able to demonstrate achievement of the following learning outcomes:

• Critically consider and apply effective communication and clinical reasoning skills in the systematic and comprehensive assessment of an individual (patient) through the age ranges using a person-centred approach. (Dimension 1) 
• Critically reflect in the use of a holistic approach and current knowledge to design an appropriate evidence-based treatment plan utilising pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches.  (Dimension 2)
• Critically evaluate relevant data, information, and personal factors in order to enable an individual (patient) to make an informed choice about their treatment and support adherence. (Dimension 3 & 5)    
• Plan implementation, recording and monitoring of safe, evidence-based, clinically appropriate & effective prescribing practice adapting the management plan appropriately in complex situations. (Dimension 4 & 6) 
• Critically appraise own practice through a reflective approach to evaluate own knowledge & skills and develop a plan for own learning needs in order to minimise risk and ensure safe practice (Dimension 7 & 9)
• Critically appraise and apply current legal, regulatory, & professional frameworks to prescribing practice demonstrating an awareness of ethical issues and influences on prescribing decisions (Dimension 8)  
• Critically analyse the contribution of teamwork to safe prescribing practice and appraises the importance of reviewing own and others prescribing practice through appropriate measures. (Dimensions 9 & 10)

Dates

On-line Iive interactive sessions every Wednesday from 22 January to 9 July 2025 except for:
Face to face at The Royal Marsden School, Chelsea on 15 January, 5 March and 14 May 2025
On-line Exam: 7 May 2025
Submission date: 23 July 2025

Assessment

• Online Portfolio of practice that includes competency assessment document 
• Case study assignment 4000 words 
• Exam A Numeracy 
• Exam B Pharmacology 

Student support

Tutorials with the module leader or personal tutor are available if students require additional help with the planning and writing of their assignments. Email and telephone support is also available from the module leader/personal tutor. The Royal Marsden School uses an online environment called Moodle which students must access during their studies to support and enhance our courses. The site provides resources and communication tools. All students will be provided with a username and password to access module-specific sections as well as general learning support such as study skills and library resources. Students also have access to the David Adams Library and Electronic Resource Centre. 

To get the best from the live video-conferencing sessions and enable you to participate fully you should have access to a computer or laptop with a camera and microphone. If you have any concerns or need help, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Related pathways

This stand-alone module also forms part of these pathways:

• MSc Advanced Clinical Practice in Cancer Care
• MSc in  Cancer Care