CA4S084 - Law, Ethics and Nurse Prescribing 01 Sep 2022 - 31 Aug 2025 | Version 2

Associated Module Information

Module Code: CA4S084
Module Title: Law, Ethics and Nurse Prescribing
Faculty: Faculty of Life Sciences and Education
Faculty Group: Community and Professional Practice Nursing
Faculty Sub Group: Community Nursing
Module Leader: Angela Hiscocks
Module Team: Michelle Panniers, Iwan Dowie, Eileen Munson, Simon Young, Alexandra James
First Intended Intake: APR 2013 Final Year of Intake: 2025
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 7
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100290 - nursing
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 2
Valid From 01 Sep 2022
Valid To 31 Aug 2025

Module Aims

To utilise and undertake critical appraisal of legal and ethical frameworks relating to patient and clients in society

To demonstrate critical analysis and synthesis of ideas in relation to the accountability of Community Health Nurses

To prepare community participants to prescribe safely, appropriately and cost effectively from the community practitioner formulary for nurse prescribers

Content Summary

Ethical issues and theories, Autonomy; Human rights, Legal frameworks, Accountability, Confidentiality, Record keeping and Data Protection; Consent; Awareness of own limitations; Nurse prescribing “ Consultation, decision-making and therapy, including referral; influences on, and psychology of, prescribing; prescribing in a team context; clinical pharmacology, including the effects of co-morbidity; evidence “based practice and clinical governance in relation to nurse prescribing; legal, policy and ethical aspects; professional accountability and responsibility; prescribing in the community nursing context.

The clinical practice assessor for the module is a practising prescriber (NMC Standard 7). Where a mentor is not a practising prescriber, the student and mentor will seek out a practising community practitioner nurse prescriber for non-medical prescribing mentorship & assessment.) Practice-based learning is integral to the programme and the student is provided with opportunity to observe prescribing in action. This will include all aspects of medicines management and time will be spent with a range of non-medical prescribers, dispensing pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, as well as medical prescribers where possible (NMC Standard 8).

Students are expected to reflect upon all observed prescribing experiences from practice (NMC Standard 8). The reflection will form part of the portfolio and learning assessed by the practice assessor (practising prescriber) (NMC Standard 7). The student will demonstrate understanding of the processes and principles of community practitioner nurse prescribing through reflection upon observation and dialogue with the practice assessor.

Students are not allowed to prescribe until they have successfully completed the V100 and the SPQ course and have recorded the qualification NMC Standard 2). Students can record the community practitioner nurse prescribing qualification only when they have completed the SPQ course. They must record their prescribing qualification within twelve months of successfully completing the V100 (NMC Standard 2). If there is interruption to studies the student must record within five years from the identified start of the course (NMC Standard 3).

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 25
Seminar 25
Placement 100
Directed Study 50
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Prescribe safely, appropriately and cost effectively.
LO2 Critically appraise, use of sources of information/advice and decision support systems in prescribing practice.
LO3 Understand and apply knowledge of drug actions in prescribing practice.
LO4 Assess and consult with patients/clients, clients, parents and carers.
LO5 Understand the influences that can affect prescribing practice and demonstrate your understanding by managing your prescribing practice in an ethical way.
LO6 Demonstrate an understanding of the roles and relationships of others involved in prescribing, supplying and administering medicines.
LO7 Undertake a thorough history, including medication history and current medication (including over the counter, alternative and complementary health therapies to inform diagnosis).
LO8 Practise within a framework of professional accountability and responsibility.
LO9 Understand and apply the relevant legislation to the practice of nurse prescribing.
LO10 Demonstrate critical evaluation and synthesis of ideas with comparison of the contribution of ethical theory and the significance of legislation to the professional functioning of the Community Health Nurse.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Poster 1 Poster Presentation relating to leg/ethical issus in their chosen speciality 0 N/A 50 No 40
Asynchronous Assessment Clinical Learning 1 Practice Assessment Document Achievement of clinical learning outcomes relating to prescription writing and a reflection on a prescribing event. 0 N/A 0 No 40
Synchronous Onsite Assessment Classroom Test - Time Constrained (Onsite) 2 Numeracy assessment related to prescribing and calculating of medicines, 100% score required. 0 N/A 0 No 100
Synchronous Onsite Assessment Classroom Test - Time Constrained (Onsite) 1 Pharmacology exam with a minimum score of 80% 150 N/A 50 No 80

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10
Poster 1
Clinical Learning 1
Classroom Test - Time Constrained (Onsite) 2
Classroom Test - Time Constrained (Onsite) 1

Reading List

Beckwith S & Franklin P 2011. Oxford handbook of prescribing for nurses and allied health professionals, Oxford: Oxford University Press

Dimond B (2011) (6th edition) Legal aspects of Nursing and Health Care Longman, Pearson Education Ltd: Essex

Greenstein B., Gould D & Trounce JR (2009) Trounce’s clinical pharmacology for nurses Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone

Icheku V (2012) Understanding Ethics and Ethical Decision Making; Case studies and discussions SG Williams Publishing: London

Jevon P (2010) Medicines management: a guide for nurses, Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell. Available at: https://www.dawsonera.com/guard/protected/dawson.jsp?name=https://shidp.glam.ac.uk/shibboleth&dest=http://www.dawsonera.com/depp/reader/protected/external/AbstractView/S9781444319767

Mandelstam M (2010) A quick guide to Community Care Practice and the Law MPG Books Ltd: London

Nursing and Midwifery Council (2006) Standards of Proficiency for Nurse and midwife prescribers. NMC: London