NURSPRAC 717 : Practicum for RN Designated Prescribers
Medical and Health Sciences
2025 Semester Two (1255) (30 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
This course aims to develop nurses’ capability to practice at an extended level with strong knowledge and skills in the application of pharmacology and therapeutics to the treatment of common conditions as a designated prescriber. The practicum includes direct clinical supervision of clinical practice and prescribing activities by a prescribing mentor (Senior Doctor or NP). The registered nurses will utilise advanced skills in the management of common conditions including skilful deliberation of risk and benefit considerations for prescriptive and non-prescriptive approaches to patient management. This role requires the RN to work closely and effectively in a multidisciplinary team environment and to have their employer endorsement to develop an RN prescribing role.
Course Contacts
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| Capability 1: | People and Place |
| Capability 2: | Sustainability |
| Capability 3: | Knowledge and Practice |
| Capability 4: | Critical Thinking |
| Capability 5: | Solution Seeking |
| Capability 6: | Communication |
| Capability 7: | Collaboration |
| Capability 8: | Ethics and Professionalism |
Learning Outcomes
- Critically analyse clinical assessment findings in relation to underlying pathophysiological and psychosocial processes. Generate solutions to clinical problems based on appropriate clinical guidelines and evidence. (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1 and 4.2)
- Critically analyse pharmacotherapeutic information and demonstrate the ability to discuss the indications, contraindications and alternatives for common classes of drugs utilised in the treatment long term and common conditions (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1 and 4.2)
- Demonstrate the ability to identify contraindications, effects and drug interactions associated with the use of prescription, over-the-counter and complementary medicines and devices (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1 and 5.2)
- Critically evaluate the causes of microbial resistance and the importance of incorporating non-pharmacological strategies and knowledge of local resistance patterns into prescribing practices (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1 and 5.2)
- Develop effective relationships and communication with other prescribers, patients and other members of the health care team (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 5.1, 5.2, 6.1, 6.2, 7.1, 8.1, 8.2 and 8.3)
- Demonstrate willingness to seek guidance or refer when patient concerns are outside the scope of an RN designated prescriber to maintain professional and regulatory boundaries for practice (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 6.1, 6.2, 7.1, 8.1, 8.2 and 8.3)
- Demonstrate the ability to recognise situations of drug misuse and drug seeking and take appropriate action. (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2, 6.1, 6.2, 7.1, 8.1, 8.2 and 8.3)
- Demonstrate the achievement of the Nursing Council Competencies for RN Delegated Prescribers in common and long-term conditions (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2, 6.1, 6.2, 7.1, 8.1, 8.2 and 8.3)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Case Studies | 60% | Individual Coursework |
| Presentation | 30% | Individual Examination |
| Competency assessment | Individual Coursework | |
| Clinical Log | 10% | Individual Coursework |
| 4 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | |||
| Case Studies | ||||||||||
| Presentation | ||||||||||
| Competency assessment | ||||||||||
| Clinical Log | ||||||||||
Workload Expectations
This course is a standard 30 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.
For this course, you can expect 30 hours of lectures, 60 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 60 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.
You will need to keep a clinical diary and time log to show your clinical practicum learning with a minimum of 150 hours.
The 150 hours of mentored clinical practice for RN-designated prescribing will occur with an authorised prescribing mentor (Clinical supervisor=Senior doctor/NP).
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
Attendance is required at scheduled activities including study days and tutorials for the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including tutorials may be available as recordings.
The course will include live online events including group discussions/tutorials.
The activities for the course are scheduled as block delivery and self-directed learning including practicum hours with a clinical supervisor.
Learning Resources
Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).
Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.
- Access the Course Outline and course information
- Access to required and additional readings
- Access to information to support and develop academic writing
- Discussion of topical issues or questions raised during the course
- General notices and course information.
Student Feedback
At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.
Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.
Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.
Other Information
Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.
Class Representatives
Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.
Inclusive Learning
All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.
Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz
Special Circumstances
If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.
If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.
This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.
Learning Continuity
In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.
Student Charter and Responsibilities
The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.
Disclaimer
Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.
In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.