NSN432 Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) and Safe Prescribing
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | NSN432 |
|---|---|
| Prerequisite(s): | NSN430 |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
|
| CSP student contribution | $1,164 |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $3,744 |
| International unit fee | $5,148 |
Unit Outline: Semester 1 2025, Online
| Unit code: | NSN432 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | NSN430 |
| Coordinators: | Sharyn Plath | sharyn.plath@qut.edu.au Marea Patounas | marea.patounas@qut.edu.au |
Overview
The nurse practitioner is an autonomous role which entails an expanded scope of advanced nursing practice. This includes assessment, clinical diagnostics, diagnosis, development of a therapeutic management plan, prescribing drugs, non-drug interventions, consumer education and counselling, collaboration with and direct referral to other health professionals. The nurse practitioner delivers and evaluates holistic, patient-centred consumer care in a specialty area that conforms to regulatory requirements and that is ethical, culturally safe, context-driven, evidence-based and responsive.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Develop advanced and extended therapeutics with consideration of clinical, professional, and legislative requirements related to your nurse practitioner scope of practice
- Devise a treatment plan, drawing on a review of the evidence for assessment, diagnosis and consideration of pharmacological and nonpharmacological therapeutics
- Demonstrate knowledge and skills of Quality Use of Medicines and the application of NPS MedicineWise Prescribing Competencies Framework
- Consider appropriate referral to other health care professionals for integration of skills and knowledge of the interdisciplinary health team
- Apply evidence based therapeutic procedures and protocols as part of consumer management and health service delivery.
Content
The content of this unit encompasses the high-level knowledge and skills necessary to plan, manage and evaluate nurse practitioner interventions. Content focuses on the principles and practice of advanced therapeutics in extended specialty nursing practice and the development of rigorous policies, procedures and protocols relevant to your context of practice. Content includes:
- Module 1: Professional. legal and ethical aspects of prescribing
- Module 2: Information-gathering
- Module 3: Clinical-decision making
- Module 4: Communicate prescribing decision
- Module 5: Monitor and Review I
- Modue 6: Monitor and Review II
Successful completion of the unit contributes to your attainment of the knowledge, values and skills relevant to specific NMBA Nurse Practitioner Standards for Practice (2021) and the QUT Graduate Capabilities.
Learning Approaches
This unit is delivered in a flexible blended learning mode, with teaching and learning delivered online. It is highly recommended that you attend the online orientation experience for NS90 students scheduled for NSN432 during Orientation week / Welcome week. You will receive a comprehensive online study guide and a list of suitable readings and resources. The study guide will provide a framework for learning activities and encourage critical analysis through a structured program of learning.
A range of blended approaches to teaching and learning is used to promote knowledge and skills in advanced therapeutics and prescribing competencies. You will be encouraged to think critically about the key therapeutic needs and problems experienced by individuals in your specialty through analysis of evidence and case studies and through contribution to class discussions. These activities will be embedded in:
- Recommended online orientation experience (during Orientation week / Welcome week).
- A formal group virtual seminar series to share information, discuss unit content; and discuss case studies researched and developed by you. If you are unable to attend, recordings are made available online.
- An online teaching page, which will provide access to web-based learning resources, all unit content, and an online discussion forum for collaboration with staff and student peers.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Assessment will be spaced throughout the semester to provide the opportunity for feedback on your learning at key points. A structured approach to assessment and marking will be applied to provide you with detailed feedback on your progress.
Assessment
Overview
There are two summative assessments to be completed in this unit. The first assessment scaffolds to develop a prescribing portfolio. The second assessment helps to develop and assess advanced therapeutic knowledge within the Nurse Practitioner's scope of practice.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Prescribing Portfolio - Part A
In Part A of your Prescribing Portfolio you will be required to complete 3 key tasks essential for safe and effective prescribing practice:
- Complete a Prescribing Competencies Self-Assessment and Learning Plan, aligned with the NPS Prescribing Competencies Framework
- Complete Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare online courses and National Prescribing Curriculum modules
- Provide a video recording of yourself performing a Best Possible Medication History consultation
This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.
Assessment: Prescribing Portfolio - Part B
In Part B of your Prescribing Portfolio, you will be required to submit a complex Patient Case Study from your area of specialty to demonstrate safe and effective prescribing practice aligned with the NPS prescribing competencies framework.
This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
Resource Materials
Prescribed text(s)
Coombes, I., Lum, E., & Mitchell, I. (2013). The competent prescriber: 72 core competencies for safe prescribing. Australian Prescriber 2013; 36:13-6. Available from https://www.nps.org.au/australian-prescriber/articles/the-competent-prescriber-12-core-competencies-for-safe-prescribing
Department of Health and Ageing (2014). The national medicines policy document. DoHA, Canberra. Available from: http:// www.health.gov.au/ internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/national-medicines-policy
NPS MedicineWise. Prescribing Competencies Framework: embedding quality use of medicines into
practice (2nd Edition). Sydney, 2021. Available from: https://www.nps.org.au/prescribing-competencies-framework
Risk Assessment Statement
As a student undertaking this unit you are required to be working in your nominated clinical speciality area. As such, you will be exposed to risks encountered in the practice of nursing. Students undertaking workplace-based professional practice experience or clinical placement are required to follow the same health safety guidelines that apply to all staff in the workplace. In addition, measures to control exposure to risks include:
- Orientation to the health care agency
- Supervision by a clinical support team
- Appropriate theoretical and practical preparation
Emergency procedures
All facilities require that their health workers become familiar with local emergency procedures. It is your responsibility to locate fire exits, emergency procedures and complete CPR drill and fire safety as required.
Health status and immunisation requirements
It is strongly recommended that you will:
- Endeavour at all times to maintain your personal health at a high level. Be fit to work and have had a reasonable rest period between shifts.
- Review your current immunisation status.
- Inform the Unit Coordinator, Course Coordinator or Clinical Support Team if you are aware of any personal condition, which may present a risk to yourself or consumers, other students, health care agency staff or the general public while undertaking professional practice experience or clinical placement.
The management of your health facility has the right to send you home if, in their opinion, it is unsafe for you to work that day.
Confidentiality
As a student in the clinical area, you must treat all information regarding clients and their families with the utmost confidentiality. Information that is documented as part of your learning experiences must preserve client anonymity and confidentiality. Classroom discussion should also adhere to these principles.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.NS90 Master of Nurse Practitioner
- Critique the application of influential communication and practice for effective professional relationships across the intra and interdisciplinary team
Relates to: Prescribing Portfolio - Part A - Embedded in nursing philosophy, engage in advocacy and leadership to influence ethical and culturally safe practice to optimise health systems and outcomes for consumers and communities.
Relates to: Prescribing Portfolio - Part A