NSN432 Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) and Safe Prescribing

Unit Outline: Semester 1 2027, Online

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, patient education and counselling, collaboration with and direct referral to other health professionals in the health care team. The Nurse Practitioner delivers and evaluates holistic, patient-centred care in a specialty area that conforms to regulatory requirements and that is ethical, culturally­ safe, context-driven, evidence-based and responsive. This incorporates the use of digital resources that support safe and effective prescribing in the real world.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Develop advanced and extended therapeutics with consideration of clinical, professional, and legislative requirements related to your nurse practitioner scope of practice as an authorised prescriber
2. Devise a treatment plan, drawing on a review of the evidence and digital resources for assessment, diagnosis and consideration of pharmacological and non­pharmacological therapeutics
3. Critically apply knowledge and skills of Quality Use of Medicines and the application of Australia's National Prescribing Competencies Framework
4. Collaborate, consult with, and make referrals to other health professionals where appropriate
5. Apply evidence-based therapeutics, procedures and protocols, as part of patient management and health service delivery using digital capabilities requisite to medicines databases.

Content

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 Week 1. You will receive a bespoke suite of comprehensive readings and resources that 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 interprofessional class discussions. These activities will be embedded in:

• The recommended online orientation experience (during Week 1).
• A series of online webinars to share information, discuss unit content; and discuss case studies and those case studies researched and developed by you.
• A digital learning platform, which will provide access to web-based learning resources, all unit content, and online discussion forums to support your success, as well as forming a community of practice with the teaching team and your 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 three summative assessments to be completed in this unit. These assessments are scaffolded to develop a prescribing portfolio aligned to Australia's National Prescribing Competencies Framework.  The final assessment culminates in assessment of advanced therapeutic knowledge and prescribing competencies within the Nurse Practitioner's scope of practice.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Prescribing Competencies Self-Assessment

You will be required to complete two key tasks essential for safe and effective prescribing practice:

1. Complete a Prescribing Competencies Self-Assessment and Learning Plan, aligned with Australia's National Prescribing Competencies Framework.
2. Complete the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare online courses and National Prescribing Curriculum online modules.

The use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is prohibited during this assessment.

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Threshold Assessment:

Satisfactory performance with achievement of 50% for Assessment 1  is a condition for passing this unit as it demonstrates your ability to apply the NP Standards for Practice as a  future safe, authorised prescriber.

You must submit all assessment items to pass this unit. If you do not achieve 50% for all assessment items, you will have the opportunity to resubmit any assessment item for which you achieved less than 50%.

Assessment: Best Possible Medication History

You will be assessed performing a Best Possible Medication History with your examiner acting as a mock patient. This assessment will be conducted online in a predetermined, restricted time span under invigilated conditions. 

This is a verified identity assessment. To maintain assessment integrity, the examiner will need to verify your identity during the assessment.

The use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is prohibited during this assessment.

Threshold Assessment:

Satisfactory performance with achievement of 50% for Assessment 2 is a condition for passing this unit as it demonstrates your ability to apply the NP Standards for Practice as a future safe, authorised prescriber.

You must submit all assessment items to pass this unit. If you do not achieve 50% for all assessment items. You will have the opportunity to resubmit any assessment item for which you achieved less than 50%.

Assessment: Clinical Prescribing Log

You will submit a clinical log to provide evidence of ten hours of mentorship in safe prescribing and quality use of medicines in collaboration with your Clinical Support Team and Pharmacist. You will be required to demonstrate application of learning and reflective practice aligned with the National Prescribing Competencies Framework.

 You will access and reference evidence-based digital medicines databases and literature.

This is a verified identity assessment. To maintain assessment integrity, your CST will need to verify your identity and completion of this mentorship.

The use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is prohibited during this assessment.

Threshold Assessment:

Satisfactory performance with achievement of 50% for Assessment 3  is a condition for passing this unit as it demonstrates your ability to apply the NP Standards for Practice as a future safe, authorised prescriber.

You must submit all assessment items to pass this unit. If you do not achieve 50% for all assessment items. You will have the opportunity to resubmit any assessment item for which you achieved less than 50%.

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.

Requirements to Study

Requirements

You must submit mandatory documentation (including placement registration, Clinical Support Team documentation and Executive Director of Nursing or equivalent documentation) into QUT InPlace  before semester census date (end of week 4). If this documentation is not submitted by this time you will ineligible for continuing enrollment in this unit. 

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.

Standards/Competencies

This unit is designed to support your development of the following standards\competencies.

NMBA Nurse Practitioner Standards for Practice (2021)

Standard 1: Assesses using diagnostic capability

Relates to: Prescribing Competencies Self-Assessment, Best Possible Medication History, Clinical Prescribing Log

Standard 2: Plans care and engages others

Relates to: Prescribing Competencies Self-Assessment, Best Possible Medication History, Clinical Prescribing Log

Standard 3: Prescribes and implements therapeutic interventions

Relates to: Clinical Prescribing Log

Course Learning Outcomes

NS90 Master of Nurse Practitioner

1. Integrate and apply advanced health knowledge and clinical practice skills, leveraging digital innovation to deliver culturally safe nurse practitioner services that value diversity and consumer-led health initiatives in varied populations and contexts.
   Relates to: Prescribing Competencies Self-Assessment, Best Possible Medication History, Clinical Prescribing Log
2. Utilise independent clinical inquiry and complex, critical reasoning to conduct holistic assessment, formulate differential diagnoses and autonomously develop, implement, and evaluate patient-centred, evidence-based management plans that are effective and safe.
   Relates to: Clinical Prescribing Log
3. Apply professional communication to cultivate collaborative and inclusive partnerships with health-care consumers and professionals, leveraging digital technology while using advanced knowledge and skills to educate those receiving and delivering care.
   Relates to: Best Possible Medication History
4. Design and generate scholarly work that applies research methods, analytical processes, and knowledge translation, fostering lifelong learning and evidence-based practice.
   Relates to: Prescribing Competencies Self-Assessment
5. Lead and advocate for patient-centred, culturally safe, reflective and ethical nursing practice that results in optimal health systems and outcomes for all consumers and communities.
   Relates to: Best Possible Medication History, Clinical Prescribing Log