The Postgraduate Certificate in Nurse/Midwife Prescribing at RCSI is the first of its kind in Ireland –we have educated over 700 prescribers since the programme's inception in 2007 – and offers appropriately qualified nurses and midwives the opportunity to enhance the care they provide to patients, clients and service users through the use of their prescriptive authority.
The fully accredited six-month part-time programme prepares nurses and midwives, from an education perspective, to prescribe medicines within their scope of practice.
It is offered to all nurses and midwives who meet the entry criteria and have the support of their employer and a designated medical mentor irrespective of their clinical grade or area of clinical practice.
Many nurses and midwives who having undertaken this programme continue their postgraduate education to postgraduate diploma and masters level, preparing them for specialist or advanced practice roles.
Learning outcomes
This programme will provide you with the skills and knowledge to:
•Understand the necessary professional knowledge base (theory, concepts and methods) pertaining to the role of registered nurse prescriber.
•Demonstrate the application of knowledge and skills required to be a competent registered nurse prescriber.
•Develop the specialised knowledge and understanding necessary to be a competent registered nurse prescriber.
•Demonstrate the practical and critical thinking skills required to exercise appropriate judgement in decision-making around the prescribing of medications.
•Critically appraise the role of the nurse with prescriptive authority within the context of relevant legislation, professional guidance and clinical governance structures.
•Lead patient care within the context of collaborative working.
•Critically analyse your own learning needs through the use of reflective practice to facilitate a lifelong learning approach to personal and professional development.
•Offer an in-depth insight into your own learning, professional knowledge and requirements for professional competence.