CIPPET CPD for Non-Medical Prescribers

Continuing Professional Development for Non-Medical Prescribers

All professionals are expected to keep up-to-date with developments relevant to the performance of their role. The General Pharmaceutical Council and the Nursing and Midwifery Council require their members to undertake and record Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

Guidance for CPD for Nurse and Midwife Prescribers

Getting started

One possible method of commencing CPD is to reflect on your competency to perform your role as an NMP.

A competency is a combination of skills, knowledge and behaviours required for the effective performance of an aspect or aspects of a job or role. A competency framework is a collection of competences which together form the foundation for the effective performance of a particular job or role.

The National Prescribing Centre has developed competency frameworks and guidance on their use for nurse and pharmacist NMPs:

Maintaining Competency in Prescribing (Nurses)

Maintaining Competency in Prescribing (Pharmacists)

Each contains nine competencies with associated behavioural indicators which can be used to reflect on how well an individual meets the requirements of their role as a prescriber and to identify what training needs may exist. The framework can be used for self-assessment or, alternatively, management or peer group review.

Just as importantly, CPD needs may be identified at any time e.g. prompted by your personal reading, discussions with colleagues, the marketing of new medicines or publishing of new guidelines. Much of the act of prescribing itself can be considered CPD if you require to access information sources and make clinical decisions based on that information.

Recording

NMPs must also make adequate records of CPD undertaken. Pharmacists have a dedicated website for recording CPD whilst guidance for nurses is contained in the Post Registration Education and Practice documentation

Help from CIPPET

At CIPPET we are committed to assisting non-medical prescribers with their Continuing Professional Development.

We have put together a list of useful useful organisations and websites (with descriptions and links) where you can find materials for your CPD. There are a number of dedicated e-learning resources in the final section of the list.

As a busy professional you have to be selective with the materials you access and read. Through our regular  newsletter we will alert and signpost you to recent significant developments in clinical practice. The newsletter also contains details of upcoming events run by CIPPET and other organisations. Former students of CIPPET and others working within SCSHA will be sent the newsletter by e-mail - if you would like to join the mailing list please forward your contact information to cippet@reading.ac.uk.