HLTH 7111 - Ontario University Consortium RN Prescribing Education Program

Course Description

The Ontario University Consortium RN Prescribing Program is tailored to meet the educational criteria necessary for registered nurses (RNs) to safely prescribe medications within their legal scope of practice. The RN prescribing curriculum covers the authorized areas of RN prescription: immunization/anaphylaxis, topical wound care, contraceptives, travel health, smoking cessation, and OTC drugs, and additional topics that include the roles and responsibilities of the prescribing RN and general principles of pharmacology. The primary overarching outcome for this program is to safely prescribe the medications authorized for RN prescription within the legal scope of practice. 

This program is approved by the College of Nurses of Ontario. Learners who successfully complete the program will receive a certificate of completion from the University of Windsor and their names and registration number will be sent to the College of Nurses of Ontario. 

This program is only open to RNs who are in good standing with the CNO.

This online asynchronous program includes:

• Self-paced weekly modules
• Weekly assignments
• Optional weekly virtual question and answer period with a moderator
• Clinical virtual exam
• Written final exam

Please note: Not every healthcare employer may offer the opportunity for registered nurses to engage in prescribing practices within their workplace. Learners are encouraged to check their internal policies to confirm the availability of RN prescribing at their specific institution.

Course Outline

This course is divided into 8 modules.  Each module is mapped to CNO competencies.  

Module 1: Roles and Responsibilities in RN Prescribing

This module introduces the roles and responsibilities associated with the scope of practice for registered nurses in the General Class. The course emphasizes the therapeutic care of clients using a prescribing framework within the context of discipline standards, guidelines, and competencies. 

Module 2: General Principles of Pharmacokinetics

This module on pharmacological principles encourages learners to use an evidence-informed approach to understanding and synthesizing foundational pharmacological principles as they relate to drug therapy. Learners will apply evidence-informed knowledge regarding factors that impact drug therapy as they relate to medication prescribing.

Module 3: Topical Wound Care

This module encourages learners to use an evidence-informed approach to assess and treat (pharmacological and non-pharmacological) various wounds. Learners will apply evidenced-based knowledge regarding factors that impact wound management and the indication for medications and advanced dressings.

Module 4: Immunization and Anaphylaxis

This module will integrate knowledge of vaccine development, indications, funded schedules, and age to determine initial eligibility. Competency will be demonstrated in assessing whether past clinical history and current clinical status will impact vaccine eligibility. Students will be able to recommend and prescribe appropriate immunization(s), and work with the patient and family to discuss concerns about immunization and side effects and intervene should an anaphylactic event occur.

Module 5: Contraception

This module will assist learners to use an evidence-informed approach in choosing appropriate pharmacological treatments for clients seeking contraception for pregnancy prevention. By the end of these modules learners will be able to assess clients for the indications and contraindications for initiating contraception and differentiate between therapeutic uses for systemic versus intravaginal contraception.

Module 6: Travel Health

This module will provide a review of the epidemiology, transmission of, and natural history of traveller's diarrhea and malaria and prepare registered nurses (RNs) to optimally support travellers to identify their individual risk for traveller’s diarrhea malaria and to implement appropriate prevention and treatment strategies for traveller’s diarrhea. In addition, this module will prepare RNs to synthesize multiple elements of patient information with consideration of patient values and preferences to select appropriate therapeutic choices that best meet the patient’s needs, write a legal prescription, and document the encounter.

Module 7: Smoking Cessation

This module will examine the role of pharmacologic aids such as Varenicline and Bupropion in supporting clients with smoking cessation goals and will integrate core knowledge and skills in the safety prescribing, management, and evaluation of clients prescribed pharmacologic smoking cessation aids.

Module 8: Over the Counter (OTC) Medication

This module on over-the-counter medication recommendation encourages learners to use an evidence-informed approach to assess and treat various health conditions. Learners will apply evidence-based knowledge to develop the skills to safely, effectively, and ethically assess, diagnose, and recommend over-the-counter medications.

Learner Outcomes

The primary overarching outcome of this program is to safely prescribe the medications authorized for RN prescription within the legal scope of practice. Learners will build the following competencies to support this outcome:

1. A demonstrated understanding of the legislated scope of practice for RN prescribing and the professional accountability associated with prescribing and communicating a diagnosis,
2. The ability to conduct the appropriate assessments of the patient and identify appropriate pharmacological options within the legal scope of practice based on patient health information,
3. A demonstrated understanding of principles and best practices when prescribing, including knowledge of drug interactions, safety risks, and mitigation strategies, and
4. The ability to communicate relevant findings and diagnoses to clients and provide education about prescribed medications. 

Notes

An optional Moderator Question and Answer period will be held weekly on Thursday’s from 6:00pm to 8:00pm.  Learners will also have the opportunity to contact moderators throughout the course with questions.

Following the completion of the online modules, there will be an additional 2-week timeframe in which the final exam and virtual clinical exam will take place.

Technical Requirements (for online courses):

• Learners will require access to a computer with high-speed internet access.
• Class is delivered online through the Brightspace Learning Management System (for class materials and assignments) and Microsoft Teams for class meetings.

Brightspace and Microsoft Teams Requirements:

• A link will be provided through email prior to the first day of class so that you will have access to all course resources and streaming functions.
• Once you register for this class you will be issued a UWinID. Please activate your UWinID as soon as possible. Document your UWinID and password as you will need it to access Brightspace and Teams. If you have any issues, please contact continue@uwindsor.ca.
• Visit this site for Brightspace technical requirements.