The NPC has been a key player in helping to drive the continuing professional development (CPD) agenda for nurse prescribers since the rollout of nurse prescribing for District Nurses and Health Visitors in 1998. Our extensive experience in supporting GPs and prescribing advisers indicates the effect CPD programmes around prescribing must include regular and targeted therapeutic training. Because of this we have developed a model for the structured delivering of good quality, evidence-based therapeutic workshops for nurses at a local level.

A key feature of this model is that partner organisations will be able to target and deliver individual topics according to local need. Although the initial topics to be covered in these workshops are based on the conditions treatable by extended nurse prescribers, access to the local workshops is not limited to nurses qualified to prescribe from the Nurse Prescribers’ Extended Formulary (NPEF) as we believe that all nurses involved in managing the identified conditions need up to date knowledge in order to deliver high quality patient care. However, it is envisaged that additional topics may be included at a later date, according to need.

Using the tried and tested NPC cascade training approach as a basis, this model consists of the following two elements:

The National element, delivered by the NPC, whereby we research and author the training material, according to our robust quality assurance framework. We then provide intensive training, ongoing support, and continually updated material to local trainers, commissioned by our partnership organisations. These local trainers work within and are monitored by our established quality assurance system.

The local element, whereby the local trainers organise, advertise and deliver training and ongoing support to the relevant nurses within their catchment area. They also identify optimum workshop configuration (in terms of numbers, duration, timing, venue etc.) in line with local need and practicalities.

Training of the local trainers to deliver the current topics is grouped into the following three modules:

Acute and chronic disorders 1 including:

Infections
  Common cold
  Sore throat
  Otitis media
  Sinusitis
  UTI (women) – lower, uncomplicated
  Gastroenteritis
  Eye disorders (Allergic and infective conjunctivitis, blepharitis)

Health Promotion
  Contraception
  Preconception counselling
  Smoking cessation
  Vaccination and immunisation

Acute and chronic disorders 2 including:

Gastrointestinal:
  Heartburn
  Constipation
  Infantile colic
  Haemorrhoids
  Mouth care

Pain
  Back pain – acute, uncomplicated
  Neck pain – acute uncomplicated
  Soft tissue injury
  Sprains
  Dysmenorrhoea

Palliative care
  Pain control
  Nausea and vomiting

Misc
  Wax in ear

Wound and skin care including:

Wound care

Skin care:
  Acne
  Boil / carbuncle
  Candidiasis – skin
  Dermatitis – atopic, contact, seborrhoeic
  Fungal skin and nail infections
  Impetigo

Partnership organisations for 2003/2004 include …..Workforce Development Confederations and ….Primary Care Trusts. If you think the patients within your area of responsibility would benefit from being cared for by nurses with up to date knowledge of therapeutics then contact Trudy Granby by email at trudy.granby@npc.nhs.uk for information on how to become one of partnership organisations.