NMP Course Info
NMP Course contacts & locations
Eligibility & How to Apply
Pre course learning resource

Preparation for the Non-Medical Prescribing (NMP) programmes

Before applying it is recommended that you access the following resources to consider your readiness to undertake a prescribing programme.

1. Drug Calculations

Drug Calculations – What level of drug calculation skill is required?

Students need to be confident with International Standardisation (SI) unit conversion, basic calculation skills for drug dosage and pack size, along with consideration of cost.

Prospective students can get a feel for the level of mathematics and drug calculations required by taking a free NMP questions assessment on Sn@p – click on NMP exam on the banner. Prospective students may be required by their university to take a pre-course entry assessment on Sn@p.

For further practice, and to give students confidence for undertaking the drug calculation assessment within the course; member universities have arranged for a 50% discount. You can purchase a licence for £5 using discount code NMP50. This will give access to thousands of practice questions.

2. Pharmacology

To successfully complete the NMP programme and practice as a safe prescriber, a student must be able to demonstrate an understanding of the following:

  • Pharmacodynamics.
  • Pharmacokinetics.
  • The major mechanisms of adverse drug reactions, including Type A and Type B, along with the multidisciplinary approach to their avoidance, detection and management.
  • The mechanisms for drug interactions and how to avoid them.
  • The factors which affect drug response in relation to specific groups, including neonates, infants and children and their implications for safe and effective prescribing.
  • Considerations when prescribing for a pregnant or breast feeding patient.
  • The effect of liver and renal disease on commonly used medicines, and how prescribing should be modified to optimise efficacy whilst minimising toxicity.
  • The principles of monitoring efficacy and toxicity during drug therapy.

Recommended reading:
Barber, P. & Robertson, D. (2015) Essentials of Pharmacology for Nurses. 3rd edn. Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill.
Neal, M.J. (2012) Medical pharmacology at a glance. 7th edn. Oxford: Wiley Blackwell.
Rang, H.P., Dale, M.M. & Ritter, J.M., Flower, R.J. & Henderson, G. (2011) Pharmacology. 8th edn. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.

3. Anatomy and physiology

Before starting the course, all potential students should understand normal anatomy and physiology and pathophysiology relevant to their own area of clinical practice. This may include:

  • Homeostasis and feedback mechanisms.
  • Chemistry of life – atomic structure, molecules and compounds.
  • Fluid compartments and movement of fluids within the body.
  • The cell and its internal structures.
  • The structure of the cell membrane and transport across the membrane.
  • Systems in the body.
  • Blood.
  • Cardiovascular and Nervous System.
  • Endocrine System.
  • Respiratory System.
  • Digestive, Renal and Urinary System.
  • Immune System.
  • The principles of Genetics.

Recommended reading:
Clancy, J. & McVicar, A. J. (2009) Physiology and Anatomy. 3rd edn. London: Arnold.
McCance, K.L. & Huether, S.E. (2016) Pathophysiology. 7th edn. USA: Elsevier Mosby.
Tortora,G.J & Derrickson,B.H.(2014) Principles of Anatomy and Physiology. 14th edn. Chichester:Wiley.

4. Information Technology Skills

Before starting the course, students should be able to:

  • Access and browse a range of websites.
  • Search for information using a search engine or subject gateway.
  • Save information to a directory and folder of choice, such as on a hard-drive or memory stick.
  • Print out web pages and files as required.
  • Word-process assignment work and personal reflective pieces.
  • Use Emails.
  • Access, read and post information on a web based discussion board.

In order to run the NMP online resource, students will need:

  • A minimum Internet connection of 56 kb (ideally Broadband connection).
  • Internet Explorer 6 or above.
  • An audio playback capability including speakers or headphones.
  • Windows media player (in order to view the video scenarios).

Suggestion: We recommend looking at our new Pre course learning resource which is now available to purchase on The HealthVLE.

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