Alberta RN Prescribing

Topics

Alberta RN Prescribing: Competencies, Requirements, and Standards addresses competencies in the following domains:

• legal
• ethical
• regulatory
• client safety
• professional practice responsibilities

Prerequisites

Alberta RNs
CARNA (The College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta) requires 3,000 hours of practice as an RN, of which 750 must be in the location you wish to prescribe.

RNs from other jurisdictions
Consult your College of Nursing for requirements.

Structure and cost

This is an online course; learning is self-paced. There are 5 units, and you have 13 weeks to complete the course.

Each unit contains several short quizzes designed to reinforce critical knowledge. You may take the quizzes as many times as you wish.

A certificate of completion is awarded when you have successfully completed both modules of this professional development course.

Cost: $300 + Applicable Taxes
*Registration costs are non-refundable

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of Module 1, you will be able to:

• understand the scope, privileges, and limitations in RN prescribing as described in Alberta legislation
• interpret CARNA documents and how they reflect the law and CARNA’s duty to protect the public on behalf of the Government of Alberta
• understand your employer’s obligation to provide you with specific guidance with regards to prescribing and ordering tests
• understand the limits of your own expertise and the site-specific prescribing authority, and determine when to refer the patient/client to another health care provider
• read and interpret an algorithm

Course materials

For this course, you will need the following textbook, which is available from Amazon or through the publisher's website:

Brent, L., Gerald, K., & Hass, V.M. (2021). Advanced pharmacology for prescribers. Springer Publishing.

All other resources are web-based or provided in the course study guide.

Technical requirements

To successfully complete this course, you must have ready access to a computer with reliable Internet access.

If you have questions, please email fhd-pd@athabascau.ca.

Topics

This module addresses knowledge-based competencies for prescribing, including:

• pharmacologic principles
• client assessment
• pharmacotherapeutics
• side effects and contraindications
• diagnostic testing and interpretation
• consultation, follow-up and referral

Prerequisites

Module 1: Competencies, Requirements and Standards must be completed prior to, or taken concurrently with, this module.

Structure and cost

This is an online paced course—10 units over 13 weeks. The module begins on the first Wednesday of May, September, and January.

Classes will participate in unit conferences and videoconferencing sessions to discuss unit content and related issues.

The course work occurs on a weekly schedule with weekly posting requirements and videoconferencing sessions.

The module includes 2 assignments and a final exam.

When you finish both modules in the Alberta RN Prescribing course:

• you will be invited to complete the course evaluation, which will inform future revisions
• you will receive a Certificate of Completion
• AU will send a notice of course completion to CARNA (Alberta students only)

Cost: $600 + Applicable Taxes
*Registration costs are non-refundable

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of Module 2, you will be able to:

• understand and use the principles of pharmacology when prescribing
• integrate diagnostic reasoning with the nursing process when prescribing medications
• minimize risk to the patient/client using rational drug selection principles
• individualize strategies to encourage adherence to the plan of care
• document and provide appropriate follow-up to the prescribing of medications
• evaluate the need for testing or imaging, using critical thinking and clinical reasoning
• understand the responsibilities associated with ordering tests of any kind
• interpret basic tests, including liver and kidney function
• consult with the appropriate team member in the case of abnormal test results
• accurately document and follow-up any tests or imaging that you have ordered

Course materials

For this course, you will need the following textbook, which is available from Amazon or through the publisher’s website:

Brent, L., Gerald, K., & Hass, V.M. (2021). Advanced pharmacology for prescribers. Springer Publishing.

All other resources are web-based or provided in the course study guide.

To successfully complete this course, you must have ready access to a computer with reliable Internet access.

Registration

This module begins on the first Wednesday of May, September, and January.

If you want to take the module after it has already started, you should register 2 months before the next available start date.

A minimum of 10 registrants is required for this module to be offered.
If you have questions, please email fhd-pd@athabascau.ca.

Cost:

Module 1: $300 + 5% Applicable Taxes

Module 2: $600 + 5% GST Applicable Taxes
*Registration costs are non-refundable