Alberta RPN Prescribing

Topics

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

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

Prerequisites

Alberta RPNs
CRPNA (College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Alberta) requires 3,000 hours of practice as an RPN, of which 750 must be in the area you wish to prescribe in.

Structure and cost

This is an online course; learning is self-paced. There are 5 units, and you have 6 months to complete the course. You can begin this module in any month of the year.

Each unit contains several short quizzes designed to reinforce critical knowledge and help prepare you for the Module 1 final exam. You may take the quizzes as many times as you wish. The exam can only be taken once per registration.

A certificate of completion is awarded when you have successfully completed both modules of the 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 RPN prescribing as described in Alberta legislation
• interpret CRPNA documents and how they reflect the law and CRPNA’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 the patient/client should be referred to another health care provider
• read and interpret an algorithm or other decision support tool
• identify legal and professional responsibilities as they pertain to negligence, accountability, and documentation as a RPN prescriber
• integrate nursing ethical practice within RPN prescribing and the ordering of tests
• recognize and describe potential conflicts of interest and ethical issues in prescribing and ordering tests
• describe and apply the principles of therapeutic relationships with patients and collaborative practice relationships with other health care providers
• describe the process of prescribing or ordering tests, including a plan of care

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 within 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
• pathophysiology
• 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.

Alberta RPNs

CRPNA (College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Alberta) requires 3,000 hours of practice as an RPN, of which 750 must be in the area you wish to prescribe in.

RPNs from other jurisdictions

Consult your College of Nursing for requirements.

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. This module is taken with a cohort of registered nurses.

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

Except for the videoconferencing sessions, there is no structured class time. You can complete the course work when it works best for you.

You will be expected to complete 2 case studies and a final exam. All will have due dates.

When you finish both modules in the Alberta RPN 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 CRPNA (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 within the course study guide.

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

Registration

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 + Applicable Taxes

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