Course Contact Information
Lara Metheral NP, BSN, MN: ANP
Saskatchewan Polytechnic
School of Nursing
Program Head/ Adjunct Professor
W: 306.775.7334
C: 306.527.6994
E: cookelar@saskpolytech.ca
Jeannine Bruce, Dip HR
Saskatchewan Polytechnic
School of Nursing
Practice Education Administrator
W: 306.775.7335
E: bruceje@saskpolytech.ca
Registered Nurse (RN) Prescribing Curriculum Framework
The RN Prescribing courses are offered through Saskatchewan Polytechnic continuing education. The course content is developed with reflection on the RN Prescribing Clinical Decision Framework. There are three courses that are required to receive licensure as an RN Prescribers
- NURS 1713 Assessment and Clinical Reasoning
- NURS 1714 Rational Drug Prescribing
- NURS 1715 Clinical Decision Making for RN Prescribers
NURS 1713 Assessment and Clinical Reasoning
Course Description
Students will review health assessment theory and complete a physical health examination (focused or complete) using a clinical reasoning approach to analyze and synthesize the data collected.
Clinical reasoning frameworks allow providers to process information in a systematic fashion to achieve an understanding of the patients presenting complaint(s), develop a differential diagnosis and implement a plan of care using a shared decision-making approach. Assessment and clinical reasoning is foundational to the prescriber role.
Learning Outcomes
- Complete a comprehensive health history for an adult patient.
- demonstrate the components of a physical examination.
- Describe the process of clinical reasoning.
- Review a general survey and mental examination.
- Review an assessment of the integument.
- Review an assessment of the neurological system
- Review an assessment of the head and neck.
- Review an assessment of the thorax and lungs.
- Review an assessment of the breasts and axillae.
- Review an assessment of the cardiovascular and peripheral vascular systems.
- Review an assessment of the abdomen.
- Review an assessment of the musculoskeletal.
- Review an assessment of the adult male and female genitalia and rectum.
- Adapt the techniques of health assessment for infants and children.
NURS 1714 Rational Drug Prescribing
Course Description
In this course you will review essential information that reflects current clinical drug therapy by examining the common classification of drugs. The course content includes strategies to promote safe, effective, and rational drug therapy while considering the clients’ individual characteristics.
Course content includes pharmacotherapeutic principles, professional, ethical, and regulatory aspects of prescribing. It also provides a prescribing process that addresses appropriateness of drug choice for individual patients.
Learning Outcomes
- Describe the Factors Related to the Safe Use of Drugs.
- Explain the Concepts and Processes of Drug Action.
- Examine the Drugs Affecting the Central Nervous System.
- Examine the Drugs Affecting the Autonomic Nervous System.
- Examine the Drugs Affecting the Endocrine System.
- Examine the Drugs Used to Treat Infections.
- Examine the Drugs Affecting the Respiratory System.
- Examine the Drugs Affecting the Cardiovascular and Renal Systems.
- Examine the Drugs Affecting the Gastrointestinal System.
NURS 1715 Clinical Decision Making for RN Prescribing
Course Description
This course consolidates health assessment and drug therapy competencies in a practice education experience. You will review theory concurrently with clinical to apply clinical decision-making process to your practice.
Learning Outcomes
- Review Regulatory Requirements of the RN Prescriber Role.
- Integrate Knowledge of Assessment, Pathophysiology, Pharmacotherapeutics into Clinical Decision Making
- Demonstrate Clinical Reasoning and Rational Drug Prescribing