What is the difference between a Practice Assessor, Practice Supervisor, Practice Educator and a Designated Prescribing Practitioner?
In line with the new NMC Standards for Supervision and Assessment (2018), all nurses and midwives have to be supervised and assessed in a practice placement by a Practice Assessor (PA) and Practice Supervisor (PS). Although in prescribing this is usually the Students’ workplace, where it is still a requirement to have a PA and PS. This has replaced the previous system of a Designated Medical Practitioner for NMC registrants.
More information on the roles of the PA and PS can be found in the NMC Standards for Education and Training (2018).
All HCPC registrants require a Practice Educator to supervise and assess their clinical competency in line with the
The umbrella term for all these roles for the PS/PA/PE is DPP and further information can be found here:
Nurses and Midwives
Practice Supervisor (PS)
- An appropriate NMC registered nurses, midwives, or other registered health and social care professionals and an experienced prescriber with suitable equivalent qualification.
- A minimum of 72 hours clinically supervised hours equally shared between PS and PA and other appropriate healthcare professionals as agreed between Student and PA.
- The PS and the PA can only be the same person in exceptional circumstances and this should be agreed by your NMP Lead and the UW Course Lead.
- The PS supervises and supports the prescribing student during clinically supervised hours to work towards the achievement of the proficiencies and course outcomes for practice learning and contributes towards the assessment for progression undertaken with the PA.
Practice Assessor (PA)
- A registered healthcare professional and an experienced prescriber with suitable equivalent qualification.
- A minimum of 72 hours clinically supervised hours equally shared between PS and PA and other appropriate healthcare professionals as agreed between Student and PA.
- The PS and the PA can only be the same person in exceptionalcircumstances and this should be agreed by your NMP Lead and the UW Course Lead.
- The PA conduct assessments to confirm the prescribing students’ achievement of proficiencies and course outcomes for practice learning. The assessment decisions by PAs are informed by feedback sought and received from PSs.
Allied Health Professionals
- An appropriately qualified and experienced prescriber
- A minimum of 72 hours clinically supervised hours.
- Clinically supervised time can be spent with other appropriate health care professionals as agreed with your PE.
The PE supervises, supports, and assesses the prescribing student to work towards progression and achievement of the proficiencies and course outcomes for learning in practice.