Practice Certificate in Non-Medical Prescribing for Pharmacists

Program Overview

Module details

Module code: 7NU527 Module level: Level 7 Module credits: 40 credits Next course date: September and January Duration: 6 months Location: St Helena, Chesterfield

Module description

About this module

This module enables Pharmacists to develop the necessary skills and knowledge to practice as independent prescribers, and to meet the standards set by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).

This course is for practitioners who are registered as a pharmacist and in good standing with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) or, in Northern Ireland, with the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI). Applicants must have at least two years’ appropriate patient-orientated experience post-registration, in a relevant UK practice setting and an identified area of clinical or therapeutic practice in which to develop independent prescribing practice. They must also have relevant clinical or therapeutic experience in that area, which is suitable to act as the foundation of their prescribing practice while training.

Prescribing by a range of professionals has developed over a number of years, enabling improvements to the efficiency and effectiveness of health care provision. The post-graduate practice certificates in non-medical prescribing have been developed to meet the growing demand for prescribing courses nationally and locally. The course is one core 40 credit module studied over two semesters that enables practitioners to work autonomously when making clinical decisions for the people in their care, with an awareness of personal limitations within their expanding scope of professional competence. This inter-professional programme enables learners to develop their knowledge and skills to become qualified Non-Medical Prescribers (NMP) (also known as Independent prescribers) as recognised by their professional regulatory body.

Pharmacists can also undertake the “Diagnostic Reasoning in Clinical Practice” module to contribute to clinically enhanced Independent Prescribing practice.

How you are assessed

• Practical 1: requires the completion of a clinical skills assessment of several parts (clinical skills exam, a clinical decision making OSCE and a viva of a case-based discussion)
• Course Work 1: requires the presentation of an evidence-based poster detailing specific drugs
• Practical 2: requires practice assessment including critical reflection to address competencies and the professional, legal and ethical aspects of prescribing. Practice sign-off (verifying 12 days/90 hours of clinical practice, and providing evidence of the achievement of practice competencies) is required

On completion, you will be awarded the:

• Postgraduate Practice Certificate in Independent Prescribing for Pharmacists.

Course team

• Jill Gould: Senior Lecturer; Programme Leader, DN and community prescriber
• Tony Daly: Senior Lecturer and Independent Prescriber
• Rachel Lewis: Pharmacist Lecturer and Independent Prescriber
• Jennifer Lee: Pharmacist Lecturer and Independent Prescriber
• Dr Gerri Mortimore: Lecturer Advanced Practice, Independent Prescriber and Advanced Nurse Practitioner
• Donna Brewster: Lecturer Advanced Practice, Independent Prescriber and Advanced Nurse Practitioner
• Helen Johnson: Lecturer Advanced Practice, Independent Prescriber and Advanced Nurse Practitioner
• Alan Bloomer: Senior Lecturer in Post Registration - Pharmacist

Learning outcomes

• Select and evaluate sources of information and apply masterful knowledge of pharmacology to promote informed choice and safe, appropriate, cost-effective prescribing practice.
• Judiciously apply clinical assessment, consultation, investigation and communication skills to guide the diagnosis, shared decision-making, treatment planning, accurate advice and safety-netting for people in your care.
• Evaluate key professional, ethical, legal and governance principles in relation to roles, team working, continuing development, public health and influences on prescribing practice

Entry requirements

In order to gain entry onto the Education Programme, applicants must meet each of the criteria listed:

• Applicants are registered as a pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) or, in Northern Ireland, with the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI)
• Current professional registration as a pharmacist and in good standing with appropriate regulator(s)
• Relevant experience in a UK pharmacy setting and able to recognise, understand and articulate the skills and attributes required by a prescriber to act as the foundation of prescribing practice whilst training
• An identified area of clinical or therapeutic practice in which to base your learning and develop independent prescribing practice
• Applicants must have a designated prescribing practitioner (DPP) who has agreed to supervise their practice for the duration of the course. The DPP can be either a clinically active Medical Practitioner or non-medical prescriber with legal independent prescribing rights. Non-medical prescriber DPPs need to be able to demonstrate competence against the DPP Competency Framework (RPS, 2021). All Designated Prescribing Practitioners need to be suitably experienced and qualified to carry out this supervisory role, and able to demonstrate relevant CPD or revalidation.
• Although an applicant may be supervised by more than one person, only one prescriber can be the designated prescribing practitioner. When this is a non-medical prescriber, the applicant must also be assessed in practice by a GMC registered medical practitioner. It is the designated prescribing practitioner who will certify that successful pharmacists are competent to practice as independent prescribers.