Program Overview

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Prescribing: Scientific Principles and Safe Practice

Course Type

The course is a postgraduate module taught at the master's level as a multi-professional course.

Course Details

The 20-credit module addresses the underpinning theoretical principles of prescribing practice and highlights mechanisms and pathways necessary to refine and optimize the prescribing process at patient, local practice, and national levels.

Module Objectives

This module is designed to:

• be paired with a companion module (Prescribing: Safe Effective Practice, 20 credits) as part of the Practice Certificate in Independent Prescribing.
• be used as a self-standing CPD module to provide extended knowledge and understanding of the medical prescribing process.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• extend their existing knowledge base and professional practice through a critical appreciation of the influences on and psychology associated with the prescribing process.
• critically assess the complex contexts in which the prescribing process is conducted and respond dynamically with appropriate prescribing actions.
• build a critical knowledge base of the principles of evidence-based practice and clinical governance for complex, multi-factorial prescribing scenarios.

Module Outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to demonstrate:

Knowledge and Understanding

• a comprehensive understanding of the pathophysiology and its practical application to the conditions being treated.
• a systematic understanding of the relevance, mechanisms, and impact of public health issues on prescribing and the effects of prescribing practice on public health outcomes.
• a practical understanding of the legal, ethical, and professional framework for accountability and responsibility in relation to prescribing.
• a critical understanding and application of clinical governance frameworks including audit of prescribing practice and personal development.

Intellectual Skills

• a systematic understanding of pharmacology, numeracy, and clinical skills to formulate treatment plans, devise checking processes to ensure patient safety, and monitor responses to therapy.
• the ability to critically appraise sources of information and decision support for prescribing.
• a critical understanding of the accountability and responsibility that prescribing entails.
• critical awareness of the influences on individual, local, and national prescribing practice.
• sound judgment using critical understanding of factors determining legal, appropriate, safe, and cost-effective prescribing.

Transferable Skills

• demonstrate critical awareness of personal limitations in the context of professional competence.
• demonstrate a conceptual understanding of the complex issues that impact on effective prescribing in a partnership leading to optimal therapeutic outcomes for patients.

Module Dates

Module dates are to be confirmed shortly.

Assessment Day

This multi-professional blended learning course takes place over 3 months and comprises 3 days of attendance for course learning with a further ½ day attendance to complete course assessment. Attendance at the University for these dates is mandatory and will need to be repeated if missed.

Method of Teaching

During attendance at the University, students will undertake key lectures, small group work, workshops, and enquiry-based learning. The virtual learning environment CANVAS will support directed and independent learning. Students will use the web-based SCRIPT e-learning programme, which comprises 44 modules designed to improve prescribing competency.

Assessment

• Structured learning and reflective portfolio
• Virtual scenario-based assessment
• Group presentations of set prescribing scenarios
• Calculations Examination (must pass at 100%)

Academics Involved

The module is delivered by a team of academics, including:

• Mrs Parbir Jagpal – Programme Director, Practice Certificate in Independent Prescribing
• Mrs Pat Hibberd – Leader Independent/Supplementary for Nurses and Midwives
• Christine Hirsch – Deputy Programme Director
• Professor John Marriott – Professor of Clinical Pharmacy Head of School of Pharmacy
• Kaldeep Singh – Academic Practitioner
• Dr Asma Yahyouche – Academic Practitioner
• Sarah Pontefract – (Thomas) NIHR Doctoral Research Fellow SCRIPT Editorial Lead