Program Overview

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Prescribing for Pharmacists (PgCert)

Overview

This programme is accredited by both the General Pharmaceutical Council and the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland to train pharmacists as non-medical prescribers. Students undertake online and work-based training and assessment in addition to a 5-day clinical skills residential in January at our Clinical Skills Centre on-campus in Belfast.

Course Structure

Study part-time by distance learning

Course Details

The programme is delivered via a combination of e-learning and work-based learning and includes 12 days in-practice training with a Designated Prescribing Practitioner, the purpose of which is to enable the student to develop and practice clinical examination skills relevant to the condition(s) for which they intend to prescribe.

People Teaching You

Dr Briegeen Girvin

IP Programme Leader

Learning and Teaching

Learning opportunities associated with this course are outlined below:

• Students complete their studies by distance/online learning without having to attend on-campus.
• This programme consists of a combination of e-learning, webinars, work-based learning and clinical skills workshops during the residential component.

Assessment

Awarding of the qualification is based on continuous assessment of coursework, clinical skills objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs) and completion of a competency-based in-practice training portfolio.

Modules

Evidence-based medicine and safe prescribing

• Overview: This module is taken by postgraduate students who are training to become pharmacist prescribers and the content meets the General Pharmaceutical Council’s ‘Standards for the education and training of pharmacist independent prescribers’.
• Learning Outcomes:
  • Apply local, regional and national guidelines, policies and legislation related to healthcare
  • Reflect on and develop their own prescribing practice to ensure it represents current best practice
  • Apply an understanding of health economics when making prescribing decisions
  • Understand the clinical governance of the prescriber, who may also be in a position to supply medicines to people
  • Recognise other professionals’ practice and raise concerns related to inappropriate or unsafe prescribing by other prescribers
  • Apply evidence-based decision-making in all aspects of prescribing
  • Manage the risks and benefits associated with prescribing decisions
  • Recognise and manage prescribing and medication errors
• Skills:
  • Critical evaluation
  • Reflective practice
  • Evidence-based decision-making
  • Safe prescribing
  • Time management
  • Independent learning
• Credits: 10
• Module Code: PMY7052
• Teaching Period: Autumn
• Duration: 4 weeks
• Pre-requisite: No
• Core/Optional: Core

Influences on and psychology of prescribing and patient-centred care

• Overview: This module is taken by postgraduate students who are training to become pharmacist prescribers and the content meets the General Pharmaceutical Council’s ‘Standards for the education and training of pharmacist independent prescribers’.
• Learning Outcomes:
  • Recognise the psychological and physical impact of prescribing decisions on people
  • Understand and meet their legal responsibilities under equality and human rights legislation and respect diversity and cultural differences
  • Take responsibility for ensuring that person-centred care is not compromised because of personal values and beliefs
  • Support individuals to make informed choices that respect patients’ preferences
  • Recognise and manage factors that may influence prescribing decisions
  • Recognise the public health issues in promoting health as part of their prescribing practice
  • Collaborate with people to encourage them to take responsibility for managing care
• Skills:
  • Recognise and respect diversity and cultural differences
  • Reflective practice
  • Time management
  • Independent learning
• Credits: 10
• Module Code: PMY7053
• Teaching Period: Spring
• Duration: 4 weeks
• Pre-requisite: No
• Core/Optional: Core

Prescribing in Practice

• Overview: The student undertakes twelve days of work-based training under the guidance of a Designated Medical Practitioner (DMP).
• Learning Outcomes:
  • Demonstrate competence in prescribing
• Skills:
  • Team working
  • Oral and written communication skills
  • Decision making
  • Ethics
• Credits: 0
• Module Code: PMY7058
• Teaching Period: Full Year
• Duration: 32 weeks
• Pre-requisite: No
• Core/Optional: Core

Professionalism

• Overview: This module is taken by postgraduate students who are training to become pharmacist prescribers and the content meets the General Pharmaceutical Council’s ‘Standards for the education and training of pharmacist independent prescribers’.
• Learning Outcomes:
  • Support individuals to make informed choices that respect patients’ preferences
  • Recognise their own role as a responsible and accountable prescriber who understands legal and ethical implications
  • Apply relevant legislation and ethical frameworks related to prescribing, including remote prescribing and the handling and sharing of confidential information
  • Apply local, regional and national guidelines, policies and legislation related to healthcare
  • Understand the clinical governance of the prescriber, who may also be in a position to supply medicines to people
  • Recognise other professionals’ practice and raise concerns related to inappropriate or unsafe prescribing by other prescribers
  • Create and maintain appropriate records which ensure safe and effective care and align with relevant legislation
  • Utilise current and emerging systems and technologies in safe prescribing
  • Identify and respond to people’s need when prescribing remotely
  • Recognise their own role and responsibilities, and those of others, in safeguarding children and vulnerable adults
  • Recognise when to seek guidance from another member of the healthcare team or an appropriate authority
• Skills:
  • Professionalism
  • Ethical decision making
  • Reflective practice
  • Time management
  • Independent learning
• Credits: 10
• Module Code: PMY7057
• Teaching Period: Autumn
• Duration: 4 weeks
• Pre-requisite: No
• Core/Optional: Core

Clinical skills, patient monitoring and onward referral

• Overview: This module is taken by postgraduate students who are training to become pharmacist prescribers and the content meets the General Pharmaceutical Council’s ‘Standards for the education and training of pharmacist independent prescribers’.
• Learning Outcomes:
  • Demonstrate appropriate history-taking techniques through effective consultation skills
  • Demonstrate a critical understanding of their own role and the role of others in multi-professional teams
  • Demonstrate clinical and diagnostic skills in clinical settings appropriate to their scope of practice
  • Identify relevant investigations and interpret results and data in their prescribing practice
  • Apply the principles of effective monitoring and management to improve patient outcomes
  • Recognise when and where to refer people appropriately
  • Recognise when to seek guidance from another member of the healthcare team or an appropriate authority
• Skills:
  • Clinical examination and diagnostic skills
  • Reflective practice
  • Time management
  • Independent learning
• Credits: 10
• Module Code: PMY7055
• Teaching Period: Autumn
• Duration: 8 weeks
• Pre-requisite: No
• Core/Optional: Core

Disease Management

• Overview: This module is taken by postgraduate students who are training to become pharmacist prescribers and the content meets the General Pharmaceutical Council’s ‘Standards for the education and training of pharmacist independent prescribers’.
• Learning Outcomes:
  • Recognise the psychological and physical impact of prescribing decisions on people
  • Recognise and manage factors that may influence prescribing decisions
  • Apply evidence-based decision-making in all aspects of prescribing
  • Manage the risks and benefits associated with prescribing decisions
  • Demonstrate the application of pharmacology in relation to their own prescribing practice
  • Identify relevant investigations and interpret results and data in their prescribing practice
  • Apply the principles of effective monitoring and management to improve patient outcomes
• Skills:
  • Reflective practice
  • Time management
  • Independent learning
• Credits: 10
• Module Code: PMY7056
• Teaching Period: Spring
• Duration: 4 weeks
• Pre-requisite: No
• Core/Optional: Core

Consultation and communication skills

• Overview: This module is taken by postgraduate students who are training to become pharmacist prescribers and the content meets the General Pharmaceutical Council’s ‘Standards for the education and training of pharmacist independent prescribers’.
• Learning Outcomes:
  • Take responsibility for ensuring that person-centred care is not compromised because of personal values and beliefs
  • Demonstrate appropriate history-taking techniques through effective consultation skills
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the role of the prescriber in working in partnership with people who may not be able to make fully informed decisions about their health needs
  • Support individuals to make informed choices that respect patients’ preferences
  • Demonstrate a critical understanding of their own role and the role of others in multi-professional teams
  • Create and maintain appropriate records which ensure safe and effective care and align with relevant legislation
  • Identify relevant investigations and interpret results and data in their prescribing practice
  • Apply the principles of effective monitoring and management to improve patient outcomes
  • Recognise the public health issues in promoting health as part of their prescribing practice
  • Work collaboratively with others to optimise individuals’ care, understanding their roles in the prescribing process
  • Collaborate with people to encourage them to take responsibility for managing care
  • Demonstrate appropriate consultation skills to get information from individuals who are either unaware of or guarded about their health needs, to inform safe prescribing
• Skills:
  • Effective communication and consultation
  • Reflective practice
  • Time management
  • Independent learning
• Credits: 10
• Module Code: PMY7054
• Teaching Period: Spring
• Duration: 4 weeks
• Pre-requisite: No
• Core/Optional: Core

Entrance Requirements

• A primary degree in Pharmacy (minimum Bachelor degree) from an institution approved by the University.
• Be registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and/or the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and be in good standing with the GPhC and/or PSNI.
• Have relevant patient-oriented experience in a UK pharmacy setting and be able to recognise, understand and articulate the skills and attributes required by a prescriber.
• Have a designated prescribing practitioner (DPP) who has agreed to supervise the learning in practice element.
• Be able to attend 5-day clinical skills residential in Belfast in January 2025 (dates to be confirmed).

International Students

• Our country/region pages include information on entry requirements, tuition fees, scholarships, student profiles, upcoming events and contacts for your country/region.

English Language Requirements

• Evidence of an IELTS* score of 6.0, with not less than 5.5 in any component, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University is required (*taken within the last 2 years).

Tuition Fees

• Northern Ireland (NI): £2,465
• Republic of Ireland (ROI): £2,465
• England, Scotland or Wales (GB): £2,465
• EU Other: N/A
• International: N/A

Additional Course Costs

• Students incur additional travel and accommodation costs associated with the compulsory 5-day residential in Belfast.

Career Prospects

• On successful completion, students can apply to the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) for an annotation to their entry in the GPhC’s Register and/or the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI) for an annotation to their entry in the PSNI’s Register.
• The annotation is a public record that they can practise as an independent prescriber.

Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award for extra-curricular skills

• In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills.

How to Apply

• Apply using our online Queen's Portal and follow the step-by-step instructions on how to apply.