This module provides a context for developing the applied knowledge and skills to demonstrate continued competency in prescribing practice within the practitioner’s scope, referring to others in the wider health care team appropriately. Students learn the basis for a critical review of prescribing practice through self-reflection and within the practitioner’s organisational context, considering local and national frameworks and policies which underpin prescribing practice. Students are equipped with the background needed to strengthen awareness of emerging prescribing practice, opportunities to improve personal and team’s prescribing practice and action planning to support improvements.

Course content:

This module is designed to support students to become proficient in their new prescribing practice, starting with independent learning needs analysis and leading to a personal development plan. Students will outline their prescribing remit with a Prescribing Agreement between themselves and their line manager to be shared for the module.  This may include a personal formulary.  At this stage, prescribing is expected to focus on patients experiencing conditions with low or medium acuity. Scheduled teaching will include sessions delivered by consultant pharmacists or experienced pharmacist prescribers across community, GP practice and hospital sectors.  The teaching will expand knowledge and skills previously learned in initial training to be a prescriber and will include: prescribing governance, documentation and personal recordkeeping; working within competence and confidence and local policy; reflection on personal practice including the review of episodes where more senior healthcare professionals contributed to decision making and tools for becoming more autonomous; continuity of holistic care for each patient; role of the pharmacist prescriber in history-taking, consultation, clinical examination and ordering of blood and other tests; decision making, exploring evidence-based alternatives; addressing patient concerns, supporting patients with special needs and handling safeguarding issues appropriately; responsibility for monitoring and follow up; safety netting. 

Course Delivery:

Teaching delivery will be interactive and problem-based, using case studies from practice. Students will be prompted to share their experiences. Assessment is through a learning needs analysis and presentation of a patient care episode.

Assessment:

Coursework, (P/F)
Learning needs analysis

Practical, 100%
Presentation of a patient care journey

All individual elements of assessment must be passed. 

Learning Outcomes:

Knowledge and understanding:

On successful completion of this programme a student will:

• Demonstrate and apply a systematic understanding of relevant professional frameworks and prescribing governance processes that mandate accountability for own practice.
• Demonstrate critical assessment of current and developing prescribing practice, recognising personal and other influences on prescribing practice.
• Demonstrate a systematic understanding of action planning and appraisal of their developing prescribing practice with consideration to their emerging scope of practice. 

Intellectual, practical and transferable skills:

On successful completion of this programme a student will be able to:

• Demonstrate developing applied competency in area of prescribing enabling the transitioning from rule-based prescribing practice to holistic clinical decision making as a practitioner and as part of the wider heath care team, to improve patient outcomes and effective use of medicines.
• Demonstrate the application of a recognised model of reflective practice to enable critical self-analysis and self-awareness of own prescribing practice, identifying areas of strength and areas for professional development.
• Demonstrate the application of action planning principles and subsequent appraisal as a potential gateway into determining an identified scope of prescribing practice. 

Course Notes:
The course is facilitated by UH staff and external experts. 

Scheduled Teaching, campus-based activities in general teaching spaces (e.g. lectures,
seminars, tutorials): 10 hours
Scheduled Teaching, external learning activities (e.g. fieldwork, external visits, work-based learning): 100 hours
Directed Independent Study: 10 hours
Self-directed Independent Study: 30 hours