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Prescribing for Pharmacists

Module

Attendance mode
Part-time

Start date(s)
September, January

Duration
5 months

Location
City Campus

UK students can apply

Attendance dates

September 2023 intake

In addition to the eight taught days and exam days, you will be expected to undertake 10 days of guided study, 12 days of working with your prescribing mentor, and additional personal reading and portfolio development.

Taught days are 10:00 - 17:00:

  • 25 September 2023
  • 26 September
  • 16 October
  • 19 October
  • 13 November
  • 14 November
  • 4 December
  • 5 December

Additional dates:

  • 11 January 2024 - MCQ and Clinical Assessment exam
  • 16 January - OSCE exam
  • 22 January - Early portfolio submission
  • 8 May - Usual portfolio submission

January 2024 intake

In addition to the eight taught days and exam days, you will be expected to undertake 10 days of guided study, 12 days of working with your prescribing mentor, and additional personal reading and portfolio development.

Taught days are 10:00 - 17:00:

  • 22 January 2023
  • 23 January
  • 26 February
  • 29 February
  • 19 March
  • 21 March
  • 15 April
  • 16 April

Additional dates:

  • 13 May - MCQ and Clinical Assessment exam
  • 16 May - OSCE exam
  • 29 May - Early portfolio submission
  • 2 September - Usual portfolio submission

Entry requirements

Applicants for this module should hold professional registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council or the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland, and be in good standing with the regulator.

In addition, pharmacists should have a minimum of two years' appropriate patient-orientated experience (for example medicines use reviews, minor ailments services) post-registration in a relevant UK practice setting.

Applicants should have an identified area of clinical practice in which to develop independent prescribing practice. They must also have relevant clinical experience in that area.

Applicants must also have support from a Designated Prescribing Practitioner (DPP), who will provide supervised practice opportunities.

Applicants are required to provide a current DBS check.

Learning and assessment

The theoretical component is delivered using a range of evidence based teaching and learning strategies including lectures, tutorials and seminars. Role play, ward visits and formative objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs) are used to support learning in the classroom in addition to the more traditional lectures.

Inter-professional learning is promoted through the use of student and lecturer generated case studies and event analyses. You will be encouraged to share experiences and case examples generated through supervised practice.

The learning, teaching and assessment strategy has been designed to develop your skills as a reflective practitioner, critical thinker and to promote continued engagement in lifelong learning. The research orientated teaching and learning strategies also recognises the diversity and prior education that different students bring to the classroom; this presents an opportunity for those differences to be used creatively in order to facilitate valuable inter-professional learning.

Supervised prescribing practice is a formal element of the learning and your development of competency as a prescriber will be supported by a mentor throughout the programme. The theoretical elements are directly linked to your supervised practice experience, facilitating educational coherence for you and your DPP/PS and PA and ultimately employer, and importantly, patients.

Theoretical elements are assessed using a multiple choice and short answer question examination (MCQ) and a summative objective structured clinical examinations (OSCE). As well as the formal examination, you will be expected to demonstrate your understanding through reflective writing, the development of a portfolio and completion of a competency framework. The single competency framework for all prescribers was developed by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society 2016 and is used as the basis for prescribing practice development and assessment of competence by students working with a DPP/PS and PA. Assessment is carried out jointly between the DPP/PS and PA and the teaching team.

Formative assessment will be ongoing throughout the programme of study. Formative assessments are timetabled so you can assess your own learning within the confines of a ‘safe’ setting. Summative assessment will normally be undertaken, or submitted, at the end of the semester that they originally registered.

The diet and volume of assessment reflects the breadth of the curriculum and the understandable necessity to ensure robust assessment of fitness for purpose and practice. Each element of assessment must be passed to be deemed as having successfully achieved the programme and to qualify as a prescriber. Supplementary assessment on one occasion of any unsuccessful element(s) in the same mode is normally allowed.

Got a question?

This is the current course information. Modules and course details may change, subject to the University's programme approval, monitoring and review procedures. The University reserves the right to alter or withdraw courses, services and facilities as described on our website without notice and to amend Ordinances, Regulations, fees and charges at any time. Students should enquire as to the up-to-date position when applying for their course of study.