Overview

The programme will ensure that you are familiar with and can apply the general principles of prescribing practice which you must utilise within your own area of clinical expertise. Topics will be delivered in a generic style and the speakers will occasionally refer to their own clinical experience, however the principles discussed can be applied to all areas of practice. The programme will allow you to expand on your existing knowledge and apply these to the principles of prescribing.

This will provide a foundation for your development as a newly qualified independent/supplementary prescriber. Once qualified and registered with your regulatory body, you will have opportunities to expand your formulary and area of competence, in conjunction with your employer, as appropriate.

Elements of this programme will be delivered in conjunction with the prescribing programme for pharmacists. The students on both of these courses come from different professional backgrounds and diverse clinical specialties and will have different knowledge, skills, experiences and expertise. This course will facilitate interprofessional learning which encourages a collaborative team-orientated approach to learning and working. Based on this, you are expected to take an active role in interprofessional learning during the programme by sharing your expertise and professional perspective.

You are expected to be active participants in your learning which means participating in discussions within the class and on the discussion board, actively seeking learning opportunities within clinical practice, and undertaking self-directed learning.

The programme is underpinned by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's A Competency Framework for all Prescribers (2021). The programme content and assessments are mapped against the 10 domains within this framework -

• assess the patient
• identify evidence-based treatment options available for clinical decision-making
• present options and reach a shared decision
• prescribe
• provide information
• monitor and review
• prescribe safely
• prescribe professionally
• improve prescribing practice
• prescribe as part of a team

Assessment Strategy

-threshold -Threshold (Minimum D-) Demonstrates the grasp of the key concepts of prescribing and an ability to support an argument in a predominantly descriptive manner Limited evidence of background study Answer only poorly focussed on prescribing issue and with some irrelevant material Arguments presented but lack coherence Several computational errors No original interpretation Only major links between topics are described Limited problem solving Many weaknesses in presentation and accuracy

-good -Very Good (Minimum B-) • Strong knowledge
• Demonstrates understanding of the prescribing issue
• Evidence of extensive contemporaneous background study
• Focussed answer with good structure • Arguments presented coherently • Some limited original interpretation
• Well known links between prescribing topics are described and analysed • Problems addressed by existing methods/approaches • Good presentation with accurate communication

-excellent -Excellent (Minimum A-) Comprehensive knowledge of the facts and principles surrounding independent prescribing
• Detailed understanding of the subject area
• Extensive relevant contemporaneous background study
• Highly focused answer and well structured • Logically presented and defended arguments • No factual/computational errors
• Original interpretation
• New links between topics are developed • New approach to a problem • Outstanding quality in terms of presentation with accurate use of grammar

-another level-Good (Minimum C-) • Knowledge of key areas/principles of prescribing
• Understands the main elements of the prescribing issue identified • Limited evidence of background study
• Answer focussed on prescribing but also with some irrelevant material
• Arguments presented but lack coherence • No original interpretation
• Only major links between topics are described • Some weaknesses in presentation and accuracy

Learning Outcomes

• Adopt a reflective approach to demonstrate awareness of and evaluate the theory underpinning person-centred care, professionalism, professional knowledge and skills, collaboration, and service user feedback, and apply to own area of prescribing practice

• Adopt a reflective approach to evaluate and apply current evidence relating to own area of practice, to inform and improve best prescribing practice.

• Demonstrate a satisfactory level of pharmacology knowledge required to become a safe prescriber and apply to own area of practice

• Demonstrate achievement of the competencies identified within the *Royal Pharmaceutical Society's A Competency Framework for all Prescribers (2021)*

• Demonstrate the numerical and calculation skills required to become a safe prescriber

• Interpret, apply and justify the general principles of safe prescribing