This course addresses the underpinning theoretical principles of prescribing practice and highlights mechanisms and pathways necessary to refine and optimise the prescribing process at patient, local practice and national levels.

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.  The pairing is designed to meet the requirements for an accredited programme for independent non-medical prescriber status (according to each relevant professional body, General Pharmaceutical Council, Nursing & Midwifery Council).

• be used as a self-standing CPD module to provide extended knowledge and understanding of the medical prescribing process (to service existing prescribers wishing to develop their knowledge base or those who do not necessarily prescribe but are involved with a medicines management process).

You will:

• extend your existing knowledge base and professional practice through a critical appreciation of the influences on and psychology associated with the prescribing process, in order to deliver patient-focused, best-practice approaches to prescribing.
• be able to 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.