Keele UniversityFaculty of Health
Pharmacy
Undergraduate, Postgraduate and International
School of Pharmacy
Explore this Section
- Undergraduate
- Postgraduate
- View by Professional Sector
- View by Type of Programmes
- Learning & Teaching Methods
- Assessment
- Timescales
- Student Support
- Registration Fees
- Apply to Keele
- Advanced Professional Practice Programme
- Community Pharmacy Programmes
- Clinical (Hospital) Pharmacy Programmes
- Prescribing Studies Programme
- Therapeutics Plus and Prescribing Studies
- Medicines Management
- NPC Plus
- Virtual Patient
- Staff & Research Interests
- Contact Us
- IT Support
Postgraduate Courses and Programmes - Independent Prescribing
Further information is available below.
Overview
> Certificate in Prescribing Studies (Prescribing Preparatory Pathway)
> More about Independent Prescribing 1 and application pack
> More about Independent Prescribing 2
> More about the Independent Prescribing Conversion Course and application pack
> Support from Keele
> Computer Requirements
> Time Commitment
> Fees
> Our reputation
> Want to Apply for a Place?
> Want to Speak to the Course Team Before Applying?
> A Note About Continuing to Diploma Level
In 2006 legislation was passed that permits appropriately qualified pharmacists to assume the role of Independent Prescriber. This is an extension of prescribing rights from the initial supplementary prescribing role that many pharmacists have been fulfilling since 2004.
Pharmacists who wish to take on the prescribing role must complete an education programme that fulfils the requirements stipulated by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
We are very proud that the Department of Medicines Management was the first education provider in the UK to have its course for preparing pharmacists as supplementary prescribers accredited by the RPSGB in June 2003. We were also among the first to provide an Independent Prescribing (IP) Conversion Course and a Keele graduate was the first pharmacist to qualify as an independent pharmacist prescriber in the UK in January 2007. The Independent Prescribing Preparatory Course for Pharmacists (IP-1) will replace both the Supplementary Prescribing and IP Conversion courses from September 2007.
Our preparatory course for pharmacist independent prescribers is an integral part of our Postgraduate Certificate/Diploma/MSc programme in Prescribing Studies. It provides academic credits that can be used towards the achievement of the Certificate/Diploma/MSc award.
Certificate in Prescribing Studies (Prescribing Preparatory Pathway)
This is made up of 2 modules/short courses:
Independent Prescribing 1 (IP-1)
Independent Prescribing 2 (IP-2)
IP-1 is the course that you need to complete if you wish to qualify as an independent prescriber.
More about Independent Prescribing 1 (IP-1)
Independent Prescribing 1 provides 45 credits at Masters level. Only pharmacists with 2 years post-registration experience in pharmacy are eligible to apply for a place on this module/short course. Other entrance requirements follow below.
Entrance Requirements
The entrance requirements are stipulated by the GPhC and the University. All entrants to the Keele University Independent Prescribing Preparatory Course must meet the following requirements:
1. Current registration with GPhC &/or PSNI as a practising pharmacist
2. Have at least two years appropriate patient orientated experience practising in a hospital, community or primary care setting following their pre-registration year;
3. Identify an area of clinical practice and need in which to develop their prescribing skills;
4. Have up-to-date clinical, pharmacological and pharmaceutical knowledge relevant to their intended area of prescribing practice;
5. able to provide written endorsement from an appropriate medical practitioner (the 'designated medical practitioner' - DMP) that s/he will supervise the 'learning in practice' element of the Course, in the clinical area in which the pharmacist intends to prescribe independently immediately on qualification;
6. Demonstrate how they reflect on their own performance and take responsibility for their own CPD;
7. Demonstrate how they will develop their own networks for support, reflection and learning, including prescribers from other professions.
You will find the application pack and relevant links below after the course details that follow.
Educational Aims and Learning Outcomes
The aims and learning outcomes for the course are those stipulated by the GPhC for a full Independent Prescribing programme. They are expressed below in a manner that is compatible with Masters level study.
Aim
The overall aim is to enable pharmacists to practise and develop as prescribers and to meet the standards set by the General Pharmaceutical Council.
Learning Outcomes
Following completion of the course, pharmacist independent prescribers will be able to demonstrate all the following learning outcomes, by applying knowledge of therapeutics and prescribing to the condition(s) for which they intend to prescribe, using an evidence-based approach that takes into account recent research and current professional practice:
1. understand the responsibility that the role of independent prescriber entails, be aware of their own limitations and work within the limits of their professional competence – knowing when and how to refer / consult / seek guidance from another member of the health care team.
2. develop an effective relationship and communication with patients, carers, other prescribers and members of the health care team.
3. describe the pathophysiology of the condition being treated and recognise the signs and symptoms of illness, take an accurate history and carry out a relevant clinical assessment where necessary.
4. use common diagnostic aids e.g. stethoscope, sphygmomanometer.
5. use diagnostic aids relevant to the condition(s) for which the pharmacist intends to prescribe, including monitoring response to therapy.
6. apply clinical assessment skills to:
- inform a working diagnosis.
- formulate a treatment plan.
- the prescribing of one or more medicines if appropriate.
- carry out a checking process to ensure patient safety.
- monitor response to therapy, review the working/differential diagnosis and modify treatment or refer
- consult / seek guidance as appropriate.
7. demonstrate a shared approach to decision making by assessing patients’ needs for medicines, taking account of their wishes and values and those of their carers when making prescribing decisions.
8. identify and assess sources of information, advice and decision support and demonstrate how they will use them in patient care taking into account evidence based practice and national/local guidelines where they exist.
9. recognise, evaluate and respond to influences on prescribing practice at individual, local and national levels.
10. prescribe, safely, appropriately and cost effectively.
11. work within a prescribing partnership.
12. maintain accurate, effective and timely records and ensure that other prescribers and health care staff are appropriately informed.
13. demonstrate an understanding of the public health issues related to medicines use.
14. demonstrate an understanding of the legal, ethical and professional framework for accountability and responsibility in relation to prescribing.
15. work within clinical governance frameworks that include audit of prescribing practice and personal development.
16. participate regularly in CPD and maintain a record of their CPD activity.
Content
The indicative content is as described by the GPhC and can be found by clicking here.
How You Will Study this Module/Short Course
You will benefit from our existing, nationally renowned expertise in delivering courses using structured open and distance learning methods.
A 45 credit Masters level module/short course requires 450 hours of study. You will study over a period of 6 months as follows:
50 hours (6 study days, approximately 1 per month) face-to-face (f2f) at Keele University**
310 hours open/distance learning (ODL) using our structured learning materials
90 hours^^ (12 days) f2f supervised learning in practice with a Designated Medical Practitioner (DMP)
**other teaching venues may be used where individual sessions are open to other trainee prescribers e.g. nurses for shared learning, when Keele is the less convenient location.
^^this is the minimum requirement for supervised learning in practice.
Study Day Dates
It is compulsory that you attend each of the study days as outlined below, in order to complete the IP-1 Course. The dates are as follows:
IP-1 Cohort 11 September 2013 (provisional)
- Wednesday 9th October 2013
- Wednesday 30th October 2013
- Wednesday 13th November 2013
- Wednesday 11th December 2013
- Wednesday 15th January 2014
- Wednesday 5th February 2014
Study days will take place on the University campus and other local venues.
More about the period of supervised learning in practice with your DMP
You will have to identify an appropriately qualified medical practitioner who will act as your Designated Medical Practitioner (DMP) for the 12-day (90 hours) supervised period of learning in practice. You will be asked to submit details of your proposed DMP with your course application for approval by the University. Your DMP will be responsible for some aspects of your training, particularly assessing your competency in relation to the clinical examination skills, including the use of diagnostic aids, relevant to the condition(s) for which you intend to prescribe immediately on qualifiation as a prescriber.
Your DMP will be given a detailed handbook that outlines his/her role. In the meantime, this link provides a brief extract.
Please Note: No pharmacist will be accepted onto this module/short course without the support of a DMP.
Assessment and Award
A variety of assessment methods are used to enable you to meet the learning outcomes. These include:
Problem-Solving Cases - written.
Case Presentation - oral presentation.
Case Discussion - conducted and assessed by DMP.
Practice-Based Audit.
Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE).
Reflective Portfolio, including a Learning Outcomes/Prescribing Competencies Workbook.
When you have successfully completed the IP-1course you will be awarded the Practice Certificate in Independent Prescribing. This will allow you to register with the GPhC and practice as an independent and a supplementary prescriber.
If you wish to apply for a place on the course commencing 12th September 2011, you can download all the necessary forms below. It is essential that you complete all the forms required since these relate to the entry requirements. Applications should reach Linda Foster by no later than Friday 5th July 2013 if you wish to be considered for a place on the September 2013 course.
Application forms to complete:
University General Application Form*
and the following forms A-F:
A) Patient orientated experience
B) Clinical Condition Form*
C) DMP Nomination Form
D) Reference from Employer/Sponsor/Sponsoring Organisation (where applicable).
E) Evidence of CPD
F) Networks of support
Please send a copy of your completed application to:
Ms Linda Foster
Postgraduate Programmes Co-ordinator
Medicines Management - School of Pharmacy
Hornbeam Building
Keele University
Keele
Staffordshire
ST5 5BG
Please note that the University is unable to accept any pharmacist onto the course who does not meet ALL the entry requirements or who has not completed the application process in full.
With regard to the request for referees on the University application form, any reference provided by your employer/sponsor/sponsoring organisation (see form D) covers this.
Please note that you do not need to send copies any certificates or references requested on the University application form. However please add your GPhC registration number.
Funding
Please ask your NHS organisation direct. Pharmacists who are unable to secure a funded place will be invoiced direct. The course fee is currently £1,615.
Any applicant who obtains sponsorship must obtain a letter from their sponsor indicating their agreement to fund the course, outlining the name and address of the person in which the invoice should be sent. Please include this letter with your application.
If you have any specific questions that you wish to ask before you send in your application then please do not hesitate to contact the Course Team on 01782 734117 or l.j.foster@keele.ac.uk.
Your course materials will be posted to you up to 2 weeks before the course commences (provided that your application is current). We would recommend that you utilise this 2 week period to make sure that you are fully conversant with the requirements of the course, so that you are in a position to use the first study day to discuss anything that you are unsure about.
More about Independent Prescribing 2 (IP-2)
IP-2 is the optional second short course that follows on from IP-1, and leads to the Certificate in Prescribing Studies ( Independent Prescribing). It is made up of three of our CPD Plus+ modules which each provide 5 Masters level credits, or a single 15 credit CPD Plus+ Open Learn module. You have the choice of which modules you complete from our full range of options. You will find further information about the CPD Plus+ and CPD Plus+ Open Learn modules/short courses from this link. These courses are also particularly useful if you wish to extend your prescribing into other clinical areas.
Support from Keele
The Prescribing Studies (Prescribing Preparatory Pathway) Programme is fully supported by a team of experienced, friendly, and approachable academic, practitioner, administrative and technical staff. We're at the end of a telephone line on weekdays, and you can e-mail us at any time. You're not on your own. And don't forget the network of other pharmacists who will also be studying on the course. You will also have access to Keele's learning environment (KLE)
We believe that the benefits that you can accrue as a learner from the potential applications offered by computer technology, including access to the Internet, makes this an essential requirement for studying at postgraduate level. We suggest that access to a computer at home and work will give you the most flexibility, but this obviously depends on your personal circumstances. A basic knowledge and skill of word processing and using the Internet will be sufficient.
A Java run-time applet is required in order to run WebCT efficiently and you will also need to allow www.vle.keele.ac.uk as an exception for your pop-up blocker if you have one installed. More information regarding this will be available in the student handbook issued at the beginning of the course.
Time Commitment
You will require the equivalent of 1-2 days (approximately 10-15 hours) each week to complete the Certificate course. Remember that the portable nature of our course materials, and the fact that a good proportion of the assessed work focuses on your daily practice, means that you can integrate study and work.
Course fees for the Certificate in Prescribing Studies ( Prescribing Preparatory Pathway)
For 2012/2013 = £2,250
Course fees for individual short courses / modules
You can choose to register for each short course / module separately if you prefer. Fees are as follows:
Independent Prescribing 1 (IP-1) = £1,615 Independent Prescribing 2 (IP-2) - fee for each of the three CPD Plus+ modules = £220
(The University reserves the right to make changes to fees without notice)
Fees cover registration with the University, learning materials, University assessment, and the cost of study days (except hospitality, travel and overnight accommodation where required).
The Department of Medicines Management has always specialised in providing postgraduate courses by distance learning. We have developed an excellent reputation, and our courses are highly acclaimed by students and external course assessors for their structure, content and end value.
Want to Apply for a Place?
For application packs for the Independent Prescribing Preparatory Course (IP-1), or IP-2 please refer to the relevant information provided earlier on this site.
Full Certificate in Prescribing Studies Only
If you wish to apply for a place on the full Certificate in Prescribing Studies (includes IP-1 and IP-2) from the outset, please complete the application pack for IP-1 but also include in the University general application form the titles of the three CPD Plus+ courses you wish to study for IP-2.
Want to Speak to the Course Team Before Applying?
If you have any queries, or would like to have an informal chat with one of the Course Team, please contact Linda Foster, Postgraduate Programmes Co-ordinator, in the first instance on 01782 734117 or e-mail l.j.foster@keele.ac.uk.
A Note About Continuing to Diploma and MSc Level
Completing IP-1 and IP-2 for the the Certificate in Prescribing Studies (Prescribing Preparatory Pathway) will provide you with 60 credits towards the following Diploma courses:
Clinical Pharmacy (for hospital pharmacists)
For the Diploma (120 credits) you will be required to choose modules that are currently available that you have not studied for your Certificate course. Entry to the Masters year requires satisfactory completion of the Diploma. Three modules form the structure of the Masters year:
- Research Methods - 15 credits
- Advanced Practice Development - 15 credits
- Independent Learning Project - 30 credits
