Course Content
Principles - legislation that underpins prescribing, team working principles and practice, philosophy and psychology of prescribing
Practice - up to date clinical and pharmaceutical knowledge; principles of drug dosage, side-effects, reactions and interactions; communication, consent and concordance; relationship of public health requirements to prescribing
Accountability - the Codes of Professional conduct; the lines of accountability at all levels for prescribing; drug abuse and the potential for misuse; requirements for record keeping; lines of communication
Responsibility - leadership skills; roles of other prescribers; relationship of prescribers to pharmacist; clinical governance requirements in prescribing practice; audit trials to inform prescribing practice
Supplementary Prescribing - general context of supplementary prescribing; developing clinical management plans; prescribing in partnership; records and documentation; knowledge of therapeutics
Pharmacists also have clinical skills included in their prescribing courses.
The course content relates to prescribing practice and prescribing behaviours, it does not teach diagnostic skills.