COMPLETING THE PHARMACIST INDEPENDENT PRESCRIBING COURSE
GUIDANCE FOR THE PERIOD of LEARNING in PRACTICE
The purpose of the Period of Learning in Practice (PLP) part of the Independent Prescribing
Course is to provide opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate competencies in
prescribing. The PLP should be of a sufficient duration to allow achievement of the relevant
competencies and learning outcomes, however the PLP must be equivalent to a minimum of 12
days. Students should focus on the patient group(s) / therapeutic area in which they plan to
prescribe on completion of the independent prescribing (IP) course. It is advisable for the student
to plan their PLP with their Designated Medical Practitioner (DMP) prior to implementation and
time should be set aside to do this.
Training undertaken during the PLP should include events to demonstrate:
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Consultation with the patient and their family
History taking and recording
Health assessment and clinical examination
Establishing a diagnosis and differential diagnosis
Treatment options and forming a management plan
Evaluation and review of management plan
Communication and records of actions
The Robert Gordon University and University of Strathclyde do not stipulate a set format for the
portfolio for the PLP as it should be based on the individual’s learning needs. The activities listed
below should provide the student with a guide to the type of tasks which he/she could consider
undertaking as part of their PLP. The list of activities have been compiled by pharmacists who
have undertaken and qualified as pharmacist independent prescribers and are activities that they
found beneficial as part of their pharmacist independent prescribing training.
The list is not exhaustive and SHOULD NOT be viewed as a checklist of activities which must
be completed during the PLP; rather it is guidance which can be used in conjunction with
individuals’ identified learning needs.
ACTIVITIES / EVENTS to be considered for PLP
Observe clinics / ward rounds run by medical staff within your clinical speciality/patient group
Observe clinics run by nurse practitioners / nurse prescribers within your clinical
speciality/patient group
Observe and jointly run clinics with your DMP / other member of the medical team
Observe clinics run by pharmacist / nurse prescribers within and / or outwith your clinical
speciality
Observe work of AHPs involved in the care of your patient group
Develop skills in physical assessment for your patient group with appropriate members of the
healthcare team (e.g. doctors, nurses, AHPs, pharmacists) and practice the skills in a clinical
setting
Review recent clinical papers within your clinical speciality and identify the likely effect on
prescribing practice
Undertake a significant event analysis for a patient and review with your DMP
Demonstrate CSM Yellow Card reporting for a patient
Attend appropriate NES courses on consultation skills / clinical assessment
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ACTIVITIES / EVENTS to be considered for PLP (cont)
Videotape a patient consultation and review with your DMP and / or request that your DMP
observes a patient consultation and provides you with feedback
Attend an acute medical admission consultant ward round and / or an emergency appointment
surgery with a general practitioner
Familiarise yourself with the roles of staff within the medical practice and the aspects of the
computer system pertinent to work as a prescriber
Attend conferences / courses relevant to prescribing or your clinical speciality
Investigate patient information leaflets / e –resources available for the patient group you plan to
deliver services to
Develop skills in motivational interviewing for lifestyle counselling
Develop awareness of prescribing analysis utilising your local primary care pharmacist
Attend your local non-medical prescribing group peer review meetings
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