Course Structure

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Course details	There are four taught modules, each 10 CATS points: PMY7070 Person-centred care & collaboration PMY7071 Disease management PMY7072 Clinical skills PMY7073 Professionalism There is an additional module of work-based learning called 'PMY7074 Learning in practice' worth 20 CATS points. All modules are compulsory.

Teaching Times

Teaching is delivered via a combination of online learning, live workshops and work-based learning. A timetable of workshops related to this course is available on the NICPLD website.

Career Prospects

Professional Opportunities
This PG Certificate in Independent Prescribing enhances the opportunities for pharmacists in Northern Ireland to progress their career through annotation on the pharmacy register as an independent prescriber.

Learning and Teaching

Learning opportunities associated with this course are outlined below:

Assessment

Assessments associated with the course are outlined below:

Modules

• Year 1

  Core Modules

  Learning in practice (20 credits)

  ×

  Learning in practice

  Overview

  Students will undertake a period of learning in practice under the supervision of a designated prescribing practitioner (DPP) documenting and compiling evidence within their practice portfolio. Students will undertake e-learning and self-directed learning alongside 90 hours of learning in practice in a clinical setting.

  Learning Outcomes

  On completion the student will be able to:
  
  • Demonstrate appropriate history-taking techniques through effective consultation skills
  
  • Demonstrate a critical understanding of their own role and the role of others in multi-professional teams
  
  • Demonstrate clinical and diagnostic skills in clinical settings appropriate to their scope of practice
  
  • Create and maintain appropriate records which ensure safe and effective care and align with relevant legislation
  
  • Identify relevant investigations and interpret results and data in their prescribing practice
  
  • Apply the principles of effective monitoring and management to improve patient outcomes
  
  • Recognise when and where to refer people appropriately
  
  • Demonstrate appropriate consultation skills to get information from individuals who are either unaware of or guarded about their health needs, to inform safe prescribing
  
  • Recognise when to seek guidance from another member of the healthcare team or an appropriate authority

  Skills

  • Time management and prioritisation
  
  • Decision-making
  
  • Clinical and diagnostic skills
  
  • Patient consultation
  
  • Oral and written communication to professional and non-professional audiences
  
  • Working in a multidisciplinary team

  Coursework

  100%

  Examination

  0%

  Practical

  0%

  Credits

  20

  Module Code

  PMY7074

  Teaching Period

  Full Year

  Duration

  36 weeks

  Pre-requisite

  No

  Core/Optional

  Core

  Professionalism (10 credits)

  ×

  Professionalism

  Overview

  Students study material that enables them to prescribe safely within a legal and ethical framework with due regard to their role in relation to safeguarding and human rights.

  Learning Outcomes

  On completion the student will be able to:
  
  
  
  • Understand and meet their legal responsibilities under equality and human rights legislation and respect diversity and cultural differences
  
  • Recognise their own role as a responsible and accountable prescriber who understands legal and ethical implications
  
  • Recognise and manage prescribing and medication errors
  
  • Understand the clinical governance of the prescriber, who may also be in a position to supply medicines to people
  
  • Manage the risks and benefits associated with prescribing decisions
  
  • Support individuals to make informed choices that respect people’s preferences
  
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the role of the prescriber in working in partnership with people who may not be able to make fully informed decisions about their health needs
  
  • Identify and respond to people’s need when prescribing remotely
  
  • Utilise current and emerging systems and technologies in safe prescribing
  
  • Create and maintain appropriate records which ensure safe and effective care and align with relevant legislation
  
  • Apply relevant legislation and ethical frameworks related to prescribing, including remote prescribing and the handling and sharing of confidential information
  
  • Recognise their own role and responsibilities, and those of others, in safeguarding children and vulnerable adults
  
  • Recognise other professionals’ practice and raise concerns related to inappropriate or unsafe prescribing by other prescribers
  
  • Recognise when to seek guidance from another member of the healthcare team or an appropriate authority

  Skills

  • Time management and prioritisation
  
  • Decision-making
  
  • Independent learning

  Coursework

  100%

  Examination

  0%

  Practical

  0%

  Credits

  10

  Module Code

  PMY7073

  Teaching Period

  Autumn

  Duration

  4 weeks

  Pre-requisite

  No

  Core/Optional

  Core

  Clinical skills (10 credits)

  ×

  Clinical skills

  Overview

  Students receive instruction and are assessed on their ability to perform basic physical examination skills.

  Learning Outcomes

  On completion the student will be able to:
  
  
  
  • Demonstrate clinical and diagnostic skills in clinical settings appropriate to their scope of practice.
  
  • Outline the general principles of physical examination
  
  • Assess general appearance
  
  • Describe how to assess vital signs
  
  • Outline the specific anatomy and physiology concepts that underpin clinical examination skills for the cardiovascular, respiratory and abdominal systems
  
  • Demonstrate examination of the cardiovascular, respiratory and abdominal systems

  Skills

  • Time management and prioritisation
  
  • Clinical and diagnostic skills
  
  • Communication skills

  Coursework

  0%

  Examination

  0%

  Practical

  100%

  Credits

  10

  Module Code

  PMY7072

  Teaching Period

  Autumn

  Duration

  6 weeks

  Pre-requisite

  No

  Core/Optional

  Core

  Disease management (10 credits)

  ×

  Disease management

  Overview

  Prior to commencing the course, students are required to identify their clinical or therapeutic area(s) of practice in which they intend to prescribe. They identify personal learning outcomes relevant to their chosen therapeutic areas and undertake self-study that enables them to prescribe and modify therapy for identified disease conditions. Students study self-teaching material relating to evidence-based practice and the development of a Treatment Plan as part of a multidisciplinary approach to patient care.

  Learning Outcomes

  On completion the student will be able to:
  
  • Apply local, regional and national guidelines, policies and legislation related to healthcare
  
  • Reflect on and develop their own prescribing practice to ensure it represents current best practice
  
  • Apply an understanding of health economics when making prescribing decisions
  
  • Apply evidence-based decision making in all aspects of prescribing
  
  • Manage the risks and benefits associated with prescribing decisions
  
  • Recognise when to seek guidance from another member of the healthcare team or an appropriate authority
  
  • Recognise when and where to refer people appropriately
  
  • Demonstrate the application of pharmacology in relation to their own prescribing practice
  
  • Identify relevant investigations and interpret results and data in their prescribing practice
  
  • Apply the principles of effective monitoring and management to improve patient outcomes
  
  • Recognise the public health issues in promoting health as part of their prescribing practice.

  Skills

  • Time management and prioritisation
  
  • Oral and written communication to professional and non-professional audiences
  
  • Decision making
  
  • Critical appraisal
  
  • Working in a multidisciplinary team

  Coursework

  100%

  Examination

  0%

  Practical

  0%

  Credits

  10

  Module Code

  PMY7071

  Teaching Period

  Spring

  Duration

  8 weeks

  Pre-requisite

  No

  Core/Optional

  Core

  Person-centred care and collaboration (10 credits)

  ×

  Person-centred care and collaboration

  Overview

  Students study material relating to the influences on, and psychology of prescribing. They gain understanding of the psychological and physical impact of prescribing decisions on people and how to manage factors that may influence prescribing decisions. They will learn about their role in caring for patients, including how to undertake a consultation, take an accurate history and subsequently manage the patient, including when and where to refer them appropriately.

  Learning Outcomes

  On completion the student will be able to:
  
  •Demonstrate appropriate history-taking techniques through effective consultation skills
  
  •Demonstrate appropriate consultation skills to get information from individuals who are either unaware of or guarded about their health needs, to inform safe prescribing
  
  •Recognise when to seek guidance from another member of the healthcare team or an appropriate authority
  
  •Demonstrate a critical understanding of their own role and the role of others in multi-professional teams
  
  •Create and maintain appropriate records which ensure safe and effective care and align with relevant legislation
  
  •Work collaboratively with others to optimise individuals’ care, understanding their roles in the prescribing process
  
  •Recognise when and where to refer people appropriate
  
  •Recognise the psychological and physical impact of prescribing decisions on people
  
  •Collaborate with people to encourage them to take responsibility for managing care
  
  •Manage the risks and benefits associated with prescribing decisions
  
  •Recognise the public health issues in promoting health as part of their prescribing practice
  
  •Recognise and manage factors that may influence prescribing decisions
  
  •Support individuals to make informed choices that respect people’s preferences
  
  •Take responsibility for ensuring that person-centred care is not compromised because of personal values and beliefs

  Skills

  • Time management and prioritisation
  
  • Oral and written communication to professional and non-professional audiences
  
  • Patient consultation
  
  • Working in a multidisciplinary team

  Coursework

  0%

  Examination

  0%

  Practical

  100%

  Credits

  10

  Module Code

  PMY7070

  Teaching Period

  Spring

  Duration

  5 weeks

  Pre-requisite

  No

  Core/Optional

  Core

Entrance requirements

A primary degree in Pharmacy (minimum Bachelor degree) from an institution approved by the University. Additionally all students must:

• be registered as a pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) or the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI).
• be in good standing with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and/or the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and any other healthcare regulator with which they are registered.
• must have relevant experience in a pharmacy setting and be able to recognise, understand and articulate the skills and attributes required by a prescriber*
• must identify an area of clinical or therapeutic practice on which to base their learning*
• have a designated prescribing practitioner (DPP) who has agreed to supervise their learning in practice*

* Further guidance on the type of experience needed and DPP requirements is provided on the NICPLD website: https://www.nicpld.org/courses/ip2/

Note: this programme is only open to students who are resident in Northern Ireland.

Applicants are advised to apply as early as possible and ideally no later than 31st July 2023 for courses which commence in late September. In the event that any programme receives a high number of applications, the University reserves the right to close the application portal. Notifications to this effect will appear on the Direct Application Portal against the programme application page.

International Students

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English Language Requirements

Evidence of an IELTS* score of 6.0, with not less than 5.5 in any component, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University is required (*taken within the last 2 years).

International students wishing to apply to Queen's University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes.

For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see: www.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs.

Career Prospects

Professional Opportunities
This PG Certificate in Independent Prescribing enhances the opportunities for pharmacists in Northern Ireland to progress their career through annotation on the pharmacy register as an independent prescriber.

Additional Awards Gained

There are no specific additional costs associated with this course.

Prizes and Awards(QSIS ELEMENT IS EMPTY)

Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award for extra-curricular skills

In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognised from a world leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.

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Fees and Funding

Tuition Fees

NO FEE BAND ENTERED IN QSIS

¹ EU citizens in the EU Settlement Scheme, with settled status, will be charged the NI or GB tuition fee based on where they are ordinarily resident. Students who are ROI nationals resident in GB will be charged the GB fee.

² EU students who are ROI nationals resident in ROI are eligible for NI tuition fees.

³ EU Other students (excludes Republic of Ireland nationals living in GB, NI or ROI) are charged tuition fees in line with international fees.

All tuition fees quoted are for the academic year 2023-24, and relate to a single year of study unless stated otherwise. Tuition fees will be subject to an annual inflationary increase, unless explicitly stated otherwise.

More information on postgraduate tuition fees.

Additional course costs

All Students

Depending on the programme of study, there may be extra costs which are not covered by tuition fees, which students will need to consider when planning their studies.

Students can borrow books and access online learning resources from any Queen's library. If students wish to purchase recommended texts, rather than borrow them from the University Library, prices per text can range from £30 to £100. Students should also budget between £30 to £75 per year for photocopying, memory sticks and printing charges.

Students undertaking a period of work placement or study abroad, as either a compulsory or optional part of their programme, should be aware that they will have to fund additional travel and living costs.

If a programme includes a major project or dissertation, there may be costs associated with transport, accommodation and/or materials. The amount will depend on the project chosen. There may also be additional costs for printing and binding.

Students may wish to consider purchasing an electronic device; costs will vary depending on the specification of the model chosen.

There are also additional charges for graduation ceremonies, examination resits and library fines.

How to Apply

Apply using our online Postgraduate Applications Portal and follow the step-by-step instructions on how to apply.

Apply now

Terms and Conditions

The terms and conditions that apply when you accept an offer of a place at the University on a taught programme of study.
Queen's University Belfast Terms and Conditions.

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