The Royal Pharmaceutical Society has updated its Competency Framework for all Prescribers, which sets out what good prescribing looks like across all health professions.
The framework can be used by any prescriber at any point in their career, regardless of their professional background or setting and applies equally to independent prescribers, community practitioner nurse prescribers and supplementary prescribers.
The framework can be used as a self-assessment tool, to inform standards and education of health professionals and by prescribing trainees to evidence they are delivering the competencies required of their role.
Prescribing standards for nurses used to be determined by the Nursing and Midwifery Council, but since 2019 it has delegated this area of regulation to the RPS.
After a six week public consultation, the scope of the framework has been expanded, 12 new supporting statements have been included and new information sections added. An online version of the framework is also now available at https://www.rpharms.com/resources/frameworks/prescribing-competency-framework/competency-framework, examples in practice, a presentation, help on how to evidence your competency and further supporting resources.
RPS lead for the Competency Framework Regina Ahmed said: ‘A common set of competencies should underpin prescribing, regardless of professional background, to enable all prescribers to practise safely and effectively.’
