PGC5302 Pharmacist prescribing skills 2
Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
PGC5302 Pharmacist prescribing skills 2 is a level 5, 6-credit-point, postgraduate unit from the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, offered in 2027 in Semester 1 and Semester 2 at Parkville. It needs PGC5301.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2027
- Semester 1, Semester 2
- Parkville
- Assessment
- Has an exam
- and 5 other tasks
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
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Requisites
Before PGC5302
Prerequisites
Pass these before you enrol.
After PGC5302
No unit lists PGC5302 as a prerequisite in the 2027 handbook.
Overview
This unit will consolidate your ability to make safe person-centred and evidence-informed prescribing decisions as a pharmacist.
Throughout this unit, you will learn about the signs, symptoms, diagnostic features and management options for conditions related to cardiac risk reduction such as dyslipidemia, hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Using the context of these primary care conditions, you will apply knowledge and skills relevant to the four step prescribing process of information gathering, clinical decision-making, communicating and documenting treatment plans and monitoring treatment responses.
You will further expand your understanding of principles relevant to safe prescribing practice such as quality use of medicines, person-centred care, shared decision-making, clinical governance and interprofessional collaboration. This includes developing an in-depth understanding of scope of practice and related principles to ensure that you make safe, legal and ethical prescribing decisions as a pharmacist prescriber.
In this unit, you are required to nominate a “designated prescriber”, who is an Ahpra registered health professional currently prescribing, with at least 12 months experience as a prescriber in an area of practice relevant to your scope of practice. Your designated prescriber must formally agree to provide supervision and mentorship, and assess your prescribing competency in a work-integrated learning environment.
Offerings in 2027
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| First semester | Parkville | Immers blk |
| Second semester | Parkville | Immers blk |
Assessment
- Legal and Ethical Prescribing Case StudiesWrittenCompetency hurdle-
- Self-Directed Online Learning AssessmentQuiz / TestCompetency hurdle-
- Prescribing Case StudiesWrittenCompetency hurdle-
- Work integrated learning prescribing portfolioWork integratedCompetency hurdle-
- Online Prescribing Skills AssessmentQuiz / TestCompetency hurdle-
- Objective Clinical Structured Examination (OSCE)DemonstrationCompetency hurdle-
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Define professional scope of practice in the context of pharmacist prescribing and develop professional development (CPD) plans to ensure safe, competent, and sustained prescribing practice
- 2
Describe the legal and ethical issues associated with prescribing practice and develop strategies to prescribe legally and ethically
- 3
In the context of common primary care acute and chronic conditions, apply the steps of the prescribing process to create person-centred and evidence informed treatment decisions:
i) Conduct comprehensive, culturally safe patient assessments, including basic physical examination techniques to develop a working diagnosis (where needed) and make prescribing decisions that promote person-centred care.
ii) Evaluate and apply evidence-based management options tailored to person-specific factors, ensuring alignment with clinical guidelines and therapeutic goals.
iii) Formulate, document, and communicate safe, legal, effective and ethical treatment plans that comply with legislative requirements and codes and guidelines, and support person-centred care.
iv) Monitor and evaluate treatment outcomes, including the identification and management of adverse outcomes
- 4
Prepare accurate prescriptions and identify potential sources of prescribing errors, implementing strategies to minimise risks, enhance patient safety and comply with legal requirements
- 5
Engage people in shared decision-making, respecting their needs, preferences, and cultural considerations to foster active participation in their treatment plans
- 6
Collaborate with healthcare professionals to ensure coordinated, informed, and effective prescribing practices within personal scope of practice. This includes identifying when referral to another healthcare professional is required
- 7
Describe the signs, symptoms, diagnostic features and management options relevant to conditions that relate to cardiac risk such dyslipidaemia, hypertension and diabetes mellitus
Workload and teaching
- Assessments2 hours
- Tutorials6 hours
- Teaching approachRole play
- Teaching approachActive learning
- Teaching approachOnline learning
- Teaching approachCase-based teaching
- Teaching approachSimulation or virtual practice
- Teaching approachWork-integrated learning
Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled online learning activities and independent study. The unit requires on average 10-12 hours of learning activities per week, including teacher directed learning, independent study and reading time,participation in online workshops, research and preparation for assignments.
There are three milestones within the 2 unit. By each milestone, you are required to have completed a series of workplace based assessments under the supervision of your designated prescriber. This includes reflective tasks based on prescribing practice that you have observed and prescribing cases directly observed and assessed by a prescriber. Progression within each milestone will depend on your demonstrated competency. We anticipate that the fieldwork requirement of this unit will require at least six days of direct observation spaced evenly across a 12-week semester (2 days direct observation prior to each milestone) but may require longer depending on your demonstrated competency.
You are also required to commit to attend:
- Three 2-hour online workshops
- A final summative two-hour face to face OSCE which will be conducted at the end of semester
Learning resources
Required resources
- Penlight torch
- Littmann Classic III stethoscope
- Otoscope
Technology resources
This unit requires access to a laptop that meets minimum specifications. Free specialist software is available via MoVE.
Contacts
- Chief Examiners
- Alex Edwards
- Unit Coordinators
- Alex Edwards
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for PGC5302?
You need PGC5301 before you enrol.
When is PGC5302 offered?
In 2027, PGC5302 runs in Semester 1 and Semester 2 at Parkville.
How much work is PGC5302?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does PGC5302 have an exam?
Yes, it has an exam, alongside 5 other tasks.
More details
- Credit points
- 6
- Level
- 5
- Study level
- Postgraduate
- Faculty
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Type
- Coursework
- EFTSL
- 0.125
- Student contribution
- SCA Band 2
- Study abroad
- Not available
- Handbook years
- 20262027