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Blended approaches to postgraduate teaching for non-medical prescribers

02 August 2024
Professional
02 August 2024
Volume 6 · Issue 8

Abstract

A broad range of health professionals can obtain the authority to prescribe in the UK upon successful completion of an accredited non-medical prescribing programme. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, many approved education institutions have adopted more permanent blended approaches to their programmes. This literature review aims to explore blended approaches to delivering postgraduate education to health professionals, with a view to improving the performance and satisfaction of students undertaking non-medical prescribing programmes. Seven papers were selected from a database search; five were research literature and two practice literature. The results suggest that social constructivism and laying a ‘foundation’ for effective study are key to student satisfaction. Advising students to engage with the provider's Virtual Learning Environment before a programme commences, dividing students into small groups that are designed to create communities of practice, scheduling face-to-face activities to provide early opportunities for social interaction and further research are recommended to enhance education for non-medical prescribers.

In the UK, health professionals can obtain pre-scribing rights by successfully completing an approved non-medical prescribing (NMP) programme (Omer et al, 2022). These include nurses, pharmacists and paramedics (Omer et al, 2022; British National Formulary, 2023). Courses are part-time and include taught content, which may be delivered face to face (F2F) or online (North School of Pharmacy and Medicines Optimisation, 2023). In addition, each student must successfully complete supervised, practice-based learning (Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), 2019; Health and Care Professions Council, 2019; General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), 2022).

Flexibility is a significant concern for students (Friesen, 2012) and may be particularly important when studying part-time. Blended approaches, which utilise in-person and online delivery, provide a powerful response to multiple challenges, including increased student expectation of flexible learning provision (Advance HE, 2020). Many approved education institutions have adopted more permanent blended approaches to their NMP programmes since the Covid-19 pandemic (Walters, 2022).

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Postgraduate teaching
Non-medical prescribers
Education