This article is the first of three parts, discussing my journey to become a paramedic non-medical prescriber. This first part discusses the route I took to get onto a course, followed in turn by articles outlining my experiences during the course, and then since registration as a newly qualified non-medical prescriber.
My journey to become a non-medical prescriber involved an element of good fortune and chance. Having found enjoyment in academic study during my foundation degree in 2009, I continued to study part-time for a bachelor's degree in emergency care, and subsequently completed a part-time master's degree in advanced practice once I qualified in 2011. When setting out on these courses, I didn't know where they would take me but felt confident that continued academic study would help to broaden my career opportunities as the years passed by.
Having been a paramedic for only 4 years, this strategy appeared to pay off in 2015 when I was offered a development opportunity to become a specialist paramedic in urgent care. I believe that a strong continuing professional development (CPD) portfolio and evidence of academic attainment contributed towards my being offered this chance to train into a senior clinical role.
I was working in the role of Specialist Paramedic (Urgent Care) when the law changed in 2018 (The Human Medicines (Amendment 199) Regulations, 2018) to allow paramedic prescribing, although I couldn't see that it would be all that beneficial in ambulance practice as, at the time, we had a fairly comprehensive range of patient group direction medications that were adequate in most situations, and the amount of training time and access to a doctor as a mentor would likely make the course practically challenging or impossible to complete.
In mid 2018, I chose to leave the ambulance service for a variety of reasons, including seeking clinical advancement and a greater opportunity to practise my urgent care skills. I took a job working in primary care as a paramedic practitioner and as good fortune would have it, they had access to two funded places to undertake a prescribing course. I hadn't even started in the role at that time but they offered me this opportunity as they expected prescribing to be a core part of the role I would be working in.
It was here that my MSc came in useful, as proof of master's-level study is a requirement for paramedics to enrol on a non-medical prescribing course (College of Paramedics, 2018), as well as being in a role with a clear need and support for prescribing.
When I started working in primary care, I was empowered to start making prescribing decisions straight away, using my knowledge of drugs and treatment I had gained from working in a specialist role. While this was a challenge, it started to prepare me for the training I was about to embark on. Although I couldn't take any responsibility for the prescribing of medication, I was encouraged to decide on what treatment was needed before having a prescription produced by one of the doctors, who would ask me to explain what I wanted to do and why. Having to present cases to seniors daily was an excellent learning aid and I believe good preparation for prescribing in general, as well as for the prescribing course itself.
Thanks to good timing, a supportive new employer and my previously undertaken academic study, I was able to start a non-medical prescribing course in September 2018.
While the route I took to get to the course involved some chance, it does illustrate the benefit of continued academic attainment, as while I had never envisioned studying for an MSc would lead later to becoming a prescriber, when the law did change, I was able to meet all the entrance criteria without issue.