Prescribing

Prescribing Standards of Practice

The following Standards of Practice describe the minimum expectations for pharmacists involved in prescribing to patients and are intended to promote consistency in the provision of the service to the people of the province.

Standards of Practice for Prescribing by Pharmacists

Apply For Authorization

Pharmacists registered with the College of Pharmacy of Newfoundland and Labrador who wish to prescribe can apply to do so through their account in the CPNL Registrant Portal.

Eligibility

Must be registered as a pharmacist with the College of Pharmacy of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Must have completed the College’s Prescribing Orientation Program.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION

The following documentation is required to be submitted with the Authorization to Administer Drug Therapy by Inhalation or Injection Application.

Proof of completion of the College’s Prescribing Orientation Program.

Application

If you have determined you are eligible to apply for authorization and have obtained all the required documentation, you may apply through the College’s online registrant portal by following the steps below.

Click Registrant Portal in the Portal Login menu at the top right of the webpage.
Log into your account.
Click the Authorizations link on the side menu.
Click the Start New Application button under the Authorization Applications table.
Select “the appropriate”Pharmacist” from the Registration Type dropdown box.
Click the Select this Application button under the Prescribe category.
Follow the instructions to submit the application and pay the application fee.

Completed applications are reviewed in the order they are submitted and may take 5-7 business days to process once all required documentation and fees are received. Applicants will be notified by email once a decision has been made.

FAQ

Can all pharmacists prescribe?

No, only pharmacists authorized by the College per the Standards of Practice for Prescribing by Pharmacists are permitted to prescribe. Pharmacists who wish to be authorized to prescribe must complete a mandatory orientation program and apply for authorization through the CPNL Registrant Portal. Pharmacists are to refrain from prescribing until the application has been approved.

Is there a list of drugs pharmacists can prescribe for approved ailments and conditions?

No, once a pharmacist has determined from their assessment that the condition to be treated is one of the approved ailments or conditions, they are expected to follow best practices and clinical guidelines to choose the best treatment for the patient. The only restriction on this decision would be concerning the limitation on prescribing narcotics, controlled drugs, benzodiazepines, or targeted substances. For pharmacists who are looking for best practices and clinical guidelines, we would suggest referring to:

Canadian Pharmacists Association references such as CPS Full Access (online subscription), CPS: Therapeutic Choices (print), and the Compendium of Therapeutics for Minor Ailments (print)
MedSask Minor Ailment Guidelines
RxFiles

What if I am not sure of the correct therapy or have some doubts as to the diagnosis?

There is no obligation for a pharmacist to prescribe. If you have determined that there is insufficient information or added risks to the patient, you should not prescribe. In these cases, pharmacists should refer the patient back to their primary healthcare provider or another appropriate healthcare professional.

Should pharmacists have their own prescription pads? If so, is there a standardized format for the pad?

While there is no specific requirement in the Standards for pharmacists to have their own prescription pad, it is a best practice to help standardize the information on the prescription. This is especially important if the patient is taking the prescription to be filled elsewhere. In these cases, the pharmacist at the dispensing pharmacy must be able to be confident in the validity of the prescription as well as to contact the prescribing pharmacist if there are questions or issues. Concerning the format of the pad, the forms should be large enough to contain complete information for each prescription and should be difficult to photocopy or otherwise duplicate (utilizing a watermark or other security features). The prescription pad should include:

Prescriber’s name
Practice address
Telephone number
Prescribing pharmacist’s registration number (pre-printed or hand-written)
Prescribing pharmacist’s signature (hand-written)

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