What I wish I’d known when I started out prescribing
Published: 30 October 2026
Becoming a prescriber and stepping into the real world of pharmacy practice can bring up a lot of nervous feelings and anxieties. Those feelings are normal, and you’re not alone in experiencing them.
As someone who has recently become a qualified prescriber after completing my postgraduate diploma at the University of Manchester, I wanted to share some of my reflections and what I wish I’d known, in the hope that they provide some reassurance to other pharmacists starting out in prescribing.
It’s normal to feel nervous
What I wish I had known when I started prescribing is that confidence doesn’t appear overnight just because you’ve qualified. It’s natural to feel pressure when you’re stepping into a new role, particularly if you’re working with unfamiliar people or in a new setting. Over time, though, that confidence grows. As you gain experience, you learn where your limits are and become more comfortable using your prescribing skills to make decisions for patients.
You don’t have to know everything straight away
At the end of the day, we’re all human, and I think healthcare professionals can sometimes find that difficult to admit. Becoming a prescriber doesn’t mean you’re expected to know or do everything from day one. It’s important to recognise what you’re comfortable taking on and to set clear professional boundaries. Learning where those boundaries lie takes time, especially when you’re still finding your feet in a new role.
It’s ok to say no
When you become a prescriber, you may find that other healthcare professionals increasingly approach you with prescribing requests. This can create pressure to use your prescribing skills right away.
What I wished I had known heading out on the wards with my new prescribing qualification in hand is that it is OK to say no, particularly when a request falls outside your area of expertise. This is part of developing clinical judgement. You can still be helpful by offering advice, looking into the issue further or supporting a colleague in a different way.
Saying no is not letting anyone down. You’re helping to ensure patient safety and following local and national guidance by prescribing within your competence. That can be a difficult balance to navigate at first, but it’s an important part of becoming a safe and effective prescriber.
Build your network and ask for help
Being a pharmacist, especially a hospital ward pharmacist, can be a challenging experience. You’re often working independently within a wider clinical team and may be the only pharmacist voice on the ward, which can be lonely sometimes.
That’s why having a strong support network is so important. People need people and healthcare professionals are no different. If you’re feeling nervous or worried, talk to someone. That could be someone you work with directly, or friends from university who work in pharmacy.
Connecting with other pharmacists, whether within your hospital or across the wider pharmacy community, means you have people you can talk things through with and turn to for guidance when you need it. Building relationships with clinical and nursing staff can also help you in the first few months of prescribing, as you become more comfortable asking questions and seeking advice.
I hope my experiences have helped reassure you that you are not alone. Confidence comes with time and experience, and knowing when to ask for help, recognise your limits and say no is all part of becoming a prescriber.
Explore our From Qualified to Confident resources, supporting newly qualified pharmacists to build confidence, develop their skills and navigate the early stages of prescribing.
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