Whether you're preparing for the PSA, studying for a Non-Medical Prescribing (NMP) qualification, completing OSPAP, or looking to improve your prescribing skills, learning how to use the British National Formulary (BNF) effectively is essential.
"The good news is that you don't need to memorise thousands of medicines. The real skill is knowing where to find reliable information quickly and how to apply it safely." - Dr Mike Davies. Managing Director & Lead Tutor.
Pharmascholar offers dedicated BNF Skills Training designed to help healthcare students and professionals navigate the BNF efficiently, answer prescribing questions confidently and make safer clinical decisions.
Why not get in touch to find out more?
The British National Formulary (BNF) provides practical prescribing information on:
Indications
Dosage
Drug interactions
Contraindications
Adverse effects
Monitoring requirements
Prescribing advice for special patient groups
Healthcare professionals use the BNF every day to support safe prescribing decisions.
Step 1: Find the Drug Monograph
The starting point for most prescribing questions is the drug monograph. Search for the medicine and review the complete monograph, paying particular attention to:
Indications
Dose
Contraindications
Cautions
Interactions
Monitoring requirements
The strongest students review the entire monograph rather than jumping straight to the dose.
Step 2: Check the Dose
The dosage section helps ensure the right medicine is prescribed at the right dose for the right patient. Always consider:
Indication
Route
Patient age
Organ function
Relevant clinical factors
Step 3: Review Contraindications and Cautions
Before prescribing, ask: "Is there any reason this medicine might be unsuitable?" Pay particular attention to:
Renal impairment
Liver disease
Pregnancy
Previous allergies
Safe prescribing is about more than selecting the right drug.
Step 4: Check Drug Interactions
Drug interactions are a common source of prescribing errors. Before prescribing anything new, ask:
"What medicines is the patient already taking?"
The interaction section of the BNF can help identify significant risks and improve patient safety.
Many medicines require ongoing monitoring. Examples include:
Lithium
Methotrexate
Clozapine
Certain anticoagulants
A useful habit is to ask:
"What monitoring does this patient need?"
Many medicines require dose adjustments in patients with reduced kidney function. If you see the following, always consider whether a dosage adjustment is required:
eGFR
Creatinine clearance
Chronic kidney disease
Step 7: Use Treatment Summaries
Treatment summaries are often overlooked but can be incredibly helpful. They provide:
First-line treatment options
Alternative treatment choices
Prescribing considerations
Condition-specific guidance
These sections can help you understand the bigger clinical picture rather than individual medicines alone.
One of the biggest misconceptions about prescribing assessments is that they test memory alone. In reality, successful candidates are able to:
Navigate the BNF efficiently
Locate information quickly
Identify key safety concerns
Apply prescribing guidance correctly
These are exactly the same skills required in real clinical practice.
"Before working through BNF skills, I felt overwhelmed by trying to find the right information quickly. The step-by-step approach completely changed how I used the BNF. Instead of scrolling aimlessly, I knew exactly where to look for interactions, monitoring requirements and contraindications. It made PSA revision much less stressful and genuinely improved my confidence." - Miss SB, London.
Whenever you use the BNF, ask yourself:
What is the correct dose?
Are there any contraindications?
Are there any cautions?
Are there important drug interactions?
What monitoring is required?
Does the patient need a dose adjustment?
If you can answer these questions consistently, you'll already be developing the habits of a safe and effective prescriber.
Many students struggle with prescribing assessments not because they lack knowledge, but because they haven't been taught how to navigate the BNF efficiently. Our BNF Skills Training can help you:
✅ Navigate the BNF faster
✅ Find answers more efficiently
✅ Improve PSA and NMP exam performance
✅ Build confidence with prescribing decisions
✅ Develop safer prescribing habits
Book a free introductory call today and discover how structured BNF Skills training could help you become a more confident prescriber.