What is a pharmacy practice experience?
Pharmacy practice is an opportunity provided for pharmacy students to put the knowledge they have learned into practice. Pharmacy practice experience is based on multiple levels, such as introductory pharmacy practice experience (IPPE) and advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE). These opportunities’ entire purpose and goal are to help prepare students for entering a professional work environment and allow them to build on their skills through peer input.
Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience
Students get their first taste of professional pharmacy practice via introductory pharmacy practice experiences (IPPEs), which are part-time opportunities. In a variety of pharmaceutical environments, students take part in pharmacist duties, perform guided tasks, observe professionals, and think about what they have seen. IPPEs are completed by PharmD students throughout their first, second, and third academic years. Throughout the semester, as well as over the summer or winter holidays, students can choose to complete their IPPE requirements. Observations made during the introductory pharmacist practice experience rotations can be used to learn about the creative patient care methods ambulatory medical pharmacists use in community pharmacies.
Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience
APPE differs from IPPE primarily because advanced pharmacy practice experience is completed during the fourth year of a PharmD. Degree. Moreover, APPE offers a full-time experience for students compared to IPPE, which is based on part-time experience. During the advanced pharmacist practice experience, students are familiarized with the role of a pharmacist and given the opportunity to practice playing the part of a pharmacist under the guidance of a pharmacist professor.
What are the components of the Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience?
Providing active care for patients: Students continue to develop the patient care management abilities they obtained in their initial experiences while being supervised by a chemist preceptor. At least a single rotation in a hospital setting and one in a clinical pharmacy environment with an emphasis on patient care are completed by each student.
Evaluating drug delivery method: Students analyze medication systems and offer recommendations to improve the efficacy and safety of drug usage in pharmacy settings. A community pharmacy rotation and a hospital rotation emphasizing drug systems management are completed by students during APPE.
Promoting healthy living: The goal of pharmacy students is to help patients lead healthy lifestyles. Students undertake immunizations, smoking cessation counseling, and assistance and instruction in diet and physical exercise.
Interacting with patients and medical staff: Students collaborate with the multidisciplinary healthcare team to give patients the best possible pharmacological therapy. Necessary teamwork skills are taught to students, including the dynamics of teams, resolving disputes, and regard for other team members.
Professionalism in action: PharmD students display professionalism in their behaviors and mindsets compatible with a recognized member of the pharmacy profession as they move from apprentice pharmacists to professional pharmacists.
Investigating possible pharmacy practices: PharmD students can choose up to four elective rotations, which can include working in non-patient care environments, including research, teaching, state agencies, and the FDA, as well as in areas like geriatrics, pediatrics, infectious disease, and transplant pharmacy practice. Depending on availability, students may also choose from a variety of overseas rotations in China, Thailand, Belize, Oman, England, South Africa, and Spain.
Examining more possibilities for students in the 4th year: Students could complete a Scholars in Pharmacy program and training in Rural Health, Antimicrobial Stewardship, or Operations and Technology Management by participating in a residency track APPE, rotating with a focus on global or public health, or participating in specialized rotations.
How to pursue a career in pharmacy
The first step towards beginning a career in the pharmacy field is to enroll in a bachelor’s degree, followed by completing a Doctor of Pharmacy course at a reputable university. Individuals with a keen interest in pharmaceuticals, drugs, and patient health should research their options to find a suitable university that will teach them everything they need to know about pharmacy and medications and prepare them to work in a professional medical environment.
If on-campus education is not your cup of tea, you can also apply to study for online pharm d degrees. The University of Findlay offers a program that enables students to be fully qualified chemists who can enhance the quality of life for people in their community upon receiving their license. Some of its graduates work in positions that affect the creation of novel drugs and drug treatments in the pharmaceutical sector, academia, or the private and public sectors.
Skills required to succeed in a pharmacy career
Customer Service: The need to put the customer’s and patient’s needs first is a fundamental aspect of pharmacy life, and an approachable, cheerful, and enthusiastic assistant may help achieve that. The pharmacy assistant must also maintain composure with customers who are undoubtedly in pain. Particularly when those individuals are ill and could, as a result, be impatient or irritable, it is important to have empathy, compassion, and an honest desire to help them.
Observant nature: Processing prescriptions takes the highest degree of precision and care. Accuracy is more important than speed when dispensing medication and over-the-counter items. The correct drug in the right dosage must be given as a pharmacy assistant’s responsibility. If a patient uses the incorrect dosage or mixes some prescription or over-the-counter drugs with another, they risk experiencing serious or even deadly adverse effects. Whether dispensing medicine or entering patient data into the computer, competent pharmacists will have a keen eye for detail and a certain level of awareness.
Data entry skills: The job of a pharmacist also requires precise data entry abilities. Receipt and confirmation of prescription orders are routine duties in this profession. As many medications are issued as electronic prescriptions, this frequently necessitates knowledge of digital data input. Before a consumer may pick up their medication, the pharmacy assistant must find these computerized orders and confirm that they are covered by insurance.
