PHARMACY

This session provides participants with an understanding of pharmacy and how it fits into the overall health care profession.

Category

Health
Pharmacy

Objectives

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

Explain the role of the pharmacist in the health care system.
Discuss the use of both prescription and nonprescription medication use in society.
Describe the differences in how pharmacists practice in community, hospital, and clinical settings.
Understand the educational process involved in becoming a pharmacist.

Supplies

Laptop computer or equipment to view videos
Medication history form from Institute for Safe Medication Practices—Download from https://codlrc.org/sites/default/files/ISMP_Universal_Medication_Form_PDF.pdf
Medication package inserts (various) for interpretation and discussion
Supplies for Activity 3:
- Ointment—white petrolatum, additive (vanilla, eucalyptus, etc.), ointment paper or parchment, ointment jars, labels, spatulas
- IV admixture—syringe, needles, alcohol wipes, additive (saline, ampicillin, etc.), IV solution (small or large volume)
- Capsules—mortar and pestle, powders, tablets, empty gelatin capsules
Arrange for a pharmacy professional to speak about practicing in a hospital or community setting.
Arrange for a tour of a hospital or community pharmacy.

VIDEOS

Reminder: Any time you use an outside source, be sure you follow the content owner’s or website’s permission requirements and guidelines.

Advisors should preview videos before showing them to make sure they are appropriate for the post.

“Love Your Job! Careers in Health-System Pharmacy” from the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
“The Drug Discovery Process” from the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America
“Steps to Becoming a Pharmacist” from Three Minute Summaries
“Transferring a Solution From a Vial to an IV Bag” from Erin Jannetta, Stefania Carrano, and Tuong Diep
“Extemporaneous Preparation of a Cream” from the School of Applied Sciences, University of Wolverhampton

RESOURCES

Reminder: Any time you use an outside source, be sure you follow the content owner’s or website’s permission requirements and guidelines.

The following are suggested resources that Advisors may find helpful in planning this session:

“Which Pharmacy Career Is The Best Fit for You?” from Pharmacy is Right for Me
“Road Map to Pharmacy” from Pharmacy is Right for Me
“Prescription Drug Use on the Rise in U.S.” from WebMD
“DrugFacts: Nationwide Trends” from National Institute on Drug Abuse
“Using over-the-counter medicines safely” from Medline Plus
“Over-the-Counter Medications: Use in General and Special Populations, Therapeutic Errors, Misuse, Storage, and Disposal” from the American College of Preventive Medicine
“Over-the-Counter (OTC) Drug Monograph Process” from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
“How Drugs Are Developed and Approved” from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
“Drug Scheduling” from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration
“Medical prescription” from Wikipedia

Advisor Note

Text in italics should be read aloud to participants. As you engage your post in activities each week, please include comments, discussions, and feedback to the group relating to Character, Leadership, and Ethics. These are important attributes that make a difference in the success of youth in the workplace and in life.

Activities

INTRODUCTION

Tell participants: Pharmacy is the science and technique of preparing and dispensing drugs. A pharmacist is a health care professional trained to prepare and dispense those drugs.

Activity 1

Speaker

Have a pharmacy professional address these topics:

Overview of pharmacy as a profession and their role in medication management
Education requirements, including recommendations for high school and college preparation (you may choose to show the video “Steps to Becoming a Pharmacist” from Three Minute Summaries if no speaker is available)
A typical day for a pharmacist
The future of pharmacy practice

Activity 2

Pharmacist Roles

Ask participants to name as many roles for pharmacists that they can.

If you need some ideas to get them started.

Community pharmacist
Hospital pharmacist
Clinical pharmacist
Drug development
Research pharmacist
Pharmaceutical industry
Discuss the differences or pros and cons of each of these roles for pharmacists.

Watch the videos “Love Your Job! Careers in Health-System Pharmacy” from the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists and “The Drug Discovery Process” from the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America and initiate a discussion.

Activity 3

Hands-On Practice

Show the video “Extemporaneous Preparation of a Cream” from the School of Applied Sciences, University of Wolverhampton. Then have participants pair up and make an ointment or IV admixture.
Show the video “Transferring a Solution From a Vial to an IV Bag” from Erin Jannetta, Stefania Carrano, and Tuong Diep—optional.
Have participants use a mortar and pestle to compound and mix powders or crush tablets and fill empty gelatin capsules.

Activity 4

Drug Labels and Inserts

Show how to read labels using the MedWise resources and have participants take turns reading labels aloud or in small groups.
Show how to interpret package inserts and have participants examine additional package inserts.

Activity 5

Pharmacy Tour

Tour a pharmacy.

Advisor Note

Some sample questions are below. They are designed to help the participants apply what they have learned to their own interests. You are welcome to use these questions or develop your own questions that relate to your post or specific focus area.

Reflection

Focusing Questions

What type of pharmacist role or specialty most interests you?
What did you learn during today’s discussion?
What, if any, modifications will you make in managing your own medication use based on the information gained today?

Analysis Questions

Discuss feedback from the videos or hands-on practice.
What types of ethical issues do you think could arise related to being a pharmacist?

Generalization Questions

What can you do now, during your time as a student, to prepare yourself for this or a similar career in the medical field?
Why is this topic important?

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