The fresh graduates has to do internship soon after their graduation before attempting the council examination. Fresh graduates will have the opportunity to apply the knowledge they have acquired in their studies to real-world situations, providing them with valuable hands-on experience in the field. They will also develop important skills, such as communication and patient assessment, which are essential in the community pharmacy setting. Interns will also gain exposure to the various aspects of community pharmacy operations, including prescription filling, inventory management, and patient education and outreach. Overall, an internship in a community pharmacy provides fresh graduates with the foundation they need to succeed as pharmacists and to provide the best possible patient care.
We have developed a basic guide for the fresh graduates who
is planning to join the community pharmacy for internship. This curriculum
provides a comprehensive overview of the community pharmacy setting and the
role of the pharmacist in patient care. It provides essential knowledge for a
fresh graduate working in a community pharmacy, including medication knowledge,
patient assessment, communication skills, pharmacy operations, drug information
and literature evaluation, and patient education and outreach.
Here is a sample 6-week curriculum for a fresh graduate in a community pharmacy:
Week 1: Introduction to Community Pharmacy
- Overview of the community pharmacy setting
- Understanding
the role of the pharmacist in patient care
- Understanding
the prescription filling process
- Overview
of the top prescription medications
- Introduction
to medication therapy management
Week 2: Medications and Dosage Forms
- Understanding
different dosage forms (solid, liquid, parenteral, etc.)
- Overview
of the top prescription medications
- Understanding
drug interactions and side effects
- Overview
of over-the-counter medications
Week 3: Patient Assessment and Communication
- Understanding
the importance of patient assessment
- Communication
skills for pharmacists
- Understanding
the importance of patient privacy and confidentiality
- Overview
of medication therapy management and the pharmacist's role
Week 4: Pharmacy Operations and Management
- Overview
of pharmacy operations
- Understanding
the prescription filling process
- Inventory
management and drug ordering processes
- Understanding
of healthcare laws and regulations relevant to community pharmacy
Week 5: Drug Information and Literature Evaluation
- Overview
of drug information resources
- Understanding
of drug information databases
- Literature
evaluation and critical appraisal skills
- Overview
of off-label use of medications
Week 6: Patient Education and Outreach
- Understanding
the importance of patient education
- Overview
of common patient concerns and questions
- Overview
of community outreach programs and events
- Overview
of medication therapy management services offered in community pharmacy