Pharmacy Professionalism Toolkit for Students and Faculty Provided by the APhA-ASP/AACP Committee on Student Professionalism

EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION
Community and Hospital Practicums (Introductory Experiences)

Description of activities
Introductory (early) experiences are an ACPE standard and therefore an expectation of all colleges and schools of pharmacy. Similar to the other activities mentioned previously, curricular structure, goals and objectives and duration of exposure will be institution–specific:

• Number of visits and activities (based on resources)
• Shadowing experience(s)
• Formal experience(s): individual or group

Rationale
The purpose of these activities is three-fold:

• Provide early exposure to a variety of pharmacy practice settings
• Promote the integration of didactics with practice (thereby decreasing the propensity towards inconsistent socialization)
• Facilitate student mentoring and career counseling

Areas of professionalism addressed

• Numerous if not all (college- / school-dependent)
• These experiences afford the opportunity for student behavioral assessment. The Behavioral Professionalism Assessment Form – Experiential (BPAE) developed by Dana Hammer is a valid and reliable instrument utilized by many colleges and schools of pharmacy.

Special issues involving planning / promotion / implementation
The depth and breadth of curricular content is institution-specific. Being an ACPE requirement for all colleges and schools necessitates curriculum committee oversight with full faculty approval. Planning, promotion and implementation typically are performed by Experiential Education Departments or similar entities.

Examples of programs and resources
Requirement for all colleges and schools of pharmacy

References
Accreditation Standards and Guidelines for the Professional Program in Pharmacy Leading to the Doctor of Pharmacy Degree Adopted June 14, 1997.

APhA-ASP/AACP-COD Task Force on Professionalism. White paper on pharmacy student professionalism. J Am Pharm Assoc. 2000;40:96-102.

Purkerson Hammer D, Mason HL, Chalmers RK, Popovich NG, Rupp MT. Development and testing of an instrument to assess behavioral professionalism of pharmacy students. Am J Pharm Educ. 2000;64:141-151.

Purkerson Hammer D. Professional attitudes and behaviors: The “As and Bs” of professionalism. Am J Pharm Educ. 2000;64:455-464.

Student Orientation
Faculty/Preceptor Orientation and Training Programs
Professional Portfolios
Mentor Programs
Service Learning
Community and Hospital Practicums (Introductory Experiences)
Classroom Workshops and/or Reflections
Inter-professional Experiences
Advanced Practicums
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