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Pharmacy Professionalism Toolkit for Students and
Faculty
Provided by the APhA-ASP/AACP Committee on Student Professionalism
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NEW STUDENTS
Service Projects in Community
Description of activity
Service in the community by student pharmacists can be demonstrated in
countless ways. Students will most likely participate in service events
through involvement in student pharmacy organizations. The types of
service projects provided by pharmacy schools are endless since the need
is so great in our communities. The most common projects include
participation in community health fairs where students can volunteer
their time and skills. Examples of specific events may include
hypertension, blood glucose, and cholesterol screenings. Students may
also hold education sessions for the public about relevant topics, such
as asthma, immunizations, smoking cessation, cholesterol, healthy
living, depression, or poison prevention. Students can demonstrate
service in other ways such as donating pharmacy books for students in
developing countries or donating diapers and other items for a shelter
that cares for babies born with HIV. Many schools have formalized these
efforts into required “Service Learning” components of the
Pharm.D curriculum to encourage patient-based community service for
those students required to participate in such projects.
Rationale
Professionalism can be demonstrated in the form of service to others.
Pharmacists spend their careers serving and caring for patients.
Participation in service projects prepares students to care for patients
in the future. Through this service students develop practical skills
that will guide them as practitioners. New students may feel intimidated
about events that require skills performance. To address this issue,
many schools pair new students with upperclassmen, so that they will be
able to gain confidence and improve their own skills.
Areas of professionalism addressed
Service to others touches on many aspects of professionalism. These
events allow students to increase their knowledge and skills while
serving and giving to others.
Special issues involving planning / promotion /
implementation
Students can initiate the planning of some service events. Other events
may already be planned within the community by other individuals or
groups but call on student pharmacists to participate. Both types of
events require early planning and promotion. New students may quickly
become overwhelmed as they try to adjust to their course load and exam
schedule. Therefore, advance planning and promotion are key to
participation. In planning service events, it is preferable to first
obtain the new students’ exam schedule to avoid major conflicts.
Events may be announced in class, posted on bulletin boards, sent as a
sign-up sheet in class, and sent via e-mail. New students may feel timid
about participating in the events if they do not feel confident about
their skills. To alleviate this problem, training sessions as well as
practice experiences can be planned at the beginning of the year by
students and faculty. These experiences would give new students a chance
to learn and practice the proper way to use a sphygmomanometer or a
glucometer. Many new students may hesitate to participate because they
are unfamiliar with the new town or city. Caravanning to events may help
alleviate that fear. Also, a service requirement could be incorporated
into a class to familiarize students with patient care skills.
Examples of programs and resources
See also next item “Charity Fundraisers”
2004 AACP School Poster:
“Professionalism with Elderly Patients: The CARE
Program”.
Angela D. Solis, W. Arlyn Kloesel, Jamie C. Barner, Steve W. Leslie,
Patrick J. Davis, Jennifer R. Myhra, Joanne F. Richards, The University
of Texas at Austin.
Checklist of planning steps
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identify which student pharmacist groups are interested in holding
community service events |
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choose one area of interest to begin (hypertension, diabetes,
asthma, women’s health, smoking cessation, etc) |
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identify students who are interested and willing to be involved with
these events |
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select one or two students to chair this project or committee |
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gather relevant materials (for example, if hypertension were chosen
- sphygmomanometers, stethoscopes, and brochures from the American Heart
Association) |
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contact a faculty member who has expertise in that area and who is
willing to assist your group |
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hold training sessions for these students to familiarize them with
the materials and various procedures (i.e. the proper way to take a
blood pressure and how to counsel a patient) |
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contact local schools, churches, community centers, etc to offer
your services |
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plan events that do not conflict with academic schedules |
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start advertising events a month in advance; make announcements in
class, send information over e-mail, and post on school bulletin
boards |
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determine the number of students who are needed to help with the
event |
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post a sign-up sheet in a central location and pass it around in
class |
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make sure students arrive early and are dressed professionally,
including white coats and students IDs or name badges |
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thank students who participated in the event |
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begin and maintain a notebook with planning details for this event
and contact information |
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a second topic may be addressed once the first is well
established |
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several student organizations may consider teaming together to
conduct events or small health fairs |
Student Orientation
Professionalism Orientation Booklet
Peer Mentoring Programs
Introduction to Student Pharmacy
Organizations
White Coat Ceremonies
Public Affirmation of Professionalism
Service Projects in Community
Charity Fundraisers
Outside Speakers to Reinforce Messages
Introductory Pharmacy Courses
Student Portfolio Process
Integration into Residence Life Programs
Issues for 0-6 Programs
Issues for Distance Learning Programs
Issues for Religious-Affiliated Programs
Pharmacy Professionalism Toolkit Home
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