Pharmacy Practice
Pharmacy practice builds on the previous courses of social pharmacy, drugs and public health and pharmacotherapy. However, this course will integrate learning from all courses involved in this study programme.
Pharmacists must be able to make pharmaceutical evaluations related to work tasks when meeting customers/patients, colleagues, other health care personnel and other collaborators. The subject focuses on the role of the pharmacist in society.
The course includes a practice placement period of 17 weeks in a pharmacy. In the practice placement period, the student will be given opportunities to apply theoretical knowledge, incorporate skills and develop ethical work attitudes. Practice placement provides an introduction and training in work-related tasks. The student will gradually be given the opportunity to partake in these duties and the responsibilities that the role requires. As a result of the practice placement, students will be able to work as pharmacists and be able to conduct independent assessment and dispensation of prescription drugs.
The distribution of placements takes place via a placement pool conducted by the Norwegian Pharmacy Association. The practice pool is a collaboration between the Norwegian Pharmacy Association, various pharmacy chains and Norwegian educational institutions. Available placements in Norwegian pharmacies are collected in a pool and pharmacy students (at all campuses) assign a place after receiving a random number.
Students are assigned a tutor in the pharmacy and this person guides them on a daily basis. In addition, the staff at Nord university is responsible for guiding and assisting the students and tutors during the practice period. This follow-up is conducted by telephone/online, or in the form of face-to-face meetings if needed.
After completing the course, the student is able to:
Knowledge:
- account for the relationship between ethics and morals and discuss ethical issues of pharmacy practice
- have knowledge of communication as a professional practitioner and know why it is important
- be aware of relevant pharmaceutical services performed in pharmacies
- have knowledge of current political steering signals and framework conditions relating to pharmacies
Skills:
- work independently as a pharmacist in a Norwegian pharmacy, make independent evaluations and dispense prescription drugs
- apply knowledge gained through various study courses when tackling common pharmaceutical work tasks
- provide guidance and professional advice on health-related lifestyle factors, self-care and the use of prescription drugs so as to safeguard patient safety and ensure proper drug use
- communicate professionally with interaction partners such as patients/users, relatives, colleagues, and other health care professionals
- show insight into the needs of different drug users, how their independence and integrity can be safeguarded and guide them in a manner that supports this
- apply relevant laws and regulations in professional practice
- use internal control systems, including quality assurance systems and exception management systems relevant to professional practice
General competence:
- reflect on and be critical of one¿s own work, one¿s own profession and the pharmacist's role in the pharmacy and society
- reflect on current ethical issues
- identify, discuss and manage current themes and issues relevant to pharmacists
- cooperate with and convey subject material to fellow students regarding problem-based learning
- independently plan and execute a project in line with relevant guidelines
- identify, quality assure and interpret information by utilizing current works of reference, colleagues, other health care personnel, other collaborators and other sources
- be aware of relevant welfare technology
The course includes various work methods and learning activities, such as lectures, individual work, group work, role-playing, practical exercises, task-solving, and problem-based learning. An individual project work is included during this course.
There is compulsory participation in this course. Reason for compulsory participation: Participation provides skills and general competence that cannot be acquired alone.