There are many ways to do this, and a great way to do so is by getting more involved with pharmacy outside of the standard 'classroom' setting. This applies to students across the course from first to final and even after pre-registration year. Many students and qualified pharmacists alike are not aware of the breadth of opportunity that awaits them and just how much there is to explore.
Conducted often by pharmacists, CPPE training events are there to support the training and continual development of pre-registration and qualified pharmacists. Students are also welcome and encouraged to come along. Many topics are covered from clinical knowledge to professional skills. By participating in debate and discussion, this is often a great environment to learn from those more experienced in the field and prepares you for the world of pharmacy practice. Examples of titles are epilepsy and dementia friends - focal point training .
2. Local Practice Forum Events
Each region has its own Local Practice Forum which you are encouraged to join - this can be found on the Royal Pharmaceutical Society website. The conferences are a great opportunity to network with like minded people and hear top speakers talk passionately about healthcare matters . The events are always reflective of the challenges or current affairs faced in pharmacy and the healthcare system today. For instance a recent South London meeting at Kings' University was on the subject of pharmacists in General Practices, exploring the benefits and obstacles faced with the development of such positions in healthcare.
NHS Education England host an annual event usually early autumn time and recruit student healthcare professionals from various settings from nurses and dentists to doctors and pharmacists. Students have the opportunity to speak to various organisations about their various healthcare and well-being projects and enlist to take part with their development for the deprived demographic of our society. Working alongside allied professionals, builds not only key team work skills, it gives a great insight and appreciation of the unique role that each healthcare sector plays in the collaborative process of providing patient-centred care. You also learn about medicine from a different angle and expand your current depth of knowledge surrounding the healthcare system.
5. Placements
Take advantage of summer placements! This is directed at the students. Apply early-Boots has one for first and second years. There are also a range of placements available for third years from Lloyd's community to Hospital Placements. Also, if you have placements as part of your university course, make the most of them. This is an opportunity to see your pharmacy knowledge put into practice and work on key skills in order to become a competent pharmacist.
Most pharmacy courses will have their own pharmacy association. The common challenge amongst most students, is once they sign up to these organisations, is to actually stay organised and committed enough to attend. Events held by such pharmacy associations would often tell you all the ideas, that I have shared here. Student life though may seem tough, does not last forever, so do not take this for granted and take advantage of this society for professional development. Explore how you can get more involved as a pharmacy student at your university. You might even be able to get a role in your university pharmacy association committee and have your say surrounding the events the society would run.
There are many pharmacy support groups one of which is the pharmacy defence association or otherwise known as PDA. Since, many students are taking on, part-time pharmacy job roles, there is a risk of error attached to this. The PDA organisation is in place to support the student, where for instance such an error may have brought on harm to the public. The PDA will work to prevent fitness to practice measures from being filed against the accountable student/pharmacist and work to resolve the situation to benefit all parties involved.
So here it goes- a few quick ideas of how to get more involved in pharmacy.
1. CPPE training
Conducted often by pharmacists, CPPE training events are there to support the training and continual development of pre-registration and qualified pharmacists. Students are also welcome and encouraged to come along. Many topics are covered from clinical knowledge to professional skills. By participating in debate and discussion, this is often a great environment to learn from those more experienced in the field and prepares you for the world of pharmacy practice. Examples of titles are epilepsy and dementia friends - focal point training .
2. Local Practice Forum Events
Each region has its own Local Practice Forum which you are encouraged to join - this can be found on the Royal Pharmaceutical Society website. The conferences are a great opportunity to network with like minded people and hear top speakers talk passionately about healthcare matters . The events are always reflective of the challenges or current affairs faced in pharmacy and the healthcare system today. For instance a recent South London meeting at Kings' University was on the subject of pharmacists in General Practices, exploring the benefits and obstacles faced with the development of such positions in healthcare.
3. British Pharmacy Student Association- National/International
Many conferences and events are organised throughout the year, directed particularly at pharmacy students to help support their development as aspiring healthcare professionals. Simply by attending an event such as a conference or competition is enough to win a 'PDS" point. These points add up, so if a student were to collect 5 in one year, they would be sent a bronze certificate, followed by a silver, platinum and gold, in the subsequent years. But if you still require further incentive, these events are great for networking with pharmacy students across the UK and learning about real challenges faced by pharmacists in practice. For instance the BPSA Southern area conference was on the subject addiction. Topics covered were from the pharmacological and psychological treatment, covering the angle from current published pharmacy guidelines, to physiological models, real ethical dilemmas and advice from pharmacy support. Aside from conferences, BPSA representatives have recently held the Johnson&Johnson competition supporting students with their OSCE practice, honing key skills when responding to symptoms.
Many conferences and events are organised throughout the year, directed particularly at pharmacy students to help support their development as aspiring healthcare professionals. Simply by attending an event such as a conference or competition is enough to win a 'PDS" point. These points add up, so if a student were to collect 5 in one year, they would be sent a bronze certificate, followed by a silver, platinum and gold, in the subsequent years. But if you still require further incentive, these events are great for networking with pharmacy students across the UK and learning about real challenges faced by pharmacists in practice. For instance the BPSA Southern area conference was on the subject addiction. Topics covered were from the pharmacological and psychological treatment, covering the angle from current published pharmacy guidelines, to physiological models, real ethical dilemmas and advice from pharmacy support. Aside from conferences, BPSA representatives have recently held the Johnson&Johnson competition supporting students with their OSCE practice, honing key skills when responding to symptoms.
If these events seem of interest to you, maybe consider applying for a representative position. For the first round of applications the window opens at the beginning of June and closes somewhere mid-summer. However, this is variable from year to year, so if interested check with a BPSA representative at your university.
4. TeamUp Volunteering events
NHS Education England host an annual event usually early autumn time and recruit student healthcare professionals from various settings from nurses and dentists to doctors and pharmacists. Students have the opportunity to speak to various organisations about their various healthcare and well-being projects and enlist to take part with their development for the deprived demographic of our society. Working alongside allied professionals, builds not only key team work skills, it gives a great insight and appreciation of the unique role that each healthcare sector plays in the collaborative process of providing patient-centred care. You also learn about medicine from a different angle and expand your current depth of knowledge surrounding the healthcare system.
5. Placements
Take advantage of summer placements! This is directed at the students. Apply early-Boots has one for first and second years. There are also a range of placements available for third years from Lloyd's community to Hospital Placements. Also, if you have placements as part of your university course, make the most of them. This is an opportunity to see your pharmacy knowledge put into practice and work on key skills in order to become a competent pharmacist.
6. Global/National Campaigns
As a pharmacist, you are first and foremost a healthcare specialist. When you enter a field such as this, there are endless points that may spark your interest - what drew you to this healthcare. Find what it is and become passionate about it. Was it challenging mental health stigmatisation or finding the cure for a rare genetic disorder? Global and National campaigns help raise awareness surrounding a myriad of different healthcare matters. One of such campaigns which is currently receiving worldwide notice is antibiotic awareness. This particular event is an opportunity to support antibiotic stewardship and learn more about the reasons behind the movement.
7.University Pharmacy Association
Most pharmacy courses will have their own pharmacy association. The common challenge amongst most students, is once they sign up to these organisations, is to actually stay organised and committed enough to attend. Events held by such pharmacy associations would often tell you all the ideas, that I have shared here. Student life though may seem tough, does not last forever, so do not take this for granted and take advantage of this society for professional development. Explore how you can get more involved as a pharmacy student at your university. You might even be able to get a role in your university pharmacy association committee and have your say surrounding the events the society would run.
8. Pharmacy Defence Association
So here are my 8 basic ways to get more involved in pharmacy. This is a question that had often run through my mind and I hope students and qualified pharmacists , would find this to be an equally useful, quick reminder.
Thank you for reading my post!
If you agree/disagree with anything I have said or have anymore ideas to add on
- how to get more involved in pharmacy-
please leave a comment below!
- how to get more involved in pharmacy-
please leave a comment below!
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