PM1PY1-Professional Practice 1

Module Provider: Pharmacy
Number of credits: 40 [20 ECTS credits]
Level:4
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring / Summer module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites: PM1PY2 Fundamentals of Cell Biology and PM1PY3 Fundamentals of Pharmaceutical Science and PM1PY4 Introduction to Medicines Design and PM1PY5 Introduction to Microbiology, Immunology and Physiology
Modules excluded:
Placement opportunity: Micro placement
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Dr Sam Bizley
Email: s.c.bizley@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module acts as the introduction to the MPharm programme, supporting students as they adapt to University study and introducing them to the role of pharmacists in healthcare and concepts of professional practice. The roles of other pharmacy staff and the wider team of healthcare professionals, and the importance of multidisciplinary working are highlighted. The pharmacy-related legal, regulatory and organisational frameworks and landscapes are introduced, as are the concepts of medicines optimisation, sustainability and clinical governance. Patient-centred care is identified as a core aspect of pharmacy, and students will start to develop their communication and consultation skills, pharmaceutical calculations, with an introduction to responding to minor ailments and a particular focus on advising patients on use of non-prescription and prescription-only medicines. The process of dispensing medicines will be introduced and then the learning consolidated whilst on placement. Social and behavioural aspects of pharmacy are introduced, relating how these factors can impact on the health and wellbeing of a community. The concept of pharmacists as lifelong learners is considered with the use of reflective practice to inform future learning objectives and the continuation of professional development.

Aims:

To provide students with an introduction to the professional awareness, attributes, behaviours and knowledge required of a practising pharmacist including the ability to undertake basic dispensing tasks, calculations and responding to symptoms consultations whilst recognising all patient needs and ensuring safe and effective use of medicines.

Assessable learning outcomes:

At the end of the module the student will be expected to:

1. Describe the role, regulation and professional responsibilities of the pharmacist (including safeguarding and sustainability) and how they work in the wider healthcare team in order to achieve high quality person-centred care.


2. Explain the main principles of clinical governance and the need to maintain and improve standards to optimise patient care (e.g. error reporting).


3. Describe the aspects of legislation relating to Pharmacy including prescription and labelling requirements, legal classification of medicines, confidentiality and consent.


4. Describe the concept of “patient centred care” and explain how pharmacists can contribute to this and support adherence.


5. Undertake consultations demonstrating effective communication skills in a variety of situations including counselling on medicines, responding to symptoms, basic physical assessment whilst respecting diversity and cultural differences.


6. Undertake essential services under the Pharmacy Contract including safe and accurate dispensing and health promotion.


7. Demonstrate competency in pharmaceutical calculations.

Additional outcomes:

Students should be able to:

• proactively maintain a Personal and Academic Development Portfolio showing an ability to reflect on experiences, own practice and development needs.


• understand the importance of leadership and people management in a pharmacy context, as well as the importance of culture, diversity and behaviours for cultural competence.


• act openly and honestly when things go wrong and raise concerns even when it is not easy to do so.


• take responsibility for health and safety and take actions when necessary.


• recognise and work within the limits of their knowledge and skills, seeking help when they need it.


• understand and implement where appropriate relevant local and national guidance on safeguarding procedures.

Outline content:

This module will help the students develop safe professional behaviours, appropriate communication skills, appropriate numeracy and pharmaceutical calculations skills, and the clinical and legal knowledge required to undertake the basic tasks required to work in a community pharmacy.  Students will be introduced to the various roles of a pharmacist and the professional responsibilities that go with it.  Their professional development will be evidenced in the Personal and Academic Portfolio. Students will see the relevance of the learning from the other Part 1 modules in the practice of pharmacy. A community placement in a concentrated block followed by a set day each week will allow the students to develop their basic dispensing skills and responding to symptoms consultations, whilst recognising all patient needs.

Global context:

This module will develop core knowledge and show how this knowledge is relevant to the role of a pharmacist. The student will need to develop independent learning skills within this module to progress into Part 2 but should then be suitably equipped to tackle the rigour of an MPharm degree. The topics covered here will link into all modules of Part 2.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

The course content will be delivered through a range of teaching methods including lectures, directed private study, self-directed learning, placements, workshops, and practicals. Students will be signposted to additional resources to supplement the lecture material. Attendance to all teaching sessions is required and poor attendance will be recorded in the student’s personal file. Students failing to complete and engage in pharmacy visits, placements and interprofessional educatio n sessions will not be permitted to complete the programme. Appropriate supplementary information and reading lists will be provided.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	31	39
Seminars	28	11	5
Tutorials		6
Practicals classes and workshops	4	12
Work-based learning	75	60
Guided independent study:
Wider reading (independent)	15	6
Wider reading (directed)	15	10
Exam revision/preparation		20
Completion of formative assessment tasks	10	10
Revision and preparation	5	10	10
Reflection	10	5	3
Total hours by term	193	189	18
Total hours for module	400

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written exam	70
Practical skills assessment	30

Summative assessment- Examinations:

In the summer exam period:

1. Written examination (70% of module) - 2 hrs

During Spring term:

1. Pharmaceutical calculations exam – Pass/Fail (no module weighting) 1.5 hrs

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

1. Practical Skills assessment (30% of module) - 2.5 hrs


2. Personal and Academic Development Portfolio (PADP) coursework submission – Pass/Fail (no module weighting)

Formative assessment methods:

Formative assessment will be undertaken during workshops and on placement and will reinforce several of the learning outcomes of the module. These will be staff, workplace supervisor or peer assessed and will be related to communication skills, dispensing and responding to symptoms.

Students will have a formative assessment of professionalism and basic communication skills prior to attending the placement to ensure they are adequately prepared.  This will also help in their preparation for summative assessments in other modules.

The workplace-based assessments undertaken whilst on placement will provide students with feedback on their achievement of the learning outcomes and there will be a requirement to submit them in their portfolio. It will also help to prepare them for the summative assessments in other modules. 

Penalties for late submission:

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

All summative assessments must be passed at 40% (or a pass for ‘pass/fail’ assessments). 

Reassessment arrangements:

Re-examination (written papers) in August.  Failed coursework assessment will be reassessed during the August examination period.  Students will be permitted two attempts at the pharmaceutical calculations assessment. Students failing the PADP due to non-attendance on placements or not achieving portfolio requirements will be required to resubmit in August having successfully attended additional learning in the summer with completion of the workplace-based assessments.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books: 

2) Specialist equipment or materials: 

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear: 

4) Printing and binding: 

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification: 

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence:  Travel, and in some cases, accommodation costs will be incurred. There may also be costs regarding health checks and vaccinations.

Last updated: 4 September 2023