Module Descriptor
This module builds on all aspects learned and developed in Pharmacy Practice I. Health promotion activities, educating patients and their families about various disease states, and engaging in health screening activities are all developed throughout this module. The module will also continue to develop students OTC knowledge as well as looking at more complicated or high risk scenarios which can present at the OTC counter such as those that can occur for at risk patient populations (Children, Pregnant Women and the Elderly). Differences and similarities between community and hospital pharmacy are teased out as well as covering the current and expanding role of pharmacy technicians in hospital, community and industry. Hospital pharmacy is looked at in detail including hospital specific tasks technicians are engaged in including aseptic compounding, ward top ups, satellite clinics and medicines reconciliation. The module also includes dispensary management, health promotion activities, complimentary and alternative medicines, ostomy care and compliance aids. More advanced pharmaceutical calculations will be covered.
Module Aims
To develop the students understanding of health promotion activities and how they can play a role in improving the health and wellbeing of the Irish population. To enable students to instruct, advise and refer patients on a wide range of health matters including lifestyle advice, smoking cessation, advice on the use of complementary and alternative medicines (CAM), vitamins and herbal medicines as well as safety in the sun. To develop the students understanding of the structure of the various strands of pharmacy in Ireland and the technicians role within them. To develop students understanding of specalised roles in aseptic compounding, ward top up services and medicines reconciliation. To enable students to understand the role of standard operating procedures (SOPs) and how they help in minimising risk. To enable students to comprehend the legislation around interchangeable medicines and reference pricing and know what these mean in practice and how to apply them. To instruct students in dispensing procedures and practices, pharmacy computer systems and interpreting prescriptions.
Complementary and alternative medicines: aromatherapy, Bach flower, herbal and homeopathic remedies.
Vitamins, minerals and amino acids: Dietary supplements and dietary advice for healthy living.
Health promotion: Counselling on use of asthma inhalers using placebo inhalers Counselling on administration of eye/ear drops etc. Family planning and sexual health. Pregnancy testing. Less common OTC drugs and patient counselling. Domiciliary services. Drug misuse. Ostomy. Safety in the sun. Smoking cessation. Surgical dressings. Elastic hosiery. (The above could be in role play situations constantly focusing on communication skills.)
Hospital pharmacy: stand alone series of hospital pharmacy lectures to distinguish hospital pharmacy technicians roles for community pharmacy. In depth look at various hospital pharmacy activities including ward top ups, aseptic compounding, TPN, cytotoxics, medicines information, medicines reconciliation
Business of pharmacy: Purchasing. Stock control. Wages. Customer accounts. Pharmacy business administration and procurement. Dispensary management and accounting. Legislation dealing with interchangeable medicines and reference pricing and what this means for pharmacy in Ireland.
Pharmacy technician: new roles, including accredited-checking technician, ward-based technician etc. Role of professional organisations. Codes of Practice. Standard Operating Procedures and their use in practice.
Laboratory sessions: Mock prescriptions on more complicated drugs/ Controlled drugs. This would involve record keeping.
More role plays on less common illnesses or ones with more 'care' needed and therefore more advanced communication skills needed e.g. medicines for thrush/cystitis etc. Prescribed drug uses in practice. Diagnostic testing. Inhaler techniques, Blood glucose testing. Blood pressure measuring. Cholesterol testing
Advanced pharmaceutical calculations
Delivery will be in the form of lectures with suitable audiovisual aids, in which students will be encouraged to participate. Appropriate online references will be used to encourage students in finding answers to questions they will come up against in practice. Context based learning will be a component of the practical sessions. Group discussions will for a regular part of the learning and teaching methods to encourage independent thinking and deeper understanding. Role play scenarios and mock prescriptions are incorporated to engage students with the practical aspect of the material they are being thought. Open book quizzes with key reference books are included to develop student’s ability to quickly and accurately draw out information.
| Module Content & Assessment | |
|---|---|
| Assessment Breakdown | % |
| Formal Examination | 60 |
| Other Assessment(s) | 40 |