Outline

Overview

Pharmacy Intern Training A is designed to be undertaken by pharmacy interns undertaking supervised professional practice while working towards general registration as a pharmacist, and is intended to complement the learning which occurs in the workplace. It further develops the technical, clinical, personal and professional skills gained during the completion of an initial pharmacy degree that form the basis of future practice. This unit of study uses multiple methods of delivery to explore the range of issues that are relevant to the day-to-day practice of pharmacy. The issues include: systematic approach to problem solving; therapeutics; evidence based practice; patient monitoring; symptomology; patient outcomes; methods of improving adherence; multiple medication management; pharmaceutical care; standards and competencies for pharmacy practice; community pharmacy practice; hospital pharmacy practice; ethics; legal aspects; multidisciplinary approach to healthcare; primary care; over- the-counter medicines; communication and counselling; public health; pharmaceutical calculations; risk management; developing professional communication skills with patients, employees and other health care practitioners. This unit of study comprises monthly case problems related to specific practice issues which explore relevant professional issues for pharmacy practitioners. Moderated discussion forums in small groups explore the relevant issues around the case problem each month. Face to face seminars offer opportunities to refine expertise in evidence based practice, professional competencies, communication and counselling and specific aspects of ethical, legal and clinical pharmacy. Emphasis is given to problem-solving, communication and responding to symptoms. Scenarios where legal, social and workplace issues come into play are included. The syllabus is orientated to issues that arise in the day-to-day practice of pharmacy and to the requirements for general registration as a pharmacist in Australia. Pharmacy graduates undertaking their intern experience in community pharmacy will be exposed to issues relevant to hospital pharmacy, and vice versa. This unit of study will develop graduates' independence and life-long learning skills of communication, capacity for enquiry and research, critical thought and analysis, problem solving, teamwork, numeracy and effective use of information technology.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Pharmacy
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Irene Um, irene.um@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
In-semester test	MCQ exam Online examination	55%	Mid-semester break	60 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Small continuous assessment	Discussion block 1 Participation	0%	Multiple weeks	2 weeks
Outcomes assessed:
Small continuous assessment	Discussion block 2 Participation	15%	Multiple weeks	2 weeks
Outcomes assessed:
Small continuous assessment	Discussion block 3 Participation	15%	Multiple weeks	2 weeks
Outcomes assessed:
Small continuous assessment	Discussion block 4 Participation	15%	Multiple weeks	2 weeks
Outcomes assessed:
Participation	Seminars Interactive face-to-face tutorials	0%	Ongoing	2 x 2 days
Outcomes assessed:
Skills-based evaluation	ICAs Clinical skills assessment	0%	Ongoing	n/a
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Learning portfolio exercises Workplace-learning tasks	0%	Ongoing	n/a
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ?

Assessment summary

Seminars: There are four two-day face-to-face seminars throughout the year (two in each semester). The seminar days usually involve plenary talks and interactive small group tutorials. It is a compulsory for interns to attend these seminar days and participate in small group activities. They are held on Camperdown campus.
Discussion blocks: The discussion blocks are interactive structured online discussion forums on Canvas. It will involve working with a group of approximately 10 interns and a pharmacist moderator, where you will discuss and contribute towards various professional pharmacy practice issues and topics.
Online Exam: The Online MCQ exam will be conducted at the second seminar. It will consist of clinical questions, calculations, and forensic (law/privacy/ethics) questions. The exam will consist of multiple choice questions only. For the Online MCQ exam, interns are required to achieve a minimum mark of 65% to pass, in line with the requirements for the APC intern written examination. Interns who do not achieve this minimum mark will be offered the opportunity to attempt an additional assessment.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100	At HD level, a student demonstrates an aptitude for the subject and a well-developed understanding of the unit material. A ‘High Distinction’ reflects exceptional achievement and is awarded to students who demonstrate the ability to apply their subject knowledge and understanding to produce original solutions for novel or highly complex problems and/or comprehensive critical discussions of theoretical concepts.
Distinction	75 - 84	At DI level, a student demonstrates an aptitude for the subject and a well-developed understanding of the units material. A ‘Distinction’ reflects excellent achievement and is awarded to a student who demonstrates an ability to apply their subject knowledge and understanding of the subject to produce good solutions for challenging problems and/or a reasonably well-developed critical analysis of theoretical concepts.
Credit	65 - 74	At CR level, a student demonstrates a good command and knowledge of the unit material. A ‘Credit’ reflects solid achievement and is awarded to a student who has a broad general understanding of the units material and can solve routine problems and/ or identify and superficially discuss theoretical concepts.
Pass	50 - 64	At PS level, a student demonstrates proficiency in the material. A ‘Pass’ reflects satisfactory adequately referencing the original source of the work.
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Multiple weeks	Seminars will involve plenary talks and interactive small group tutorials covering professional pharmacy practice topics	Lecture and tutorial (32 hr)
	Generate discussion among interns about professional pharmacy practice issues	Online class (56 hr)
	Preceptor is required to undertake a formal assessment of your competencies	Performance (6 hr)
Ongoing	Learning portfolio exercises which are commonly carried out in workplaces or as part of the professional practice of a pharmacist	Placement (18 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: Students are required to attend all seminars, and participate in the small group activities during these seminars. In the first instance, when you are prevented from attendance on the grounds of serious illness, injury, or other circumstances, you must notify the Coordinator as soon as you become aware of the serious illness, injury, or other circumstances. As the seminars are considered compulsory, you will be required to undertake additional activities to cover the topics missed in the seminars. This will generally involve attendance on-campus at a date to be arranged.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. demonstrate a sound understanding of the legal, professional, and ethical framework of pharmacy, including pharmacy practice standards and guidelines
LO2. apply critical thinking skills to the analysis of issues
LO3. demonstrate strong problem-solving skills and apply professional judgement in a range of areas, including prescription problems, therapeutic problems, and legal and ethical problems, including the ability to recognise and work within personal and legal limitations
LO4. apply evidence-based principles to the practice of pharmacy
LO5. demonstrate the principles of information literacy to effectively research, review, analyse, and present medical information
LO6. promote and contribute to optimal use of medicines, including medication reconciliation
LO7. apply clinical pharmacy knowledge to meet the therapeutic needs of patients
LO8. provide primary health care, (identify symptoms, know when to refer patients for medical evaluation, and recommend appropriate non-prescription products or non-drug therapy)
LO9. take an accurate patient history as part of primary care and prescription review activities
LO10. effectively and appropriately communicate medication and health-related information in written and spoken English to the public and other health professionals
LO11. solve simple and complex pharmaceutical calculations
LO12. describe the principles of life-long learning, and demonstrate ability to manage own your professional development
LO13. apply organisational skills and manage work issues and interpersonal relationships in pharmacy practice
LO14. understand the nature and importance of multi-disciplinary care
LO15. apply cultural understanding to demonstrate professional interactions with patients from culturally diverse backgrounds.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Steps have been taken to reduce discussion block burden and improve timeliness of feedback

Additional information

Pharmacy Board of Australia:

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

PHAR7111: Pharmacy Intern Training A

Semester 1, 2020 [Block mode] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect