COURSE TITLE:
HOSPITAL ADVANCED PHARMACY PRACTICE EXPERIENCE
COURSE NUMBER:
PHA 511; PHA 540
SEMESTER HOURS:
FIVE CREDIT HOURS (40 contact hours per week)
REQUIRED:
PHA 511: YES; PHA 540: NO
PREREQUISITES:
SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF ALL DIDACTIC COURSES WITHIN THE
PHARM.D. CURRICULUM
BULLETIN
DESCRIPTION:
JUSTIFICATION:
COURSE
OBJECTIVES:
The Hospital Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) is an inpatient
hospital rotation in an approved hospital pharmacy which provides experience in the
provision of pharmaceutical care in an acute inpatient setting. Particular emphasis is
placed on the preparation, distribution and control of medications, medication
monitoring, and the ability to communicate with other health care professionals.
This rotation develops competence to practice in a hospital staffing position. It
integrates problem-solving and clinical skills with the basics of inpatient medication
distribution, monitoring and control.
Upon completion of this rotation, the student shall be able to:
Course Objectives
Educational Outcome
1. Prepare and check original and
Critical Thinking,
Medication Therapy
Management;
Dispensing Medications
3.5,6.5,6.7,6.10,7.1,
7.2,7.3,7.4
Patient Assessment;
Medication Therapy
Management
continuing medication orders
accurately and appropriately.
This includes drug product
selection and evaluation for
individual patients, taking into
consideration dosing, disease,
age, weight, contraindications,
allergies, and labs (when
appropriate).
2. Utilize and maintain patient
medication profiles in order to
monitor and evaluate drug
therapy as well as identify drugrelated problems.
3. Professionally communicate
and document recommendations
and interventions to various
healthcare professionals.
4. Demonstrate good aseptic
technique to compound sterile
dosage forms and IV
medications.
5. Comply with policies and
procedures, as well as statutes
and regulations affecting general
pharmacy operations.
6. Describe the role of the
pharmacist on hospital
committees that have pharmacist
representation and its impact or
application to patient care.
Competencies
Educational
Activities
Participation in
pharmacy practice
activities
Assessment
Measures
Preceptor
Evaluation of
Educational
Activities
5.2,5.3,5.7,6.5,6.7,
6.10
Participation in
pharmacy practice
activities
Preceptor
Evaluation of
Educational
Activities
Professionalism,
Citizenship, and
Leadership;
Communication
Dispensing Medications
2.2,4.1,4.2,4.3
Participation in
pharmacy practice
activities
7.10,7.11
Participation in
pharmacy practice
activities
Professionalism,
Citizenship, and
Leadership; Dispensing
Medications; Health
Systems
Health Systems
2.4,7.9,10.5,10.6,
10.7
Participation in
pharmacy practice
activities
Preceptor
Evaluation of
Educational
Activities
Preceptor
Evaluation of
Educational
Activities
Preceptor
Evaluation of
Educational
Activities
10.4,10.7,10.8
Participation in
pharmacy practice
activities
Preceptor
Evaluation of
Educational
Activities
7. Communicate with and
educate patients about
prescription and non-prescription
medications, through completion
of medication histories and
discharge consultations.
INSTRUCTIONAL
METHODS:
ACTIVE LEARNING
METHODS:
2.2,4.1,4.2,4.3,5.3,
5.7
Participation in
pharmacy practice
activities
Preceptor
Evaluation of
Educational
Activities
Demonstrations, role-modeling, discussions, problem solving, oral presentations,
readings.
Demonstrations, role-modeling, discussions, problem solving, oral presentations.
REQUIRED ACTIVITIES:





ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES
AS DIRECTED BY THE
PRECEPTOR:








GRADING:
Professionalism,
Citizenship, and
Leadership;
Communication; Patient
Assessment
Observe processing of inpatient medication orders:
o Check original and refill orders for accuracy and appropriateness
 Assure appropriate dosing, considering disease, age, weight
 Assure no contraindications, allergies, or significant drug
interactions
 Recommend appropriate alternatives (for non-formulary
medications, inappropriate dosing, etc.)
o Prepare and dispense the medication accurately and in a timely manner
Prepare IV medications using aseptic technique (if possible):
o Takes appropriate precautions when working with
chemotherapy/hazardous medications
Assure labeling is correct for each medication regarding dosage, expiration date,
infusion rate (if applicable), etc…
Communicate with health care providers concerning identified drug related
problems with preceptor permission
Document interventions (for required rotation)
Design therapeutic regimens and monitoring plans
Pharmacokinetics monitoring
IV to PO and formulary conversions
Drug utilization review/evaluation (DUR/DUE)
Visitation and awareness of clinical service departments in the hospital
Exams/Quizzes
Project(s)
Inservice(s)/Presentation(s)
Input from preceptors on activities and assignments will constitute 80% of the grade
for the ‘required’ rotation; the other 20% will be based on quantity and quality of
intervention documentation, as determined by the Director or Assistant Director.
Grading for the rotation will be established by the preceptor based on the following:

Attendance, attitude, and professional attire

Professionalism, ethics, and responsibility

Communication and interpersonal skills

Daily activities

Problem solving

Patient information/case presentation(s)

Overall hospital pharmacy skills and abilities (e.g., preparation of
pharmaceuticals for patient use, competency in making drug therapy
recommendations)

Project(s)/Assignments

Intervention documentation

Inservice(s)/Presentation(s)
A failure on any dimension or assignment is grounds for failure of the rotation.
Specific evaluation criteria will be presented to the student within 48 hours from
initiation of the rotation. A final grade is assigned according to the following grading
scale. Grades will not be rounded:
100-90
A
< 90 and ≥ 85 B+
< 85 and ≥ 80 B
< 80 and ≥ 75 C+
< 75 and ≥ 70 C
< 70
F
The final grade will be weighted in the following way:
5% Patient Assessment
10% Medication Therapy Management
30% Medication Preparation and Distribution
20% Communication Skills
10% Drug Information
5% Professionalism, Ethics, Responsibility
5% Health System Management
15% Rotation Specific Projects/Assignments
Unprofessional and/or unethical behavior will not be tolerated, and will be grounds
for immediate failure of the rotation, and/or dismissal from the program. The
determination of whether behavior is unprofessional or unethical is solely at the
discretion of the preceptor.
An unexcused absence, including excessive tardiness, is grounds for failure of the
rotation.
EXAMINATIONS:
Students arriving late for an examination/quiz will receive a zero. This may result in
failure of the rotation.
Students who are unable to take an examination/quiz as scheduled due to
circumstances deemed “excusable” by the instructor, must make arrangements to
make up the examination/quiz as soon as possible. Students must notify the preceptor
of an impending absence prior to the exam. The determination as to whether the
reason for absence is excusable lies solely with the preceptor.
Students who are unable to take an examination/quiz due to circumstances deemed
“non-excusable” by the instructor will receive a grade of zero. This may result in
failure of the rotation.
INSTRUCTOR:
Director, Office of Experiential Education
Assistant Director, Office of Experiential Education
TEXT:
None unless otherwise specified by the individual preceptor.
**The latest policies, including those regarding students with disabilities and misconduct can be found on the
School of Pharmacy and Health Professions’ website at
http://spahp2.creighton.edu/oasa/Polices%20Procedures%20Guidelines.aspx.
Each student is responsible for adhering to all of the latest policies.
**"Faculty reserve the right to make changes in the course that they deem necessary, and will provide a
copy of such changes to the Pharmacy Program Curriculum Committee for review before the next offering
of the course."