Syllabus Template for Preceptors: This template document is intended to assist you in making a rotation syllabus
to enhance communication with students. Replace the highlighted text with the information that is specific to your
rotation. Modify or delete other suggested material, delete this header text, and you have a syllabus.
Pharmacy Name
PhPr 803a Community Pharmacy Practice APPE Rotation Syllabus
UA College of Pharmacy
Preceptor(s) Name(s)
Contact Information
Indicate preferred communication method
Pre-Rotation Requirements for Student
Include information student must provide (i.e. intern license) prior to starting rotation.
Student Schedule
 State the hours the student is expected to be on site. If applicable, indicate that the hours
may not be firm, and describe situations in which a student may need to stay after hours in
order to complete tasks.
 State events or meetings inside or outside those hours that a student should attend.
 When possible, provide typical daily schedule indicating when different activities or breaks
may take place. Include time to meet with the student to discuss the student’s
performance and make recommendations for improvement.
 Consider making a calendar of dates/time to discuss specific topics, have journal club
meetings, or have other conferences. Determining in advance what these will be allows
student to be prepared.
Dress Code
 Name tag
 White Coat – required/optional
 Professional dress as defined by rotation site
Required/Recommended Preparation
 List therapeutic topics for which students should review their didactic course materials.
 List other materials (i.e. articles, practice guidelines, Top 200 drugs) that students should
review, indicating which are required vs. recommended.
Syllabus Template for Preceptors: This template document is intended to assist you in making a rotation syllabus
to enhance communication with students. Replace the highlighted text with the information that is specific to your
rotation. Modify or delete other suggested material, delete this header text, and you have a syllabus.
Assignments/Projects
 Include daily tasks such as reviewing/dispensing prescription orders,
troubleshooting/resolving prescription problems, counseling patients, presenting patients
to preceptor, making OTC/herbal product recommendations, etc.
 Include longer term projects such as drug information assignments, quality improvement
tasks, and presentations.
 List due dates for projects and presentations. For bigger projects, include
timelines/intermediary deadlines (i.e. rough draft due date).
Expectations
 The student will maintain courteous, professional conduct at the rotation site.
 The student will be on time every day, and will call immediately regarding unexpected
tardiness or absence.
 The student will discuss needs for professional leave with the preceptor on the first day or
the rotation or as soon as possible.
 The student will refrain from making personal calls or text messaging when engaged in
patient care or other pharmacist intern activities.
 The student will be prepared for topic discussions and case presentations with the
preceptor.
 The student will strive to be an independent learner. As much as possible, the student will
attempt to find answers to questions independently, and then discuss the information
found and potential answers with the preceptor in order to determine together the best
course of action for the situation.
 The student will comply with HIPAA regulations and all confidentiality procedures of the
practice site.
Community Rotation Goals/Objectives
The following are guidelines regarding the activities in which students should gain experience or
at least exposure during the Community Pharmacy Rotation. These may be adjusted to
accommodate the student’s previous experience and goals as well as the preceptor's expertise
and unique characteristics of a practice site.
1. Processing prescriptions
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The student should describe legal and practice site specific requirements for receiving
prescriptions via written, electronic, facsimile, verbal, and any other means used at the
practice site, including transfers of prescriptions from other pharmacies.
The student should evaluate new and refill prescription orders with respect to
completeness, legal requirements, indication, dosing, route of administration, patient
Syllabus Template for Preceptors: This template document is intended to assist you in making a rotation syllabus
to enhance communication with students. Replace the highlighted text with the information that is specific to your
rotation. Modify or delete other suggested material, delete this header text, and you have a syllabus.
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allergies, potential drug-drug and drug-nutrient interactions, and potential drug-disease
interactions.
The student should collect missing prescription information efficiently from appropriate
sources.
The student should accurately input prescription information into the pharmacy's computer
system whether creating a new patient profile or adding to an existing profile.
The student should select appropriate products to dispense according to established laws
and protocols.
The student should generate accurate prescription labeling for dispensing products.
2. Medication Therapy Management
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Prescription problems
- Upon evaluating prescription orders as described above, the student should be able to
identify and resolve prescription problems. This involves evaluation of new and refill
prescriptions in the context of an individual patient's profile.
- The student should be able to interviewing patients/care givers to obtain information
needed to evaluate prescriptions.
- The student should be able to effectively communicate prescription problems and
suggested resolutions to physicians and other health care providers.
- The student should also be able to communicate prescription problems and intended
course of action/resolution to patients.
Counseling/communication skills
- The student should demonstrate communication skills needed for
interviewing/counseling patients. These include speaking clearly, using appropriate
terminology, asking open-ended questions, prioritizing counseling points, listening to
patients, verifying patient understanding, and displaying a caring attitude. This also
includes providing accurate and complete information, appropriate use of written
materials and other patient education media, including those designed for non-English
speaking patients.
- The student should be able to recognize patients with compliance issues and explore
potential solutions.
Drug information
- The student should be able to respond to questions from patients and health care
providers. This includes clarifying the question; consulting appropriate references;
formulating an accurate, complete, and concise response; and communicating that to
the requester.
Documentation
- The student should document interventions, communications with other health care
providers, and significant patient interactions according to established procedures.
- The patient should describe procedures for reporting significant adverse drug events to
the FDA MedWatch program.
Syllabus Template for Preceptors: This template document is intended to assist you in making a rotation syllabus
to enhance communication with students. Replace the highlighted text with the information that is specific to your
rotation. Modify or delete other suggested material, delete this header text, and you have a syllabus.
3. Preparation and Dispensing of Prescription Products
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Prescription problems
- The student should select correct products from inventory; accurately count/measure
quantity to be dispensed; and select appropriate containers for dispensing. This
includes using correct procedures for products requiring reconstitution prior to
dispensing.
Compounding
- The student should use appropriate ingredients, make accurate calculations; make
accurate measurements; and follow established compounding procedures with good
technique.
- The student should follow legal requirements and established procedures for
documentation of compounding products for immediate or future dispensing.
Cytotoxic/hazardous products
- The student should be able to recognize products with safe-handling precautions.
- The student should use appropriate precautions when handling these products for
compounding or other preparation for dispensing.
- The student should be able to describe and comply with appropriate storage and
disposal methods for cytotoxic/hazardous materials.
Dispensing/delivery of prescription products or devices to patients
- The student should gain skill in efficiently filling/dispensing prescriptions.
- The student should comply with established procedures for dispensing/delivering
products to the correct patient or patient representative respecting confidentiality.
- The student should comply with documentation procedures for documenting the
dispensing of prescription and controlled substances.
- The student should appropriately counsel patients regarding the correct use of the
medication/device and its potential adverse effects. Specific counseling skills are
described in section 2, Medication Therapy Management.
- The student should learn how to effectively supervise the work of pharmacy technicians
and supportive personnel assisting in the preparation and delivery of prescription
products.
4. Controlled Substances
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The student should be able to describe and comply with established procedures for
handling controlled substances with respect to procurement, inventory/storage
requirements, theft/diversion precautions, filing prescriptions, and disposal procedures for
expired or partially used products.
Where possible, the student should learn procedures for over-the-counter dispensing of
schedule V controlled substances.
Syllabus Template for Preceptors: This template document is intended to assist you in making a rotation syllabus
to enhance communication with students. Replace the highlighted text with the information that is specific to your
rotation. Modify or delete other suggested material, delete this header text, and you have a syllabus.
5. Over-the-counter products
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The student should be able to obtain information from patient to accurately assess chief
complaint.
The student should learn to determine when over-the-counter (OTC) treatment is
appropriate and what circumstances warrant referral to physician.
The student be able to advise patients regarding selection of OTC products in categories
including, but not limited to, analgesics/antipyretics; cough/cold/allergy; topical antiinfectives and anti-inflammatories; intravaginal antifungals; first-aid/medical supplies;
ophthalmic and otic products; vitamins/nutritional supplements; and
contraceptives/fertility aids.
The student should be able to effectively communicate recommendations and appropriate
use of selected products to patient.
6. Therapy monitoring devices
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The student should be able to explain the importance of monitoring drug therapy to a
patient or health care provider.
The student should demonstrate skill in use of devices including, but not limited to, blood
glucose monitoring, cholesterol screening, and blood pressure monitoring products.
The student should be able to demonstrate the use of these devices and teach patients how
to use these devices.
7. Pharmacy/Personnel Management
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The student should understand the functions of all pharmacy personnel and manage
relationships between them to accomplish efficient workflow with appropriate
prioritization.
The student should define common terminology of third party payment systems,
troubleshoot third party rejections, and identify strategies to resolve them.
The student should describe procedures for inventory management, including procurement
and appropriate storage and disposal of pharmaceuticals.
The student should describe theft/drug diversion prevention strategies.
The student should describe procedures for procurement and maintenance of pharmacy
supplies and equipment.
The student should describe procedures for assuring compliance with federal, state, and
company regulations pertaining to pharmacy practice.
The student should attend meetings relevant to pharmacy practice/management.