Student's Path to Develop Professionalism in Pharmacy

Professionalism is defined as a series of individual behavior. It involves extensive specialist knowledge, high skills, as well as an appropriate approach to perform their duties. Professionalism in pharmacy in this essay is defined as a complex of high skills and high level and ethic of work. We define professionalism at work through the prism of professional activities, qualifications and experience that have been built over the years in order to become a specialist in our field. Professionalism consists of high skills related to acquired knowledge, completed courses and trainings proving a systematic improvement of skills.

If someone is starting a carrier as a Student Pharmacist can he/she be a professional? Yes, however, it is difficult to demonstrate extensive experience beginning of a professional life path during the IPPE rotations. But this does not mean that a student cannot follow certain rules that will bear fruit after some time, that the environment will start to perceive him/her as professional. Failure to apply such principles may also lead to the opposite situation, i.e. when we have extensive experience and qualifications, due to our behavior, patients and colleagues would not perceive a student as professional.

It is important to use the acronym ICE (ideas, concerns and expectations) in every consultation. When the patient is involved in their own treatment it has been shown to improve compliance. As practical student pharmacist I intend to use the Calgary-Cambridge model in my consultations. This consultation technique involves the patient making decisions for their own treatment and works hand in hand with ICE. Ensuring the patient understands what is being said and the treatment plan I will ask them to repeat some of the information I have given them. I will always summarise at the end of the consultation.

In the treatment of UTIs there is an expectation that antibiotics will be supplied. Managing this expectation will be difficult but I will manage this by good communication and patient information. It is important to treat everyone as an individual and consider not only the guidelines but how the symptoms are impacting on their life. The main problem I am currently experiencing is the older GPs in the area are prescribing trimethoprim to patients over 65 which due to antibiotic resistance is possibly causing prolonged patient symptoms and possible worsening or more serious complications. My DSMP is a great believer in using a backup prescription so the patients can start antibiotics if there symptoms do not improve on their own. I think this has a place in the treatment of UTIs and will consider using it when the urine analysis is not fully conclusive and the symptoms are mild. Giving a delayed backup prescription will allow the patient to access treatment without further delay if they consider their symptoms warrant it or if they worsen.

I wish you a great time during your IPPE rotations and building a strong connection with future profession. Remember that professionalism is one of the employee characteristics that employers most desire. Starting a career, most people should plan to perform their duties as professionally as possible. If you want to be considered a professional employee, then you should be aware of why we do work and what do you want to achieve in it. Pharmacists always serve to patients in their professional life, which is why you should care about performing our tasks as well as possible during rotations. Then you will be able to have a greater sense of job satisfaction and even professional fulfillment.