Preceptor's Corner

We are always looking for qualified preceptors willing to help train the next generation of pharmacists and encourage all pharmacists to consider participation in this important function of "giving back" to the profession.

If you:

  1. Have at least two (2) years of full-time pharmacy practice experience or experience in current position OR At least 1 (1) year of experience or advanced training such as residency or fellowship, AND
  2. Are licensed, and in good standing, with the State Board of Pharmacy where your pharmacy practice site is located, AND
  3. Have a desire to mentor and teach Doctor of Pharmacy students

And completion of the Howard University College of Pharmacy Preceptor application form (which is available here)

  1. A copy of your most up-to-date CV/resume
  2. A copy of your pharmacist license
  3. A pharmacy practice experience description/syllabus

 

PRECEPTOR INFORMATION & GUIDANCE                                     

Guidelines for Preceptors 

The preceptor is an essential and vital part of the educational experience. In assuming the responsibility for training and educating students, the preceptor displays to the public, his or her peers, and other health professionals, a commitment to the advancement of the profession through the provision of quality pharmaceutical care. In assuming this role of teacher/mentor, the preceptor must foster the development of a strong sense of mutual admiration and professional courtesy. While working on a one-to-one basis, the preceptor assumes much more than a teacher or pharmacist role model. The preceptor must identify the student’s strengths and weaknesses, while also providing an atmosphere whereby the student may grow intellectually as well as professionally. The preceptor must recognize the student’s greatest deficiency is inexperience, while the preceptor’s greatest asset is knowledge through experience. The student may be able to share with the preceptor newly acquired clinical and scientific knowledge and, in turn, the preceptor will guide the student through the application of that knowledge to daily professional practice. The preceptor may therefore not only teach but learn as well. 

Preceptors should, in general, fulfill these criteria and responsibilities: 

1.      Possess current pharmacist license in good standing (specifically for preceptors in a clinical pharmacy practice setting) 

2.      Maintain professional competency, observe the law, uphold the dignity and honor of the profession, and accept its moral and ethical principles. 

3.      Demonstrate excellent character and an attitude appropriate to the presence of students. 

4.      Display a desire to educate patients, caregivers, pharmacy learners, and other healthcare professionals. 

5.      Provide a high-quality practice that is well received by other health care professionals and/or patients. 

6.      Employ clinical and scientific literature to support an evidence-based practice 

7.      Communicate effectively with students including delivery of constructive criticism in a professional manner as well as praise for outstanding achievements. 

8.      Contribute to the mission of the Howard University College of Pharmacy. 

9.      Not enter into any personal or professional relationship with a student that would jeopardize or interfere with objectivity or effective teaching. 

10.   Not reimburse the student for services rendered, either directly or indirectly. 

11.   During the first couple of days of the pharmacy practice experience the preceptor should: 

a. Orient the student to the site, practice, and staff and review, in detail, expectations for the student with respect to appearance, attitude, site-specific processes of medication processing, and patient care responsibilities. (The primary preceptor may delegate some of these responsibilities to other qualified persons.) 

b.   Review the learning objectives and activities for the pharmacy practice experience. 

c.  Review the student's work, as applicable, and pharmacy practice syllabus, in order to adapt the experience to the student’s needs, interests, and experiences to date where possible. 

d. Review a planned schedule of the pharmacy practice experience hours with the student and discuss expectations and due dates for special projects, reports, presentations, meetings, etc. 

e. Identify an alternate supervisor for instances when the primary preceptor is unavailable. 

12.   Throughout the pharmacy practice experience the preceptor will: 

    1. Allow adequate time for communication and be willing to discuss all aspects of professional practice in accordance with ethical, moral, and legal standards. 
    2. Provide support systems to allow an atmosphere of maximal/optimal learning for the student. 
    3. Provide ongoing feedback to identify activities and skills that are performed successfully and those that need improvement. 
    4. Supervise the student’s recommendations. 
    5. Ensure that the minimum requirement of experiential hours for the pharmacy practice experience is completed as guided by the Howard University College of Pharmacy experiential department attendance policy 

13. Complete formal evaluations of the student’s performance guided by the NTDP APPE evaluations in Core ELMs, as applicable, at the midpoint and end of the pharmacy practice experience. 

14. Meet with the student to discuss the midpoint and final evaluations of the student and the student’s self-evaluations, and make recommendations for the student's continuing development of competencies and professionalism 

15.   Submit the completed midpoint and final evaluations in CORE within the requested timeline parameters. All assessments should be documented by the last day of the experience. 

16.   If a difficult situation with a student arises, the preceptor will: 

  1. Maintain detailed documentation. 
  2. Contact the Howard University College of Pharmacy Experiential Department for consultation if needed.