University Of Southern Nevada
COLLEGE OF PHARMACY
Experiential Manuals
Experiential Manuals
The University of Southern Nevada College of Pharmacy has developed a unique way of approaching the experiential training of pharmacy students. The primary goal of the experiential curriculum is to ensure that every student obtains the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to enable him or her to practice competently in a variety of settings. The Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences (IPPE), Core Pharmacy Practice Experiences (CPPE), and Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPE) are designed to help students make the successful transition from the didactic academic setting to the practice environment via practical application of what the student has learned. The integration of classroom knowledge and professional performance will serve as the cornerstone of the students’ education and will instill professionalism and ensure competency in the provision of pharmaceutical care.
- IPPE Manual 2007-2008 (.pdf 395K)
Students participate in twenty (20) IPPE sessions per academic calendar year during each of the first two years of the curriculum. Each IPPE session is eight (8) hours in duration, which equates to 160 contact hours annually. While at the practice site, students will be expected to complete required assignments related to materials recently discussed in class. The assignment is to be typed and submitted at the IPPE seminar or as instructed by the professor. Successful completion of all assignments is required to pass the IPPE. In addition, each student is required to master a core set of annual learning outcomes associated with daily pharmacy practice. As time permits, Preceptors may assign additional tasks, including but not limited to: learning the computer system, entering prescription and patient data, performing distributive functions, and/or counseling
patients. Preceptors are required to direct and/or supervise all activities undertaken by students.
- CPPE Manual 2007 Summer (.pdf 231K)
The CPPE – Community is designed to help students make the successful transition from the classroom to the practice environment via practical application of materials learned. The integration of classroom knowledge and experiential training serves as the cornerstone of the student’s education, instilling professionalism, and ensuring competency in the provision of pharmaceutical care. CPPE-Community reviews the basic technical and distributive functions of pharmaceutical care, while providing students the opportunity to expand their knowledge base, practice their skills, and develop professional attitudes in an actual pharmacy setting.
- APPE Manual 2007-2008 (.pdf 202K)
The APPE are designed to provide students with exposure to a variety of clinical pharmacy practice settings. Students are required to complete five, six-week rotations, Advanced Community Practice, Adult Acute Care (Internal Medicine, Critical Care or Transitional Care) and three clinical specialty Selectives (described later in the Manual). Each APPE has three sets of learning outcomes, General, Professionalism and Rotation-Specific. General Outcomes include such items as written and verbal communication skills, patient assessment, drug information, etc.; where repetition and mastery are essential. The ten Professionalism Outcomes reflect the key professional behaviors the College feels all pharmacists should embody. Rotation-Specific Outcomes identified by Preceptors are site-specific activities that are reflective of normal daily practice (e.g. journal club, case presentation, etc.).
Students are also required to complete a minimum of four elective credit hours. These may be experiential electives, didactic electives or a combination of both. Experiential electives typically include pharmacy practice opportunities that may or may not involve direct patient contact. Didactic electives are provided by College faculty and encompass a variety of topics (page 52).