Unit Outline

Pharmacy Skills in Practice 3A focuses on the issues and concepts associated with professional pharmacy activities and clinical pharmacy practice. You will be introduced to a range of topics, including quality use of medicines, pharmaceutical care, patient counselling and communication skills, dispensing skills, medication adherence, prescription and non-prescription medication provision, legal aspects of pharmacy practice and other professional issues. The practical component covers prescription dispensing, identification and resolution of drug-related problems, and patient counselling. The overall objective of the unit is for students to develop a good practical knowledge and understanding of pharmacy practice. Particular emphasis is placed on the integration of knowledge gained from all units within the pharmacy course and application of that knowledge to solve practice-related problems.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1.	Identify and resolve drug related problems in the context of pharmacy practice.
2.	Dispense and supply medications accurately and within the legal, ethical and professional requirements.
3.	Diagnose and provide suitable OTC treatment option(s) for the management of minor ailments in community pharmacy.
4.	Counsel patients orally on medications, in a clear, safe and comprehensive manner, demonstrating patient centred care.

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Pre-requisite	{CBA221 and (CSA207 OR CJA214) and CSA230 and CSA255 and CSA204 and CSA225 and CSA288 and CSA231} OR {CSA118 and CSA119 and CSA209}
Co-requisite	CSA322

Alterations as a result of student feedback

Recent changes to CSA355 as a result of student feedback have included changes in assessment methods in the practical component of the unit and a further reduction in some forms of assessment.

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Mid-semester Quiz	Week 8	30 %	LO1, LO2
Assessment Task 2:	Legal Assessment of a prescription	Week 9	10 %	LO1
Assessment Task 3:	Oral: Over the counter counselling	Week 10	30 %	LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 4:	Practical test	Week 12	30 %	LO1, LO2

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Mid-semester Quiz

Task Description:

You will sit a 50 minute multiple choice and short answer quiz conducted in class including law and ethics questions and pharmaceutical calculations. Specified resources are permitted for this test.

Task Length:

50 minutes

Due Date:

Week 8

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Identify and resolve drug related problems in the context of pharmacy practice.	LO1
2	Dispense and supply medications accurately and within the legal, ethical and professional requirements.	LO2

Assessment Task 2: Legal Assessment of a prescription

Task Description:

You will undertake a legal assessment of a prescription in class with a clinical tutor.

Task Length:

5 minutes

Due Date:

Week 9

Weight:

10 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Dispense and supply medications accurately and within the legal, ethical and professional bounds	LO1

Assessment Task 3: Oral: Over the counter counselling

Task Description:

You will undertake 3 x 5 minute oral OTC counselling cases in class. Each counselling will be worth 10%

Due dates - Weeks 10, 11 and 12

Task Length:

3 x 5 minutes

Due Date:

Week 10

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Diagnose and provide suitable over the counter treatment option(s) for the management of minor ailments in community pharmacy.	LO3
2	Counsel patients orally on medications, in a clear, safe and comprehensive manner, demonstrating patient centred care.	LO4

Assessment Task 4: Practical test

Task Description:

You will sit a 50-minute practical test, based on the dispensing of simulated prescriptions as well as short answer questions. Specified resources are permitted for this test.

Task Length:

50 minutes

Due Date:

Week 12

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Identify and resolve drug related problems in the context of pharmacy practice.	LO1
2	Dispense and supply medications accurately and within the legal, ethical and professional requirements.	LO2

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Your grade will be determined in the following way: to pass CSA355 you will need to have completed all of the assessment tasks and attended all workshops, except where a valid reason for absence has been approved by the unit coordinator. On successful completion of CSA355 students will receive an IC (Interim Completion) result. If you do not pass all assessments in CSA355 you will be awarded an AO (Assessment Ongoing) and your final mark will be determined on the successful completion of CSA357. The final mark for CSA355 is a composite of the marks for CSA355 and CSA357; based on a 1/3 weighting for CSA355 and 2/3 weighting for CSA357. CSA355 assessment comprises: legal assessment of a prescription (10%), oral OTC counselling (3 x 10% = 30%), mid-semester quiz (30%) and practical test (30%).

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.

Review of results and appeals

You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.