HANDS ON LEARNING


Experiential Learning goes from strength to strength in community pharmacy in Northern Ireland


Community pharmacy teams are helping shape the next generation of pharmacists by opening their doors to student pharmacists as part of the MPharm Experiential Learning (EL) programme.


Funded by the Department of Health and quality managed by the Northern Ireland Centre for Pharmacy Learning and Development (NICPLD) in partnership with Queen’s University Belfast (QUB), Ulster University (UU) and the Clinical Education Pharmacist Network, the programme provides students with authentic patient-facing experiences in community pharmacy.


Students undertake structured placements in community pharmacies, working alongside trained Pharmacist Practice Supervisors and pharmacy teams to complete Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) that support the development of competencies required for professional practice.


Helen Hirst, Experiential Learning Lead for Community Pharmacy at NICPLD, says the continued success of the programme is built on the commitment and enthusiasm of the community pharmacy sector.


“The vision for Experiential Learning is to provide student pharmacists with authentic practice-based experiences in the community setting, giving them opportunities to interact with patients and apply clinical knowledge to real-life situations. Our community pharmacy contractors, pharmacists and pharmacy teams are dedicated to providing high-quality placement experiences,” she said.


22 pharmacyinfocus.co.uk


“Students consistently tell us how much they value their time in community pharmacy and how it helps build confidence when communicating with patients and contributing to patient care.


“Pharmacist Practice Supervisors are central to the success of the programme. They guide students to learn independently, contribute safely to patient care and begin to think, act and feel like a pharmacist.”


Building confidence for future practice


Experiential Learning has become an integral part of pharmacist education, enabling students to develop professional capabilities that cannot be fully replicated in a university setting alone.


Dr Fiona Hughes, Experiential Learning Lead at Queen’s University Belfast, highlights the impact placements are having on students’ development:


“Through experiential learning, student pharmacists are developing confidence and clinical capability. The enthusiasm of community pharmacy teams and the dedication of practice supervisors have enabled them to make contributions to patient care through EPAs while preparing for future practice.”


Ulster University also recognises the important contribution community pharmacists are making to the education of future practitioners.


Dr Ahmed Abuelhana, Programme Director for the MPharm at Ulster University, recently thanked the growing network of Practice Supervisors across Northern Ireland, recognising the vital role they play in sharing their expertise, providing feedback and helping students develop their professional identity.


The supervisor perspective


For many pharmacists, one of the most rewarding aspects of becoming a Practice Supervisor is watching students grow in confidence during placement.


Adam Bartholomew from Carrickfergus Chemists says seeing that development first- hand is what makes the role so worthwhile.


“One of the most positive aspects of being a Practice Supervisor is seeing the development of a student pharmacist over the course of their placement. There’s a tangible transition from initially observing and learning, to becoming much more confident in communicating with patients, making clinical decisions and contributing as part of the pharmacy team.


“It’s rewarding when a student starts to demonstrate that they are thinking beyond simply completing a task and begins to think like a pharmacist, recognising a clinical problem, considering the options and taking ownership of patient care. Those moments are an important part of developing professional identity.


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