Saint Luke’s Observer Program: Pharmacy
The best way to learn about an area of interest in health care is to experience it firsthand. Saint Luke's Pharmacy Observer Program introduces people to the medication use process and patient care activities that occur in a health system pharmacy.
The pharmacy observation program:
- Enables you to learn about careers in health care to gain valuable, in-person experience
- Provides observational experiences in clinic and non-clinic environments
- Is limited to a one- or two-day experience, or 8 hours maximum
This program is not:
- An internship
- An employment opportunity
- For physicians, physician assistants, or nurse practitioners
Potential activities you may observe include:
- Multidisciplinary team rounds
- Medication verification
- Medication preparation/dispensing/distribution
- Communication with nurses and physicians to optimize medication use
- Response to drug information requests (verbally and/or through documentation in chart)
- Targeted drug therapy monitoring including vancomycin, aminoglycosides, and others
- Antibiotic surveillance including review of microbial culture and sensitivity data
- Medication profile review and identification of drug-related problems
- Medication reconciliation
- Adverse drug reaction and medication error reporting
- Targeted medication teachings as necessary (i.e. antiarrhythmics or anticoagulants)
- Documentation of clinical activities in the medical record
Requirements
- You must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or DACA recipient aged 16 or older to participate in the program
- Minors—those less than 18 years of age—must have the permission of their parent(s) or guardian(s) to participate
- Participants must sign a privacy and security policy
- Saint Luke’s requires all clinical observer applicants to have the flu vaccine for the health and safety of our patients, staff, students, and visitors
- All Saint Luke's facilities and campuses are tobacco-free, inside and out