INTRODUCTORY CLINICAL CLERKSHIP DURING THE FIRST AND 2ND PROFESSIONALYEARS - EMPHASIS IN CLINICAL-PRACTICE AND WRITING

An introductory clinical clerkship course was developed to involve stu dents in patient care activities early in their college experience, in troduce students to clinical communication and organizational skills i n preparation for future clerkships, better relate early didactic curr icular content and principles to the practice of pharmaceutical care, provide students with opportunities to practice clinical and scientifi c writing skills, and assist students in evaluating future professiona l training and practice options. The clerkship is a two or three credi t-hour professional elective offered to first and second professional year pharmacy students. Each student is required to develop a ''Clerks hip Portfolio'' that allows both the student and his/her preceptor to track clerkship performance throughout the rotation. The portfolio inc ludes consultation notes, a case presentation handout, a drug informat ion paper, a disease monograph, and a patient counseling guide. Throug hout the clerkship, students practice patient presentation skills, for mulate answers to drug information inquiries, and develop professional writing skills. Results of student course evaluations indicate that t he clerkship introduces effectively the process of rendering pharmaceu tical care. Instructor assessments indicate that first and second prof essional year students are capable of conducting direct patient care a ctivities under the guidance of a preceptor. All students indicated th at the course helped them relate didactic curricula to the practice of pharmaceutical care. The majority of students who completed the clerk ship suggested that this experience should be a curricular requirement .