I am currently on my 3rd APPE as a fourth year pharmacy student and thought, why not write an article that could be beneficial for current students in my situation and for students who will have to do APPE rotations in the near future. As you may have all heard, fourth year APPE rotations are like job interviews. Everyone is watching what you do and how you work as a student. A bit freaky when you think about it, however it is very true. Here are 6 tips I came up with to achieve success during your APPE rotations.
1.DRESS FOR SUCCESS
This may seem a bit obvious but you would be surprised how many students forget this. Students during APPE rotations should dress in a business casual manner this includes dress shirts, ties, pants and more. Also, always remember to wear comfortable shoes, if heels are comfortable for you by all means be my guest.
2. TIME MANAGEMENT
Time management is essential no matter what avenue you plan on taking career wise. Some of you during rotations may have a handful of projects to do such as topic discussions, in services, drug monographs, journal clubs and more. It can sometimes get overwhelming but remember to prioritize things you can get done quickly in a short period of time and also prioritize projects that have earlier deadlines. Never procrastinate ( I know it’s hard) because sometimes it can show in the work you submit to your preceptors and they may be disappointed, so be mindful of that. I would also recommend to develop a daily schedule of your rotation and remember to plan for fun as well. Everything in life must be balanced.
3. SPEAK WITH FULL KNOWLEDGE, BUT EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED
During topic discussions or presentations, it is important to know your topic thoroughly and to understand it, while keeping in mind you may be asked very in depth questions. Also make sure to do research on any new drugs coming out in the pipeline relating to your topic and look into new clinical trials or guidelines.
4. PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
ALWAYS practice your presentations, whether it is a patient case presentation or journal club. This will help you feel confident when you do the actual presentation and it will allow you to gauge the time of your presentation. I have a tendency to speak fast, so I ensure I practice so the information I present will be well conveyed to the audience.
5. BUY THE BOOK “PERIPHERAL BRAIN OF A PHARMACIST” FROM THE AMERICAN PHARMACISTS ASSOCIATION
This book has been a life savor during rotations for me. It fits perfectly in my white coat pocket and it contains treatment goals for various disease states, guideline information and more. It will be especially helpful during internal medicine APPE rotations.
6. USE PHARMACISTS LETTER FOR THERAPEUTIC SUMMARIES
If you need a refresher on certain disease states or medications definitely use Pharmacists Letter. Pharmacists Letter has very nice algorithms, charts and tables that will be essential for a quick review. It will also be helpful while studying for NAPLEX.
I hope these tips were helpful, please subscribe to the blog if you would love to see more.