Skip to main content
Unit of study_

PHAR5924: Experiential Placement 2

Intensive July, 2023 [Block mode] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

The clinical experience program in the Master of Pharmacy reflects the contemporary healthcare environment. The placements are carried out at hospital and community pharmacies, and include opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry, professional organisations and in rural health settings. By the completion of their course, at least one of those placements will be in a hospital setting. Students can expect that at least one of their placements may be outside of the Sydney metropolitan area, potentially in a rural location. Students must undertake their placements in geographical areas that will provide them with a diverse range of professional experience and can expect to travel up to 1.5 – 2 hours to their placement site from their residential address (registered in Sydney Student). Experiential Placement 2 is the last of three units of study where students are required to complete a supervised Clinical Placement. This Unit of Study provides students with opportunities to observe and participate in the real­ life applications of the profession under supervision. PHAR5718 allows students to apply the theory and skills that they have learnt through their on ­campus course studies across a variety of professional settings, including but not limited to, community and hospital pharmacy. The overall objectives of the Clinical Placements Program are to familiarise students with their future professional roles and working environments, and to guide them in developing professional skills and behaviours. Students enrolled in PHAR5924 are required to maintain a Portfolio. Students will work on the components of this portfolio in PHAR5924 and across the Clinical Placements Program. Students are expected to attend pre­-placement lectures and required to participate in the post-placement Debrief Session. Students are assessed based on their Portfolio submission and their Preceptor Assessment which involves evaluation of their performance, professionalism and behaviour during placement.

Unit details and rules

Unit code PHAR5924
Academic unit Pharmacy
Credit points 3
Prohibitions
? 
PHAR5724
Prerequisites
? 
PHAR5718 and (PHAR5719 or PHAR5919)
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Asad Patanwala, asad.patanwala@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Participation hurdle task Debrief Session
Post-placement debrief (attendance and participation)
0% Multiple weeks 1 hour
Outcomes assessed: LO4 LO7 LO6
Placement Placement attendance
Completion of placement hours
0% Multiple weeks 2 blocks -10 x 7.5hrs per block
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO8 LO7 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Placement Preceptor Assessment
Preceptor assessment of student
70% Multiple weeks Completed by preceptor
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO8 LO7 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Portfolio
Submit all components of portfolio
30% Multiple weeks Complete portfolio
Outcomes assessed: LO3 LO2 LO6
hurdle task = hurdle task ?

Assessment summary

All three criteria below must be met to pass this UoS

  1. Completion of all placement hours 
  2. Score of at least 50% on the portfolio
  3. Score of at least 50% on the preceptor evaluation

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

At HD level, a student demonstrates an aptitude for the subject and a well-developed understanding of the unit material. A ‘High Distinction’ reflects exceptional achievement and is awarded to students who demonstrate the ability to apply their subject knowledge and understanding to produce original solutions for novel or highly complex problems and/or comprehensive critical discussions of theoretical concepts.

Distinction

75 - 84

At DI level, a student demonstrates an aptitude for the subject and a well-developed understanding of the units material. A ‘Distinction’ reflects excellent achievement and is awarded to a student who demonstrates an ability to apply their subject knowledge and understanding of the subject to produce good solutions for challenging problems and/or a reasonably well-developed critical analysis of theoretical concepts.

Credit

65 - 74

At CR level, a student demonstrates a good command and knowledge of the unit material. A ‘Credit’ reflects solid achievement and is awarded to a student who has a broad general understanding of the units material and can solve routine problems and/ or identify and superficially discuss theoretical concepts.

Pass

50 - 64

At PS level, a student demonstrates proficiency in the material. A ‘Pass’ reflects satisfactory adequately referencing the original source of the work.

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Late penalty of 2.5 points per day will apply to each item submitted beyond the deadline in Canvas. Items include WHS forms, confidentiality forms, and individual portfolio components

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Multiple weeks Briefing Lecture before placement Lecture (1 hr)  
Debriefing session after placement Tutorial (1 hr) LO4 LO6 LO7
Placement site experience Placement (150 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8

Attendance and class requirements

  • Attendance: Completion of practicum hours and debrief participation is compulsory. Students must attend the allocated placement sites and times as indicated in SONIA.
  • Materials: Professional attire is required for attendance at all placement sites. Students will have already obtained a Pharmacy Placement Shirt for previous placements.  This shirt is expected to be worn at all times while on placement. Women may wear business skirts or long pants (black or navy blue) with their Pharmacy Placement Shirt. Men may wear long business pants (black or navy blue) with their Pharmacy Placement Shirt. Casual clothes, jeans, sneakers or running shoes are not acceptable. Furthermore, students in inappropriate attire may be asked to leave the premises. Students are advised to seek clarification from preceptors about particular requirements at specific placement sites. Students must wear their university name badge at all times during their placement.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 3 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 60-75 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. communicate effectively with patients, families, carers and other health care professionals
  • LO2. apply a systematic reasoning process to address a range of health and drug-related problems that present in pharmacy
  • LO3. provide patient education in relation to medicines and therapeutic and monitoring devices
  • LO4. demonstrate appropriate attitudes and values in personal and professional dealings and business practice
  • LO5. work effectively and cooperatively as a member of an interprofessional clinical team to provide high quality patient care
  • LO6. engage in continuous reflection and take personal responsibility for personal and professional development
  • LO7. learn independently and take responsibility for personal learning
  • LO8. demonstrate understanding of laws that govern the supply of medicines and the practice of pharmacy

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered

Please review the Pre-placement Checklist (in Canvas) and complete required actions at least a week prior to commencement of your placement.

Site visit guidelines

Contact your preceptor by phone or in-person to introduce yourself and confirm your placement at least one week prior to commencement of placement.

Work, health and safety

Complete WHS and confidentiality forms on the first day of placement and submit in SONIA

  • Clinical placement checks and clearances (including verification of immunisations and Criminal Record Check)
  • Full vaccination against COVID-19
  • Working with Children Check
  • Pharmacy Placement WHS Checklist (available via Canvas)

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.