Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours)

Verbal expression and comprehension (understanding)

What do I need to be able to do?

Understand and respond to verbal communication.
This will assist you when participating in tutorial discussions and practicing your professional communication during practical classes.

Verbally communicate clear instructions and explanations in a time responsive way.

On professional experience placement, verbal communication is the primary source of communication between you, patients, supervisors and other health professionals.

Clear communication assists with completing your professional experience placement tasks safely.

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

A range of adjustments can be organised through the Equitable Learning Services (ELS). Contact the ELS to discuss what adjustments may be helpful to you.

Additional time allowances for comprehension and expression may be available to you for on-campus learning activities.

Professional experience placement activities will require time responsive communication. This should be discussed with your placement coordinator prior to commencing your placement.

Social communication

Social Communication refers to the capacity to understand and use appropriate non-verbal communication such as: eye contact, gestures, facial expression, speaking volume, tone of voice, proximity and verbal turn-taking. 

What do I need to be able to do?

Recognise, interpret, use and respond to non-verbal communication appropriately during on-campus and professional experience placement settings to build relationships, assess patients and provide treatment.

During professional experience placement and in the on-campus simulation environment, tasks which require your use of social communication abilities include:

• identifying  and using gestures, verbal turn-taking and proximity when sharing workload and when working in teams in close proximity
• responding to patients with open body language, eye contact and facial expressions to demonstrate understanding and empathy.

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

A range of adjustments can be organised through the Equitable Learning Services (ELS). Contact the ELS to discuss what adjustments may be helpful to you.  

Consideration will be given to the use of non-verbal communication appropriate to your disability or condition for example, if you have a vision or hearing impairment, you may rely more on using either auditory or visual means of social communication.

Reading

What do I need to be able to do?

Read and understand a range of written material in differing forms from a variety of sources such as: on screen material, academic reference material and /or handwritten notes.

During professional experience placement and in the on-campus simulation environment, essential information is communicated in written form.  Tasks which require the use of reading include: 

• reading, understanding and correctly interpreting pharmaceutical literature
• reading and comprehending patient history notes and reports from health professionals 

The ability to read, understand and interpret written information is fundamental to working in a professional experience placement environment in a safe manner.

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

A range of adjustments can be organised through the Equitable Learning Services (ELS). Contact the ELS to discuss what adjustments may be helpful to you.

You may use specialised software to support your literacy for on-campus learning activities. The appropriateness and practicality of using such software during professional experience placements may vary between placements and should be discussed with the placement coordinator prior to commencing your placement.

Writing (Written Language)

N.B. This refers not to the physical act of writing but rather to the written content.

What do I need to be able to do?

Produce coherent written communication appropriate to on-campus and professional experience placement settings. 

During professional experience placement and in the on-campus simulation environment, tasks which require clear, concise, accurate and time-efficient writing include: 

• Record keeping, report writing and other essential writing tasks
• Contributing to patient health care records

The accuracy of written communication is in accordance with professional and legal standards and is fundamental to your professional experience placement.

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

A range of adjustments can be organised through the Equitable Learning Services (ELS). Contact the ELS to discuss what adjustments may be helpful to you.

You may use specialised software to support your literacy for on-campus learning activities. The appropriateness and practicality of using such software during your professional experience placement may vary between placements and should be discussed with the placement coordinator prior to commencing your placement.

Number Skills (Numeracy)

Numeracy is the ability to understand and work with numbers. Basic numeracy skills consist of comprehending fundamental mathematics like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

What do I need to be able to do?

Interpret and correctly apply numerical data, measurements and formulae in a time-efficient manner when completing on-campus activities and professional experience placement tasks.

During professional experience placement and in the on-campus simulation environment, tasks which require the use of number skills include:

• Deriving and calculating requirements for the preparation of patient specific specialised products
• Deriving and applying formula for patient dosing
• Recording accurate measurements and numerical data in patient records

NB: The ramifications of miscalculations are significant.

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

A range of adjustments can be organised through the Equitable Learning Services (ELS). Contact the ELS to discuss what adjustments may be helpful to you.

You may use specialised software to support your literacy for on-campus learning activities. The appropriateness and practicality of using such software during professional experience placements may vary between placements and should be discussed with the placement coordinator prior to commencing your placement.

What do I need to be able to do?

Correctly use and apply knowledge of theory and research during on-campus learning activities and during professional experience placement.

During professional experience placement, tasks which require these cognitive skills include:

• planning and organising so they can be completed accurately, safely and in a timely way
• focus, concentration and engagement with patients, supervisors and other health professionals during your designated period of duty

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

A range of adjustments can be organised through the Equitable Learning Services (ELS). Contact the ELS to discuss what adjustments may be helpful to you.

You may use assistive technology and strategies such as rest breaks to support your memory, planning and organisation for on-campus learning activities. The appropriateness and practicality of using such software during professional experience placements may vary between placements and should be discussed with the placement coordinator prior to commencing your placement.

Vision

Visual acuity refers to the extent to which a person can see or interpret visual information. This may also include colour vision.

What do I need to be able to do?

During professional experience placement, tasks which require vision include:

• identifying medications by appearance and the cross checking of medications
• observing a patient throughout a clinical pharmacy interaction to ensure appropriate assessment and treatment
• processing visual information from medication labels, electronic displays, wall-posted information, online dispensing software, and handwritten and electronic documents

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

Adjustments can be organised through the Equitable Learning Services (ELS). Contact the ELS to discuss what adjustments may be helpful to you.

The use of assistive technology to enhance vision will be considered. It is recommended that you discuss this with the ELS and placement coordinator prior to commencing professional experience placement. 

Glasses and other visual aids can be used while on professional experience placement.

If you have been deemed legally blind or have a medical condition that may impact your vision, it is recommended that you discuss your condition with Equitable Learning Service. 

Any adjustments considered should not compromise your safety or the safety of others.

Hearing

What do I need to be able to do?

During professional experience placement and on-campus simulation environments, tasks which require hearing or alternatives (e.g. accurate lip reading, amplification equipment) include:

• communicating with patients to determine their health needs
• listening to nuances in patients breath and heart sounds during consultations
• differentiating the vocal tone of a patient throughout the duration of a professional experience placement shift to ensure the patient is not in pain and is comfortable.

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

Adjustments can be organised through the Equitable Learning Services (ELS). Contact the ELS to discuss what adjustments may be helpful to you.

The use of augmentation such as lip reading and / or assistive technology e.g. ‘power’ amplified stethoscope to enhance hearing will be considered. It is recommended that you discuss this with the ELS and Placement Coordinator prior to commencing your placement.

During professional experience placement and on-campus simulation environments, activities will involve:  lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, standing, twisting, bending and balancing.

What do I need to be able to do?

In the professional experience placement environment, tasks which will require gross motor skills include:

• manipulating small objects such as weights and pharmaceutical packaging 
• performing a wound dressing
• manoeuvring around pharmacy equipment and in confined spaces while maintaining balance
• independently carrying and manipulating instruments, materials and equipment necessary for clinical care. 

Safe manual handling minimises the risk of injury to yourself and others.

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

Adjustments can be organised through the Equitable Learning Services (ELS). Contact the ELS to discuss what adjustments may be helpful to you.

Adjustments will be considered in relation to your individual circumstances and physical capacities. Any adjustments considered should not compromise safety.

i.e. The ability to undertake precise coordinated movements of the hands.

What do I need to be able to do?

During on-campus laboratory activities tasks will involve: pushing, pressing, turning, pinching, grasping and shaking 

During professional experience placement, tasks which require fine motor abilities include:

• using small measuring equipment such as pipettes
• conducting experimental techniques such as preparing cultures and applying small volume samples on to gels

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

Adjustments can be organised through the Equitable Learning Services (ELS). Contact the ELS to discuss what adjustments may be helpful to you.

Adjustments will be considered in relation to your individual circumstances and physical capacities. Consideration may be given to your professional experience placement type and location – some professional experience placement settings may better be able to accommodate students with specific identified needs.

 Any adjustments considered should not compromise your safety or the safety of others.

This refers to the ability to undertake a task/s over a pre-determined period of time. This could include physical performance such as standing for a period of time, or cognitive (mental) performance such as concentrating for a particular length of time.

What do I need to be able to do?

In the professional experience placement setting, tasks which require physical and mental endurance include:

• maintaining consistent physical performance throughout the designated period of duty (a shift)
• maintaining a high level of concentration while dealing with patients and undertaking repetitive activities
• remaining mentally focussed in order to undertake and accurately complete clinical practice duties throughout a shift

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

Adjustments can be organised through the Equitable Learning Services (ELS). Contact the ELS to discuss what adjustments may be helpful to you.

Adjustments will be considered in relation to your circumstances and physical capacities. You may use strategies such as rest breaks to support your performance for on-campus learning contexts. It is recommended that you discuss the use of these strategies during placement with ELS and Placement Coordinator prior to commencing your placement.

Any adjustments should not compromise safety.