2024 SHAREcase - Session 1 Presentation 4

Collective Notes: z.umn.edu/SC2024-Notes5   

Skills laboratory curriculum is a cornerstone of pharmacy education that mirrors pharmacy practice and helps students develop the necessary skills to become successful pharmacists. Currently, at the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy, the skills lab is a 5-semester sequence of pass/fail courses throughout the first through third years of the didactic curriculum. Course Directors work closely together to ensure appropriate sequencing of these courses and that skills build upon each other appropriately. As such, navigating to a remote modality during the pandemic challenged the teaching teams to foster student growth in skills without being physically present. Additionally, the pandemic caused a shift in work expectations regarding calling in sick and other professional norms, so in response to these changes, the skills lab course directors re-developed their mission and vision to incorporate more inclusive teaching strategies and update expectations to mirror the workplace setting. This presentation will highlight two major changes - the implementation of a 2 no-fail practical structure and the implementation of a policy violation system for professionalism.   

Students routinely appreciated the additional practice sessions and materials provided to them during the pandemic when some skills were completed asynchronously while still providing feedback. As such, the team implemented a 2 no-fail attempts to the practical structure, allowing students to still receive this feedback and potentially test out of the practical skills assessment early. Students were not penalized for not passing on the first two attempts, but instead given full feedback and the opportunity to reflect and improve before their next attempt. If they passed before the 3rd attempt, they were not required to attend subsequent practical class sessions. Students reported a decrease in stress and appreciated this flexible modality to help support their learning.   

Skills lab has expectations surrounding professional attire, conduct, timeliness, and other professional requirements that are in line with what they will experience on their 4th-year rotations and future careers. Previously, two violations of these expectations resulted in course failure and was tied directly to their grade for the activity. However, after redesigning, students now receive a violation documented in a format that matches a real HR violation letter. Students are allowed 3 violations prior to impacting their grade. Overall, students appreciated the additional flexibility and that violations were separated from their grade for activities.