The primary mission of the Lipscomb University College of Pharmacy is to provide an educational environment characterized by academic excellence and Christian faith, where student pharmacists are prepared to optimize patient medication outcomes in an ethical and compassionate practice.
The professional program leading to the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree and eligibility for licensure requires a certain level of cognitive, behavioral and technical skill and ability inherent in a professional education. These principles and standards hold for admission, progression and completion of the program.
The primary role of the pharmacist is to provide safe and effective health care to the patients served. Patient safety must be considered in the selection and education of student pharmacists. As well, the College of Pharmacy has a responsibility to maintain as safe an environment as possible for its student pharmacists and the practice settings in which they receive education. Student pharmacists must reasonably contribute to a safe environment through their personal, physical and mental health or social behavior.
All student pharmacists are expected to successfully fulfill the same core educational requirements. Reasonable education-related accommodations will be provided, where possible and within Lipscomb University guidelines. Student pharmacists need to possess the skills and abilities with or without accommodations that will allow successful fulfillment of the requirements necessary to complete the program. Student pharmacists who graduate from the program are eligible to become pharmacists without restriction on their practice; therefore, the curriculum requires student pharmacists to successfully complete all core components of the program and does not allow student pharmacists to take part in a limited set of required activities.
Lipscomb University College of Pharmacy will consider for admission any candidate who demonstrates the ability to perform or learn to perform the skills listed in this document. Candidates are not required to disclose the nature of their disabilities, if any, to the Admissions Committee. Any candidate who has questions about the ability to satisfy these technical standards is strongly encouraged to discuss the issue with the College of Pharmacy's Director of Admissions and Student Affairs prior to the application or interview process in order to determine whether or not reasonable accommodations can be made.
Certain chronic or recurrent illnesses and problems that interfere with patient care, safety or required class attendance may be incompatible with pharmacy training or practice. Other conditions that may lead to a high likelihood of student illness should be carefully considered. Candidates must, at all times, demonstrate the emotional stability to be able to exercise sound judgment and carry out prompt completion of all of the responsibilities attendant to the care of their patients in a sensitive and effective manner. Deficiencies in knowledge base, judgment, integrity, character or professional attitude or demeanor, which may jeopardize patient care, may be grounds for course/rotation failure and possible dismissal. Therefore, reassessment of individual's ability to meet the technical standards will be an ongoing process through the duration of the program.
Lipscomb University College of Pharmacy adheres to technical standards by which it assesses all students, with or without accommodation. A candidate must meet all criteria noted regarding the five following areas: 1) observation; 2) sensory and motor coordination; 3) communication; 4) cognitive ability and 5) behavioral and social attributes. Failure to meet all components in each of the five areas may result in a student's dismissal. Each case will be reviewed on an individual basis by the appropriate College personnel.
The following technical standards describe the essential functions students must possess and demonstrate in order to fulfill the requirements of a general pharmacy education, and thus, are prerequisites for entrance, continuation and graduation.
Observation: The ability to critically observe demonstrations, experiments and patients using visual, auditory and somatic senses
- Observe lectures, demonstrations, experiments and practice-based activities
- Observe physiologic and pharmacological demonstrations, evaluations of microbiological cultures, and microscopic studies of organisms and tissues and in normal pathological states
- Observe a patient accurately at a distance and close at hand
- Independently read information on a computer screen at an appropriate rate to complete duties and assignments as required
- Remain fully alert and attentive at all times in clinical settings
- Visually evaluate patient signs and symptoms for the purposes of monitoring drug therapy
Sensory and Motor Coordination: Use of the body associated with mental activity
- Visually evaluate microscopic slides, pharmaceutical preparations and instrumentation data
- Prepare and administer patient immunizations
- Perform CPR, use a stethoscope and take a pulse
- Demonstrate safe and aseptic handling of sterile preparations
- Prepare drug products (compound drug products, prepare IVs, and make capsules)
- Safely and effectively operate equipment (e.g., microscopes, computer keyboard, glucose monitors, peak flow meters)
Communication: Imparting or interchange of thoughts, opinions or information by speech, writing or signs
- Communicate effectively and proficiently in the English language
- Document activities as required by the rotation site or College of Pharmacy
- Speak, listen and read in order to elicit information
- Effectively communicate with instructors, peers and patients
- Communicate professionally with other health care providers and patients
- Teach patients how to use health care related devices (inhalers, glucometers, etc.)
- Provide patients with clear, concise, accurate and audience-appropriate information
- Organize ideas and develop thoughts into coherent, appropriately written, and referenced essays and research papers
- Interpret non-verbal communication (body language) from peers, patients, instructors and members of a health care team
- Utilize appropriate resources for communication with non-English speakers
Cognitive Ability: Mental processes of perception, memory, judgment and reasoning
- Accurately fill prescriptions
- Solve problems involving measurement, calculations, reasoning, analysis, synthesis and evaluation
- Perform rapid algebraic calculations for a variety of patient care situations
- Gather and evaluate information from multiple sources to develop patient treatment and monitoring plans in a timely manner
- Demonstrate evidence-based decision-making
- Synthesize knowledge and integrate relevant information
Behavioral and Social Attributes -- Characteristics of experience, behavior and interaction with people in didactic and experienced settings
- Demonstrate maturity, emotional stability and capability to adapt to changing environments
- Demonstrate persistence and flexibility in all situations
- Engage in help-seeking behavior when appropriate
- Utilize constructive coping strategies to manage stress
- Seek personal, professional or academic support to address personal limitations
- Display positive self-esteem and confidence when working with others (e.g. patients and other clinicians)
- Perform competently under physical, mental and emotional stress
- Accept appropriate suggestions and criticism and respond, if necessary
- Exhibit a respect for diversity and justice
- Act in a manner that respects all individuals
- Individualize care with considerations for cultural norms for the patient
- Provide care without judgment
- Seek justice in the distribution of health care resources
- Demonstrate ethical behaviors as described in the Code of Ethics for Pharmacists, Oath of a Pharmacist, and Pledge of Professionalism
- Maintain professional competence through lifelong learning
- Act with honesty and integrity in professional relationships
- Respect the dignity, confidentiality and autonomy of each patient
- Serve individual, community and societal needs
The College of Pharmacy is committed to student diversity and individual rights, with a strong commitment to full compliance with state and federal laws and regulations including Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Candidates with disabilities are reviewed individually, with complete and careful consideration of all the skills, attitudes and attributes to determine whether there are any reasonable accommodations or available options that would permit the candidate to satisfy the standards. An accommodation is not reasonable if it poses a direct threat to the health or safety of self and/or others, if making it requires a fundamental altercation to the nature of the program, if it lowers academic standards, or poses an undue administrative or financial burden. Except in rare circumstance, the use by the candidate of a third party (e.g., an intermediary) to perform any of the functions described in the Technical Standards set forth above would constitute an unacceptable substantial modification.
Student pharmacists who desire disability services or accommodations should make their request known through the College of Pharmacy's Office of Student Affairs. An appointment will be scheduled to discuss the needed services. The student pharmacist will be required to present appropriate documentation for the disability and information regarding any past accommodations provided that have been successful. Questions regarding the technical standards, the process for requesting accommodations or eligibility requirements may be directed to the College of Pharmacy's Director of Admissions and Student Affairs at any point prior to admission, during the admission process or after enrollment in the program. The appropriate college administrators will evaluate each request to determine eligibility for services.
