Third year pharmacy students at Robert Gordon University (RGU) had a chance to test their skills recently when a group of pre-school children paid them a visit to take part of a simulation exercise.
Working in teams, students had to interact with a number of young children in order to develop essential skills in responding to symptoms.
The six kids along with their parents or carers had been given role-play instructions and students had to find out their fictional symptoms through consultations, and give appropriate advice or medication for it.
Reflecting on her experience, pharmacy student Ashleigh Gilfillan said that it was a great way for students to familiarise themselves with situations they will most possibly will have to face later in the professional environment.
Ashleigh (20), said, ‘I think it is very important for us to gain experience before going into practice as the university provides a safe place to develop essential consultation skills when dealing with real life patients.
‘We’ve never been given a task like this, but I think we have a lot to learn from today’s experience.’
The workshop offered a full debriefing session afterwards where lecturers and parents of the children gave feedback to the students.
Alyson Brown, RGU Lecturer in Pharmacy Practice, organised the session and said the students enjoyed the exercise and had highlighted a number of learning points they had taken away from the session.
She said, ‘As a pharmacist, developing outstanding communication skills in different contexts is essential.
By giving the students the opportunity to improve their skills in this way, and show them what it can be like to interact with young children in a pharmacy environment, we aim to help them prepare for what they will face in practice.
‘Exercises like these are very interesting to see how the students cope with the challenge, what they learn from it, and how the session supports their on-going professional development.’
