While many of the skills required by these standards are expected to develop and/or improve during the course of training, the following criteria are considered essential for successful completion of this program. At the time of application to the Cedarville University School of Pharmacy professional program, candidates must meet the following Technical Standards:
Students must individually be able to observe, evaluate, interpret, and apply information. This necessitates the functional use of visual, auditory, and tactile senses. Such senses are expected to be used in the classroom, the laboratory or in clinical practice training for the following: direct patient encounters (e.g. interviews and physical assessments), when evaluating drug information or orders for medications, or inspecting compounded or pre-manufactured medications.
Students must be able to read and communicate effectively in written and spoken English. Additionally, students must demonstrate appropriate use and recognition of nonverbal communication cues. Finally, the ability to communicate clearly with faculty, staff, other members of the healthcare team, or with patients and their families in a timely manner is expected.
Students must have physical coordination and the functional use of both gross and fine muscular movement with reasonable accommodation in order to participate in pharmacy-related activities including, but not limited to, the use of a computer, compounding medications, use of diagnostic equipment for basic patient assessment, and delivery and administration of drug therapies.
Students must demonstrate a fundamental and progressive ability to use problem solving skills, critical reasoning skills, and technology appropriate for their level of training in the profession of pharmacy. Such skills are expected to be used individually and in collaboration with peers and other healthcare professionals. Students must demonstrate that they can use these skills (e.g. incorporating new information learned in practice with that which was obtained during didactic training). Information must be obtained, measured, analyzed, and integrated in an efficient and timely manner. They must then demonstrate the ability to apply such information towards the provision of optimal patient care.
Student pharmacists must demonstrate appropriate mental and emotional health to allow them to practice and function in a variety of situations requiring good judgment and ethical decision-making. Student pharmacists must be able to demonstrate integrity, compassion, courtesy, and respect for the patients, families and other healthcare professionals with whom they interact. Students must be able to accept constructive criticism with maturity and modify future actions and behavior accordingly.
Students must successfully complete a criminal background check according to School of Pharmacy policies. They must demonstrate both the ability and the willingness to adopt the recognized professional and academic standards of the School and University. A more thorough perspective on professionalism, addressed to the student, is found below.
Submission of an application to the Cedarville University School of Pharmacy will serve as testimony that the prospective student has performed a self-evaluation and does hereby consider him or herself to meet verifiably these technical standards. All students will be held accountable to these technical standards by the Cedarville University School of Pharmacy from application to the program through graduation.
Individuals with questions or concerns about their ability to meet these standards are encouraged to contact the Assistant Dean.
