Advanced practice internship: experiential learning in a drug use and disease state management program.

OBJECTIVE: Establish a 3-year hospital internship within a drug use and disease state management program that would provide doctor of pharmacy students with experiential learning while still completing their classroom studies.
DESIGN: As paid interns, students engaged in group and individual activities that assessed clinical practice guidelines. Patient monitoring and clinical intervention techniques were learned through prospective evaluation of drug therapy. Students designed evidence-based treatment guidelines and participated in all phases of development, including multidisciplinary approval, implementation, and evaluation stages. ASSESSMENT: Student competency was continually monitored through direct observation by a preceptor and written examinations. Patient case studies, group discussions, and poster presentations allowed assessment of student growth in knowledge and communication skills.
CONCLUSION: The comprehensive structure of this internship provides a broad perspective for understanding the role of the hospital pharmacist in providing pharmaceutical care. Close supervision maximizes student learning potential and fosters a mentoring relationship for both personal and professional growth.