A Five-Week Journey

Stepping into my five-week community pharmacy practicum, I felt a mix of excitement and curiosity. As a pharmacy technician student, I knew I would be applying the skills I had learned in class, but I did not realize how welcoming and enriching the experience would be. These five weeks have become one of the most rewarding parts of my training.

A warm welcome into the Pharmacy world

From the moment I arrived at the privately owned community pharmacy, the team made me feel like I belonged. Each staff member – Pharmacists, Technicians, Assistants – took the time to introduce themselves, show me the workflow, and encourage me to ask questions. Their support turned the learning curve into something enjoyable and motivating. Working in an independent setting allowed me to see how strong patient relationships are built through consistent and compassionate care. The pharmacy team showed a genuine interest in every individual who walked through the door, and this reaffirmed why I chose this profession.

A location built for collaboration

The pharmacy’s location made the practicum even more meaningful. It is situated between two doctors’ offices, which creates regular opportunities for intraprofessional collaboration. Throughout the practicum, I observed and participated in communication between the pharmacy and nearby physicians. I joined in on verbal orders, therapy discussions, and follow-ups that ensured safe and effective treatment for patients. Seeing the teamwork in action highlighted the importance of clear communication across healthcare roles and helped me understand how pharmacy technicians support that process every day.

Strengthening my product distribution skills

A significant portion of my practicum involved building confidence in product distribution. I processed a wide variety of community pharmacy prescriptions and answered phone calls from patients requesting refills, vaccinations, or general pharmacy inquiries. I also practiced receiving verbal orders while following pharmacy policy, which involved confirming the prescriber’s identity and repeating the order back for accuracy.

When entering prescriptions into Kroll, I implemented foundational classroom knowledge as I carefully verified each detail for accuracy and validity to ensure the “five rights” were met. These included confirming the right patient, right drug, right strength, right route, and right time. Once prescriptions were entered, I moved on to filling them by selecting the correct medication from the shelf and counting the appropriate quantities. I then performed a final technical check within my scope, again confirming the five rights before the registered pharmacy technician completed the final sign-off.

Throughout the practicum, the pharmacists incorporated an ongoing learning exercise called “What is wrong with this prescription?” which helped me sharpen my ability to spot errors and inconsistencies. One memorable example involved identifying an incorrect amoxicillin-to-clavulanate ratio, which reinforced the importance of accurate product selection and dosage calculations. These activities strengthened my understanding and helped connect theoretical knowledge from the classroom to real-life dispensing scenarios.

Applying ethical, legal, and professional responsibilities

Another important part of my practicum involved practicing ethical, legal, and professional responsibilities in a real pharmacy environment. I ensured that all prescriptions were processed in accordance with federal and provincial legislation. This required verifying prescriber licensure, confirming the completeness of prescriptions, and checking the legal requirements for controlled substances before proceeding to data entry.

I also reinforced my understanding of patient confidentiality by keeping conversations private, avoiding discussions of personal health information in public areas, and following proper procedures for handling documents. Printed materials were stored securely, and any confidential paperwork was disposed of using the designated shredding process. These experiences strengthened the jurisprudence and ethics principles I had learned in class and helped me apply them with confidence in a practical setting.

One-on-one learning with the Pharmacists

A highlight of my practicum was the time I spent working directly with the pharmacy staff to strengthen clinical and technical skills. Together, we practiced device demonstrations, including the proper use of inhalers, EpiPens and naloxone kits. I also gained experience receiving and transcribing verbal orders and identifying discrepancies in prescriptions. These sessions helped me develop accuracy, confidence, and a deeper understanding of the responsibilities involved in safe medication distribution.

Exploring veterinary compounding

Another memorable experience was visiting an affiliate compounding pharmacy located next to a veterinary clinic. I observed how medications were prepared for animals, including adjustments to dosage forms and formulations to suit different species. Under supervision, I assisted in compounding veterinary products, which expanded my understanding of how diverse and adaptable pharmacy practice can be. This visit showed me that pharmacy technicians contribute to many areas of healthcare, including specialized fields like veterinary medicine.

Looking back

My five-week community pharmacy practicum was more than a program requirement. It was an opportunity to grow, to apply theory in real situations, and to develop practical skills that I will carry into my future career. I gained experience in product distribution, legal compliance, technical checking, intraprofessional collaboration, and compounding. I also strengthened my communication skills and built confidence in my ability to contribute meaningfully to patient care.

I am grateful to the pharmacists, technicians, and staff who supported me throughout the practicum. Their guidance helped shape my understanding of the profession and confirmed that I am on the right path. I look forward to building on the skills I developed during these five weeks and continuing my journey in pharmacy with enthusiasm and confidence.