Co-op program frequently asked questions

The Canadian federal government has a regional development program for Northern Ontario for small business and non-profit employers called the FedNor Youth Internship Program.

The Canadian federal government also has a program called Canada Summer Jobs for small businesses, non-profit and public sector employers. This applies for summer positions only (i.e., during our ”Spring” co-op term).

How is the School of Pharmacy preparing 2nd year students to function in my work environment during their first co-op?

Prior to being admitted to our PharmD program, students must have at least two years of university education, and a number often have completed at least one university degree. 

Before students enter work term #1 in 2nd year (starting in January), they would have completed 12 months of our PharmD curriculum.

Our curriculum for first year includes courses such as:

• Anatomy & Physiology
• 
  Professional Practice
• Pharmaceutics and Calculations
• Professional Communication Skills
• Introduction to the Profession of Pharmacy
• Pharmacology/Medicinal Chemistry
• Health Informatics
• Integrated Patient Focused Care (therapeutics),
• Pharmacokinetic Fundamentals
• Medical Microbiology
• Health Systems in Society.

After this full academic year, before their first co-op term, students will:

• Have been introduced to the variety of pharmacy practice sites available and will understand the role pharmacists play within the entire health team.
• Understand the laws and regulations governing pharmacy.
• Have been introduced to pharmaceutical care principles.
• Be able to identify different sources of drug information and use critical appraisal skills to review the data.
• Have some experience in sterile preparation under a laminar flow hood as well as non-sterile compounding techniques.
• Demonstrate professional interviewing techniques, including assessment and triage, focusing primarily on patient self-care and adherence.
• Be able to demonstrate the use of various medical devices.
• Have a working knowledge in medical terminology and prescription abbreviations and be able to use that knowledge to interpret prescriptions.

What kind of roles and responsibilities will 2nd year students be able to take on during their first co-op?

The students are working for you. You will define the roles and responsibilities appropriate for your work place. You can indicate the specific skills you require in your job description. The students should be given activities that are suitable to their skills and abilities, will allow them to grow professionally and will help prepare them to become competent, practicing pharmacists.

We encourage you to challenge them. A work term for a student could include:

• assisting in drug distribution,
• assisting the pharmacist with the MedsCheck program,
• and hosting a smoking cessation clinic day.

In addition, you might consider a patient safety initiative, informatics, or a drug usage evaluation project.

Alternatively, the work term could include government relations, health policy development, pharmacoeconomics evaluation or research. As an employer, feel free to be creative, think outside the box and use the student to tackle those items you always wished you could get to, but just never seemed to have the time for. The possibilities are endless.

For later co-op terms, what are students’ objectives regarding “direct patient care”?

As our students progress through the curriculum, where applicable, we ask that employers consider incorporating responsibilities related to the provision of pharmaceutical care. Many students have already forayed into supervised provision of OTC and prescription patient counselling, drug information, MedsCheck, medication reconciliation, and clinic days.

Giving students the opportunity to incorporate direct patient care skills during co-op will help develop confident and competent practitioners.

Direct patient care should involve developing a professional relationship with patients, actively monitoring and making recommendations for patients’ medication therapy, documenting and following patients’ response to identify and resolve or prevent medication-related problems.

What are the next steps towards employing a co-op student?

Complete the online Job Registration Form and from the disciplines available, select “SCI – Pharmacy”:

• The job is registered with Co-operative Education at the University of Waterloo.
• Students are given an opportunity to review job postings and apply for positions.
• You select the candidates that you wish to interview.
• Co-operative Education at main campus co-ordinates the interview schedules to meet the employers’ needs.
• Interviews take place at the University of Waterloo. You may choose to interview the candidates in person, by phone, or by Skype video.
• Following interviews, you rank students; students rank employers and the co-op system finds an appropriate match.
• Assistance is available for you at each step of the employment process.

To promote an equitable process for applicants, all employers are asked to openly post their positions through the University’s WaterlooWorks system, and hire through the University. Students are then asked to apply through WaterlooWorks, and they are made aware of our regular employer partners.

What information can I include in my job summary?

Consider the following:

• A descriptive and relevant title.
• A short overview of your organization, department, or project team.
• Details about roles and responsibilities (students will have direct patient care objectives in their later work terms).
• The necessary knowledge and skills.
• Any special requirements (i.e. driver's licence, shift work, language, etc.).
• The number of hours per week (minimum of 35) and whether overtime is expected.
• If support is available for travel or accommodation.

What expectations are there for evaluation of the students?

Supervisors will complete a midpoint and final evaluation of the student during the work term, meant for all UW co-op students regardless of program, targeting soft skills. There will also be a more pharmacy specificonline assessment tool, required for accreditation of Canadian pharmacy schools. The supervisor will be asked to review the completed assessment, and provide a rating and feedback to the student.

Additional details on these assessment tools will be provided to employers and supervisors at the start of the work term.

Can I hire the same student for all three work terms?

The School of Pharmacy has adopted a number of criteria for co-op, which include:

• No more than two work terms with one employer.
• A minimum of two different practice settings over the course of each student’s three total work terms.
• In the first or second work term, must complete a minimum of one co-op with a drug distribution component.
• In the second or third work term, must complete a minimum of one co-op with a direct patient care component.

Who do I contact for more information or to proceed?

For general or logistical inquiries, please email: phrexper@uwaterloo.ca.

For specific inquiries, please contact:                           

Anthony Miller, BSc Pharm
Experiential Coordinator/Instructor
School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo
(519) 888-4567, ext. 21335
anthony.miller@uwaterloo.ca