INTERVIEW PREP

Why do you want to study pharmacy: link to personal statement

• Pharmacy stands out to me because medications are an important part of healthcare and pharmacists play a key role in ensuring people use medicines safely and correctly.

• I feel as though pharmacy fits my skills and personality; I take delight in helping others and I like science and problem solving.

  
  

why pharmacy instead of another healthcare profession:

• I chose pharmacy because I like the idea of being directly involved in patient care while also using my science background.

• Medications play such a big role in treatment, and pharmacists help make sure patients are taking the right medications safely and effectively.

• I also liked that pharmacy offers a lot of different career options, so I can continue to grow while still helping people.

  
  

  What qualities make a good pharmacist

• I believe that pharmacists must have clear communication when addressing patients and good interpersonal skills prevent misunderstanding.

• An example would be a patient should understand how to take their medications correctly.

• Tailoring the way I speak to patients in order to maximiseunderstanding.Strengthens patient pharmacist relationship through active listening which helps build trust with patients.

• Remaining calm in stressful situations:instills trust in patients making them more likely to adhere to treatment  plan, allows me to make ethical decisions, helps minimise error ensuring patient safety.

  
  

why hertfordshire university

• I chose Hertfordshire because their program is accredited by the general pharmaceutical council meaning the education which i receive from Hertfordshire will meet professional standards.

• I also feel that it would be beneficial for me to use your pharmacy labs which will provide me with hands -on experience providing me with real world experience .

• I will also find the tailored workshops particularly helpful which will help me for interviews for pharmacy after I graduate.

• I would also like to join your pharmacy community to network with other pharmacists 

  
  

 describe a time you worked best in a team

• Task: while working at superdrug we have very busy periods e.g holidays like christmas, my shop is small and come become crowded very quickly

• Action : communicate on headsets to colleagues, helping on tills when queues build, maintain customer service 

• Result : manage busy periods well, reducing waiting time and customers were satisfied. Showed me that teamwork and clear communication are effective for working under pressure

any drugs ive heard about in the news?

• Nutlin-3: research shows that some cancer drugs could be reused to prevent malaria. Malaria parasites change liver cells in a similar way to cancer, so a cancer drug that boosts the protein p53 was able to kill most infected liver cells in mice. This is important because repurposing drugs can reduce costs and slow drug resistance, which is especially relevant for global health and pharmacy.

current news about pharmacy?

• Since the launch of the NHS Pharmacy First service last year, there have been over 600,000 consultations.

• This initiative allows community pharmacists to provide advanced care, including prescribing and supplying prescription-only medicines for seven common conditions such as sinusitis, sore throat, earache, impetigo, shingles, infected insect bites, and urinary tract infections in women.

• As a result, patients can receive faster treatment directly from high-street pharmacies without needing to see a GP, which also helps free up GP appointments for more complex cases.

essential skills of pharmacist?

• Communication and interpersonal ability- work

• Work in team- work

• Attention to detail- practicals

• Remain calm in stressful situations

  
  

Role of pharmacist?

• Have the expertise to provide excellent healthcare

• Make a positive impact on people's lives as they ensure that people get the most of their medicines

• Advice patients to take medicined both correctly and effectively

Types of pharmacy?

• Community Pharmacy. Retail pharmacys, over counter, most accessible

• Hospital Pharmacy. Department in hospital

• Clinical Pharmacy. A clinical pharmacist is a pharmacist who works directly with patients and healthcare teams to ensure medicines are safe, effective, and tailored to the individual.

• Industrial , research and development, new medicines, test drugs

• Regulatory, work with gphc, ensure medicines are safe and legal

Q: What are the 9 GPhC standards for pharmacy professionals and their overall aim?

1. Providing person-centred care

2. Working in partnership with others

3. Communicating effectively

4. Maintaining, developing, and using professional knowledge and skills

5. Using professional judgement

6. Behaving in a professional manner

7. Respecting and maintaining confidentiality and privacy

8. Speaking up when there are concerns or when things go wrong

9. Demonstrating leadership

Overall aim: to protect patients and improve health outcomes through safe, ethical, and effective pharmacy practice.