School of Pharmacy offering first in-province injection training
On October 29, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador announced that pharmacists are now able to administer flu vaccinations.
To support pharmacists’ expanded scope of practice in the province, the School of Pharmacy has initiated an injection training program for pharmacy students and practicing pharmacists.
“The program is designed so that pharmacy students and pharmacists will feel confident in their knowledge and skills regarding immunization, and intramuscular and subcutaneous injection of medications and vaccines,” said Dr. Carla Dillon, associate dean of undergraduate studies and program lead.
The full-day, hands-on training session took place on November 21 and 22 from 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., to allow for ample opportunity to practice and ask questions in small groups with facilitators. A session for students was held on November 15. Prior to this program, pharmacists either had to leave the province to become certified to perform injections, or have an out-of-province program brought in.
To date, the School of Pharmacy has trained 53 students and pharmacists.
“Being the most accessible health care providers, pharmacists will play a crucial role in meeting the needs of the population in administering the vaccine,” Dr. Dillon added.
“We are encouraging pharmacists to take an active role in preventing the spread of influenza by learning who qualifies as a high priority recipient, asking patients if they have already received their flu shot this year, organizing a flu shot clinic, distributing information with each prescription. We want to encourage and help pharmacists to promote their ability to administer this service in their practice.”
Dr. Carlo Marra, dean, stated that the training is part of the School of Pharmacy’s dedication to offer teaching and learning experiences that will produce practice-ready pharmacists upon graduation.
“In a few years we plan to offer a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm D) program as our entry-to-practice degree, which is in response to a nation-wide recognition that graduating pharmacists must be equipped to offer an expanded scope of practice. Obviously, part of this role will be to administer vaccinations and medications by injection, and as such, the development and offering of this training program is a natural fit with our goals as a school.”
Another goal is to maintain and strengthen relationships with other pharmacy and health care organizations, and the school has received support from the Pharmacists Association of Newfoundland and Labrador (PANL) to expand the certification sessions to other parts of the province, including Labrador.
Mr. Stephen Reid, executive director (PANL), echoed the importance of forming partnerships.
“PANL is working with the School of Pharmacy to ensure patients and those that are the most vulnerable have access to services equally throughout the province,” he said. “All of my counterpoints across the country are very collaborative with their Schools of Pharmacy in relation to rolling out expanded scope of practice, and as a result, it has improved health care delivery and outcomes.”
Before registering, pharmacists must complete the Immunization Competencies Education Program from Advancing Practice – an online certificate accreditation body. Pharmacists must also become trained in CPR and First Aid, and then register with the Newfoundland and Labrador Pharmacy Board (NLPB).
For further information on the School of Pharmacy’s Injection Training, please contact Dr. Carla Dillon.
January 27 update - the program has also been offered in Labrador on January 17, and will be offered in Corner Brook on February 16.