The Impact of Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences on Future Career Opportunities

Abstract

Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPE) provide students an opportunity to develop and demonstrate skills and competencies desired by future employers. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of performance during APPE rotations on post-graduation hiring practices within the graduates and preceptors of the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy. Alumni who graduated from The University of Arizona College of Pharmacy between the years of 1991 and 2005 were surveyed to determine the impact preceptors had on their employment opportunities after pharmacy school (153 of 734 responded). APPE preceptors for The University of Arizona College of Pharmacy were also surveyed regarding the effect that APPE rotation performance has on the student’s future employment opportunities (84 of 272 responded). Study results show that of the alumni surveyed, 64% (n=96) answered that they asked a clerkship/rotation preceptor to provide references for a job or residency application. Further results show 60% (n=91) of alumni answered that their clerkship/rotation experience did increase their interest in post graduation employment at that specific site. Preceptor response confirmed that the student’s performance had a dramatic impact on his/her hiring potential. Of the preceptors surveyed, 74% (n=62) intentionally tried to hire students based on their clerkship/rotation performance, while 55% (n=46) avoided hiring students based on their clerkship/rotation performance. There is a noteworthy association between student performance and postgraduate employment opportunities. These results emphasize the importance of student performance during APPE rotations.