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This version of NSU News has been archived as of February 28, 2019. To search through archived articles, visit nova.edu/search. To access the new version of NSU News, visit news.nova.edu.
This version of SharkBytes has been archived as of February 28, 2019. To search through archived articles, visit nova.edu/search. To access the new version of SharkBytes, visit sharkbytes.nova.edu.
NSU College of Pharmacy Hosts Elementary Students for Pharmacy Field Trip
NSU College of Pharmacy, clinical assistant professor and program organizer Jaime Weiner Riskin, PharmD, BCPS, speaks with student visitors
On January 22, 2016, NSU’s College of Pharmacy hosted a field trip for a fourth grade gifted class in the Pharmacy Practice lab. The objective of the trip was to expose students to the profession of pharmacy in a college setting. The day began with three questions: “What does a pharmacist do?”, “Where can a pharmacist work?” and “What do students learn in pharmacy school?” Answers varied; however, most painted the traditional portrait of the pharmacist: behind a counter, dispensing medications to patients. Students then rotated through three stations, each providing them with exposure to various lesser-known aspects of pharmacy care: blood pressure assessment, compounding and nutrition.
The blood pressure assessment activity began with a brief overview of what blood pressure is, as well as the dangers and causes of high blood pressure. Students were able to participate while the faculty members demonstrated how to take blood pressure using a sphygmomanometer and a stethoscope. The students were able to listen along, as the stethoscopes used in the lab are equipped with a second ear piece for teaching purposes.
During the compounding activity, the students had the chance to make their own lip balm and decorate labels. They played a matching game with various pictures of equipment used when compounding such as a mortar and pestle, compounding machine and beakers. They were also provided pharmaceutical math problems to solve which involved converting units and multiplication.
The nutrition activity was set up as a game in which the students were asked to categorize foods into food groups and then create a “meal” using the “Choose My Plate” template provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The students discussed non-conventional methods to increase activity, such as jumping on bubble wrap until it’s completely popped or playing freeze dance.
The day ended with a discussion about the role of the pharmacist in the patients’ lives as well as the role as part of an interdisciplinary team. Students were finally asked to draw a picture of their interpretation of a pharmacist. Feedback from the students, their teacher and principal (who also attended) was overwhelmingly positive and plans are in the works to make this an official fourth grade field trip, moving forward.
Thank you to all of the faculty members who helped make this event a success, including faculty: program organizer Jaime Weiner Riskin, PharmD, BCPS; Brian Hierholzer, Pharm.D.; Sara Eltaki, Pharm.D., BCPS; Jennifer Steinberg, Pharm.D., BCPS; Andrea Levin, Pharm.D., BCACP; Stacey Maravent, Pharm.D.; David Mastropietro, Ph.D., B.S.Pharm; Richard Finkel, Pharm.D.; and fourth-year students: Ariel Jordan, Jeniffer Pozin, Hannah Thomas, Andrea Murzello and Shoorena Georges.