Can a pharmacy student give flu shots without an RPh present?

[p-rog]

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Assuming the student completed the APhA immunization delivery certification obviously, do you need an RPh to give flu shots?

 

[owlegrad]

Assuming the student completed the APhA immunization delivery certification obviously, do you need an RPh to give flu shots?

This may vary by state. In FL students cannot give shots - period.

 

[pharm B]

The letter I got from the Texas Board specified that I could do it in the presence of an immunization-certified preceptor only.

 

[ttopping]

This may vary by state. In FL students cannot give shots - period.

Same with NY

 

[coffee4drug]

In California, an intern need to be under the direct supervision of a licensed pharmacist to give a flu shot.

 

[MountainPharmD]

Can a pharmacy student do anything in a pharmacy without a pharmacist present? The answer is no. As stated already it depends on your state if they allow you to give shots with a pharmacist present. In Colorado you could as long as you were being supervised by an immunization certified pharmacists.

 

[Ackj]

Can a pharmacy student do anything in a pharmacy without a pharmacist present? The answer is no.

This. I'm pretty sure that an intern permit says "_______ is hereby certified to practice pharmacy under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist." If they are present, it's going to vary by state whether you can immunize at all or not.

Although, I can see why you'd wonder. Nurses can do it on their own, so why not a P4, right?

 

[Sparda29]

This. I'm pretty sure that an intern permit says "_______ is hereby certified to practice pharmacy under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist." If they are present, it's going to vary by state whether you can immunize at all or not.

Although, I can see why you'd wonder. Nurses can do it on their own, so why not a P4, right?

Or a P1. Touro gives us the immunization certification training 1st year. But it sucks that we can't do anything with it until we graduate.

 

[charfdorn]

This. I'm pretty sure that an intern permit says "_______ is hereby certified to practice pharmacy under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist." If they are present, it's going to vary by state whether you can immunize at all or not.

Although, I can see why you'd wonder. Nurses can do it on their own, so why not a P4, right?

This is the controversy in CO right now... rot only can interns not give shots unsupervised, they can't do it under the supervision of any other health can provider, either, including a rune or even a physician. .

 

[pharm B]

Or a P1. Touro gives us the immunization certification training 1st year. But it sucks that we can't do anything with it until we graduate.

We got it first semester, so I was sticking people at the beginning of this month. I only got one "ow" but I think she was giving everyone a hard time.

 

[p-rog]

This. I'm pretty sure that an intern permit says "_______ is hereby certified to practice pharmacy under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist." If they are present, it's going to vary by state whether you can immunize at all or not.

Although, I can see why you'd wonder. Nurses can do it on their own, so why not a P4, right?

I didn't mean at a pharmacy. I meant outside of a pharmacy, like volunteering at a free flu shot booth at a health fair or something.

I don't see what it has to do with your intern license. They are separate certifications/licenses, right?

 

[pharm B]

We got the certification, but I don't think we were allowed to do anything with it until we were recognized by the state board as being intern-trainees. Yep, in Texas we're not interns until after completing P1 year.

But the letter I got congratulated me on becoming an intern-trainee and specified that I could now immunize (following certification) in the presence of a preceptor as mentioned above.

They're separate licenses, but they work hand in hand here.

 

[ucrx]

I don't see what it has to do with your intern license. They are separate certifications/licenses, right?

Not really. The general public isn't able to become certified to immunize, so what difference does it make if you're a pharmacy student not working under your intern license? Pharmacists are now allowed to immunize, meaning interns must be working under a pharmacist's supervision just like all other pharmacist duties. This can be limited by state law, as others have pointed out.

 

[Allure]

I gave more flu shots than I can remember at the clinic without the supervision of a pharmacist. The school sent me there, but nobody from school was there to watch me and this was after I practiced ONCE on someone in my class. Scary thought

 

[CUpharmD2013]

I gave more flu shots than I can remember at the clinic without the supervision of a pharmacist. The school sent me there, but nobody from school was there to watch me and this was after I practiced ONCE on someone in my class. Scary thought

Was there a pharmacist at the clinic? Supervision of a trained pharmacist basically means that one is in the area in case something goes wrong. It doesn't mean that they are watching over you as you give the shot. This would be very counterproductive.

 

[Allure]

Was there a pharmacist at the clinic? Supervision of a trained pharmacist basically means that one is in the area in case something goes wrong. It doesn't mean that they are watching over you as you give the shot. This would be very counterproductive.

Nope, but there was a nurse there.

 

[CUpharmD2013]

Nope, but there was a nurse there.

Is she a trained immunizer? If so, then I think you would have been ok.

 

[All4MyDaughter]

In my state, interns are not allowed to practice pharmacy except under the supervision (direct or general, depending on year in school) of a licensed pharmacist. So I would think that we cannot immunize if there is no licensed pharmacist present. A nurse, doctor, dentist, chiropractor, plumber, etc cannot precept a pharmacy intern.

 

[charfdorn]

I didn't mean at a pharmacy. I meant outside of a pharmacy, like volunteering at a free flu shot booth at a health fair or something.

I don't see what it has to do with your intern license. They are separate certifications/licenses, right?

Why don't you ask someone at your school? You know, someone familiar with your particular state board's rules and regulations....

 

[owlegrad]

In my state, interns are not allowed to practice pharmacy except under the supervision (direct or general, depending on year in school) of a licensed pharmacist. So I would think that we cannot immunize if there is no licensed pharmacist present. A nurse, doctor, dentist, chiropractor, plumber, etc cannot precept a pharmacy intern.

Is that so? I only ask because of a popular rotation that I know of where a pediatrician is the preceptor. Has nothing to do with immunizing, so maybe you were referring to that in particular?

 

[All4MyDaughter]

Is that so? I only ask because of a popular rotation that I know of where a pediatrician is the preceptor. Has nothing to do with immunizing, so maybe you were referring to that in particular?

In the state of Kentucky, only a pharmacist (who has a preceptor certification) can precept a pharmacy intern. That's not to say that other healthcare professionals can't be involved in rotations or educating the student, but the preceptor of record (the one who signs off on the hours and is responsible for the student) must be a pharmacist. As an intern, we practice pharmacy under the license of a supervising pharmacist. An MD, DO, etc doesn't have a pharmacy license. I've had other HCP involved in my rotations, but there is always a pharmacist who is in charge of it all.

 

[owlegrad]

In the state of Kentucky, only a pharmacist (who has a preceptor certification) can precept a pharmacy intern. That's not to say that other healthcare professionals can't be involved in rotations or educating the student, but the preceptor of record (the one who signs off on the hours and is responsible for the student) must be a pharmacist. As an intern, we practice pharmacy under the license of a supervising pharmacist. An MD, DO, etc doesn't have a pharmacy license. I've had other HCP involved in my rotations, but there is always a pharmacist who is in charge of it all.

Interesting. I won't pretend to know all the details of what I was referring to, but I was volunteering at a camp for sick children over the summer and the director of the camp told me they have rotations there. When I inquired about it she directed me to the camp doctor who I was told was the preceptor. I even spoke to a 4 PD who was on rotation there although the topic of who the technical preceptor was did not come up. They do not have a regular pharmacist at the camp at all, so I don't think their can be a pharmacist who even just signs off on the paperwork.

Of course I could be mistaken and I am not familiar enough with Florida law to say whether or not it is even the same as in Kentucky. I do seem to remember hearing that in Florida in order to be a preceptor you must have been practising for one year. I am not sure about needing a certificate to be a preceptor, I have never heard of it, but of course that does not mean that it does not exist in Florida.

I hope I can get in on that rotation though, the camp is amazing.

 

[p-rog]

Why don't you ask someone at your school? You know, someone familiar with your particular state board's rules and regulations....

Ugh, I really hate dealing with my state board of pharmacy. They're not exactly "helpful" people over there.

 

[charfdorn]

Is that so? I only ask because of a popular rotation that I know of where a pediatrician is the preceptor. Has nothing to do with immunizing, so maybe you were referring to that in particular?

Well, if the student is not asked to practice pharmacy on the rotation, the preceptor can be anybody.

 

[All4MyDaughter]

Well, if the student is not asked to practice pharmacy on the rotation, the preceptor can be anybody.

I think this is probably true. In this state at least, if the student isn't practicing pharmacy and there is no pharmacist preceptor, it would not count toward hours required for licensure.