*Due to the COVID 19 pandemic, all visit inquiries are on hold until further notice. Thank you for your patience and understanding*

Overview

The Department of Pharmacy offers one-time observational visits for high school students and undergraduate students, at least 16 years of age, to The Johns Hopkins Hospital.  This opportunity is offered to students who desire to gain exposure to and learn about the profession of pharmacy and the education and skills necessary to pursue pharmacy as a career.  The visit includes opportunities to meet with pharmacy students, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy residents, and/or practicing pharmacists.  Students may also observe the operations in a pharmacy, including the advanced technology used to prepare and dispense medications and ensure safe medication use.  Students do not have an opportunity for direct, hands-on patient care; the purpose of the visit is to observe and ask questions.

The specific length of the visit will be determined based on the student’s objectives and our availability of resources; most visits will be approximately 4 hours in length.

Goals

• Learn about the education and skills to become a pharmacist.
• Learn about the roles of a pharmacist.
• Interact with pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and/or pharmacy students to answer questions.
• Observe the pharmacy workplace.

At all times, student observers shall be under the direct supervision of an employee of the pharmacy department.  Furthermore, student observers are limited to observational experiences only and are not permitted to provide direct patient care; as such, the experience will not count as any type of scholastic requirement.  Student observers are not paid for their time.

Requirements

Applicant

1. Sixteen (16) years of age or older. Observers under the age of 18 years must provide a signed parental consent form.
2. An active high school or college student, or recent graduate.
3. Able to provide proof of having received the annual influenza (flu) vaccination. Only applicable during the flu season, October-May.

Note: Since the experiences are observational in nature, this experience does not fulfill criteria for a clinical experience for an academic program.

Application

1. Application form (leave the sponsoring clinical information blank)
2. Parental consent form, if less than 18 years of age

All interested applicants should submit completed form(s) to Diane McIntyre: ([email protected]) 

Preparing  For Your Visit

Please remember, you are a guest and it is expected that you will behave in a courteous and respectful manner. If at any time during your visit you are not acting in a courteous manner, you may be asked to leave.

During your visit, you will not need a purse, cell phone, pager, or backpack.  It is best to leave important personal items at home.  It is not advisable to bring large amounts of cash or other personal belongings.  Cell phone use is not permitted during your visit.  The Johns Hopkins Hospital is not liable for any theft of or damage to personal property during your visit.  

Expectations

• Dress professionally.  See dress code below.
• Be respectful, professional and courteous.
• Always respect and maintain patient confidentiality, both during your visit and after you leave the hospital.
• Patients have the right to decline having a visitor in their room.
• Practice proper hand hygiene.
• Use of your cell phone is strictly prohibited.
• Be prepared with questions.  See samples below.

Dress Code for Job Shadowing Students:

A professional appearance is essential for all visiting students. This means your clothing should be neat, tidy, and clean. It is important to wear comfortable, non-slip shoes as you may be running to a medical code event or be on your feet for extended periods of time.  Closed-toe shoes with socks or nylons are required in all hospital areas.

The following are prohibited:

•  Jeans or sweatpant
• Tank tops or bare midriffs
• Baggy clothing or clothing that drags on the floor
• Exposed undergarments
• Scrubs or lab coats
• Sandals or flip flops
• Dangling jewelry
• Ball caps or hats
• Body piercings and tattoos should be covered
• Long hair should be secured by a pony- tail or barrette

Illness Policy

Our priority on the medical center campus is to protect the health and safety of our patients and employees. If you are sick on the day of your scheduled visit, please stay home. 

Please stay home if you have any of the following symptoms or communicable diseases:

• Cold/Cough
• Fever (must be fever -free for 24 hours)
• Chicken Pox
• Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
• Influenza (Respiratory Flu)
• Stomach Flu/Gastrointestinal Flu
• Tuberculosis
• MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)

*Students who are visibly ill will be sent home*

If you are sick and unable to complete your planned visit, we will work with you to reschedule an alternative date. 

Safety

To protect our patients, their family, and our employees from illness, please observe the following:

• Cover your mouth or nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing and dispose of tissue in the trash.
• Wash your hands immediately with warm water and soap or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• If a tissue is unavailable, use the upper sleeve (near your elbow) and not your hands.

Our staff have been trained for many different emergency situations. It is very important that you remain with the pharmacy member you are assigned to at all times during your visit.  In the case of an emergency, please follow their instructions.

Patient Confidentiality

During your visit, you will encounter information about the patient in a number of different ways including spoken, written or electronic patient information.  Patients have a legal right to their confidentiality and we have a legal and ethical responsibility to respect their privacy.  Do not disclose any patient information you have encountered during your visit.  You may share general information about the pharmacy department, our employees you met and what you learned about our profession.    

Tobacco Free Campus

The Johns Hopkins Hospital is a tobacco free campus and all forms of tobacco including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and smokeless tobacco is prohibited.  This policy applies to all students, employees, patients, customers, visitors, volunteers, vendors, and contracted personnel.  

Sample Job Shadow Questions

• Here are some sample questions you may choose to ask the person you are shadowing:
• What led you to this career?
• What training and/or education are required for your job?
• Is any type of prior work experience recommended?
• What qualities are important for a person to possess if they are going to enter your field?
• What do you do on a typical day?
• What are your responsibilities while you are at work?
• What do you like most about your job?
• What are the biggest challenges you face in your job?
• What other jobs can you get with this same background?
• Has your profession changed since you started working? If so, in what ways?
• Do you expect to be doing this kind of work in five years?
• What is the future outlook for careers in this area?
• What would you suggest I do if I want to pursue this career?