Jennifer Gateau

Pharmacy practice is evolving rapidly, with many states now allowing pharmacists to prescribe select medications, especially in outpatient care. As this scope continues to grow, it's crucial to engage APPE students, who represent the future of the profession. Their perspectives can highlight the readiness of new pharmacists and potentially influence the direction of pharmacy legislation and practice. Through APPE student engagement, I hope to show how prepared the next generation of pharmacists are to provide and bridge the gap in patient care.

The motivation behind my project proposal stems from my experience with the limitations placed on highly trained pharmacists due to state laws. One specific example was my preceptor from my ambulatory care rotation needing the prescriber to prescribe a medication for hypertension, even though she had the knowledge and training to do it herself. This experience led me to consider how demonstrating pharmacy students’ readiness to prescribe could influence legislative change, especially in more restrictive states.

What excites me most about this project is the opportunity to highlight how capable and workforce-ready pharmacy students truly are. Despite concerns stemming from recent NAPLEX pass rates, I believe APPE students can shift the perception and demonstrate their preparedness. I'm thankful for the grant, which allows me to broaden outreach and encourage participation, especially with the added incentive of gift card giveaways.