Clinical Diploma

[mjsafc]

I am in the middle of my pre-registration year in hospital and the application for the diploma is around the corner? Has anybody got any good advice for questions that could be asked in an interview or any good reference sources for applying for a diploma?

Thanks, mjsafc.

[mjsafc]

113 views and not one response? :-(

[johnep]

Because we don't know. Ask someone who has gone through the process.
johnep

[bleepholder]

not sure if you have had your interview yet..but when i applied it was the usual interview questions, a list of scenarios we had to prioritise in order and explain why and then a clinical question...thats what we had in the application for residency....for the diploma side of things we didn't have an interview for it...it was assumed we would all be on the course and had to submit a cv....

i personally didn't use any reference sources....if anything they might give you a few clinical questions to work through

[Proteuspal]

Hi all,
I wanted to jump on this thread as there is already another one relating to clinical diplomas.
I am also a pre-reg. I want to stay within hospital but really dont want to be tied down to one place for the 2-3 years of a diploma. I notice alot of the Diplomas also have an exit point at 9 months at which point you can take a certificate. My question is: is it possible to do the certificate and then move on to the next position and complete the diploma while working in your next position?
Im just trying to find some freedom with completing the diploma
Thanks all

[bleepholder]

it depends where you move to...different hopsitlas will study different diploma courses....so you may want to check what diploma course they follow at the hopsital you want to go to...often depending on the hospital, if they don't do the diploma you started on, you may still be able to transfer and continue with your original diploma but at a different hospital.....hope this makes sense

eg at Nottingham they study the derby diploma, but in birmingham they may study the keele diploma. So if you got the certificate in nottingham and you wanted to move to bham...you may be able to continue with the derby diploma whilst all your other colleagues do the keele one.....if thats what you mean, you may feel quite isolated in bham as no one else will be doing your diploma

i found during my diploma, its good to bounce ideas off people, and as we were doing all the same work it came in quite handy

[peterfedric]

I have some questions that were asked when i was selected for the interview, So here are the questions:-
1) How did you decide on a career in pharmacy? (If you've changed careers, be prepared to explain why.)
2) What are you looking for in a pharmacy internship? (i.e., Why do you want to come here?)
3) What are your goals for the internship year?
This were some of the question that i remember right now and hope this will help you in your interview.

[bleepholder]

we're talking about clinical diplomas in pharmacy....not psychology???

[caz]

Hi,

I have just had a couple of interviews for the Band 6 diploma position, so hopefully this will help (and I'm not too late!)

They are very keen on clinical knowledge - but don't let that scare you! They asked me to clinically check a drug chart, and I had to answer a question on drugs where a specific brand would need to be given - e.g. diltiazem (although thats all I could think of). They are keen to find out about you as a person, so have a think about what your best qualities are, what you need to improve on. Definitely visit the hospital (as I feel this actually got me the position - they had lots and lots of applicants!) If you cannot visit it before due to work, ring and ask to spend a bit of time in the dept when you have your interview. I also had to do a short talk on how pharmacists can improve patient safety whilst in hospital.

I hope this helps!

Caz

[Itchy Feet]

Hi all,
I wanted to jump on this thread as there is already another one relating to clinical diplomas.
I am also a pre-reg. I want to stay within hospital but really dont want to be tied down to one place for the 2-3 years of a diploma. I notice alot of the Diplomas also have an exit point at 9 months at which point you can take a certificate. My question is: is it possible to do the certificate and then move on to the next position and complete the diploma while working in your next position?
Im just trying to find some freedom with completing the diploma
Thanks all

What you'll find is that if you want to have a portable diploma, you are better off on the distance learning diploma. That way you can take your learning with you wherever you go and can complete at your own pace, the downsides tend to be that most places won't actually give you paid time off to study it (ie study time during your working hours) and most places don't tend to have pharmacists who are very familiar with the requirements. My advice would be to stick out your diploma at one place unless of course the place is intolerable, it doesn't look very good on your CV, other than that if you do move places make sure you have a good excuse for when the question pops up in any interviews later.