Why these students have joined the RPS

December 2010 was a milestone in the life of pharmacy students. It was the month in which members of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society voted overwhelmingly to allow students to become members. And at the same time those studying pharmacy receive joint membership of the British Pharmaceutical Students’ Association, which was formed in 1942 and is the official student organisation of the Society.

As RPS President Martin Astbury pointed out at the time, by choosing a degree in pharmacy students can look forward to a challenging but very rewarding career.

“You are lucky enough to have the combined support of both the Society and the BPSA, giving you the best possible start in your career. As the next generation of the profession you are key to the growth and development of pharmacy,” he told them. “Use the opportunities that joint membership offers — get involved with your local practice forum and learn from the experiences of those that have gone before you and make sure you visit www.rpharms.com to keep up to date with all that is happening in the profession.”

At the same time part of the BPSA’s role is to promote the interests and welfare of undergraduates and preregistration trainees as they study and practise pharmacy. It aims to educate, represent and entertain its members until they qualify.

BPSA president Louise Hemmings says that it is by taking part in the association’s events and services that students will gain experiences to talk about at interviews, as well as knowledge outside their degree courses. They will also be able to meet students from all across Britain and, at the same time, accrue professional development points.

Joint membership of the Society and BPSA gives students double the benefits. Both organisations are committed to: supporting students from day 1 throughout their careers; recognising their achievements through competitions and awards; providing opportunities to network with other students and pharmacists; leading the profession and ensuring the views of students are listened to; and developing their skills and knowledge so they feel more confident when they qualify as pharmacists.

One pharmacy student who was quick to recognise the benefits of membership is Sadia Naeem, a third year student at the University of Manchester.

“When I first heard of student and associate membership of the RPS, I wasn’t really bothered. ‘What can a student possibly benefit from? We’re not pharmacists, we’re still studying to be pharmacists’ were my exact thoughts. However, some time later a friend asked me if I’d like to attend an RPS event in Manchester, the Manchester local practice forum launch. I agreed because as a third year student, I believed I needed more practical and professional experience and I wasn’t all too sure what an LPF was — the free lunch may also have helped swing my decision to go!

“After the event, which completely changed my views, I felt more enlightened regarding the RPS and decided to join as a student member. I think the fact that existing members of the RPS themselves voted for the change has made us students feel more involved with the profession before we become [pharmacists] ourselves. It certainly has for me. I feel like I belong to the profession already and that, as a student, I can benefit from the many things that the society has to offer now and after I become a pharmacist.”

Another student, Rakhee Mistry, a third year pharmacy student from

King’s College London, says she is still undecided on what path to take during her preregistration year. However she is currently leaning towards community pharmacy and sees her career progressing towards being a pharmacy manager.  

“As a student who will soon be entering the profession, at a time when the NHS is undergoing major changes, leadership, support and guidance are qualities that I would value the most,” she says.

“The RPS is the professional body which provides these qualities. It is reassuring to know that there is a body looking out for my needs as a future pharmacist and aims to help me in my career. Joining the RPS would also allow me to network with other pharmacists and open up other opportunities. To those students who have not yet joined the RPS, I would urge them to research more about it to find out what it stands for and appreciate that the Society strives for us,” she says.

The PDC scheme One of the benefits is the professional development certificate scheme, which was developed several years ago as a form of continuing professional development for undergraduates and preregistration trainees and which is accredited by the Society. The scheme is intended to help members demonstrate their professional commitment to lifelong learning to future employers and looks impressive on a student’s CV. The scheme can bridge the gap between undergraduates, tutors and employers by introducing and developing work skills coveted by employers, while preparing students for the competency-based preregistration year.

 

 

This article is taken from the Professional matters section of The Pharmaceutical Journal, which highlights activities of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and the achievements of members