Pharmacy Internship Placement Process And Common Interview Question In Nigeria

Pharmacy Internship placement

Before induction/oath taking ceremony, pharmacy students are already preparing for an internship placement in the over one hundred accredited centres nationwide. The reason is simple and not far fetched. Few centres with little-allocated space for so many young pharmacists to fill. The problem is compounded by the fact that these young pharmacists are over high paying centres leaving low paying centres empty. Another major problem is centre location, which may not be comfortable for internship students.

Buying Pharmacy Internship Form

Internship centres have different means of passing pieces of information on vacancies across to potential interns. It is rather unfortunate that most centres do not have an online presence to disseminate such pieces of information. The few that do, hardly utilize that avenue to the fullest. They mostly put such pieces of information on their notice boards. These can only spread with words of mouth. Unfortunately, such rumours may not cover the whole of the country before the scheduled date. Well, thanks to bloggers, these pieces of information can be found on certain websites and Facebook groups dedicated to serving such purposes.

Read Also: The Introduction Of Compulsory Internship Examination For All Graduates Pharmacy

Another challenge is getting the form for an internship placement. Some forms are free while other cost some penny. However, considering buying forms for several places can put a hole in a young graduate’s pocket. These peanuts when combined can add up to be much.

Paying for these, forms most time require going to the centre to get it personally. That does not mean that another person cannot do that for the young pharmacist. However, the problem is the centre may be far from where the student lives. Going to the various centres for the form is expensive. Using parcel services sometimes can really reduce the cost and time of doing it. Different persons do provide parcel services for interns throughout the nation.

Submitting Pharmacy Internship Form

After filling the internship centre form, it must be submitted with other vital documents, which include photocopies of:

• Degree qualification (B. Pharm. or Pharm. D.)
• Certificate of provisional registration
• Statement of result
• Oath certificate
• Affidavit that you have not previously done internship
• Reference letters (not all centres ask for it. They may ask for the one from dean of your faculty)

The form with all necessary vital photocopied documents must be submitted before the allotted time with application letter and curriculum vitae. It should be addressed to the appropriate authority as stated by the centre.

Since application form must be submitted in hard copy, the application can be sent by hand or mail. At this point, parcel service can do the job again. Attempt to use postal service may delay the form that may not get to the centre before the dead line of submission.

Another step is to be invited for an interview. Same old problem of passing information out to intending interns. It is advisable that intending interns always check social media and blogs for such information as few centres directly contact intending interns for an interview date.

Pharmacy internship question

Going To Pharmacy Internship Interview

As at today, all interview is conducted at the centre and not online or through calls. The interview falls into two categories; oral and written. The interview method varies from one centre to the other. Worst still, the interview method for a centre varies from time to time maybe due to change of management.

Types Of Interview

The interview method adopted by a centre can be a combination of both methods mentioned earlier or just one. Here are the methods.

Written

Most of the questions are typed and fall between the ranges of ten to twenty questions or more. The first questions are usually direct questions with the rest being intelligent questions. Candidates are expected to come with their writing materials.

Oral

An oral interview can be after written. However, some centres use only oral interview. It is during oral that they usually check dressing and charisma.

Interview Question For Pharmacy Interns

Interview for pharmacy interns can be said to be either

Direct

This is a standard type question with a yes or no answer. It is mostly found at the beginning of the question paper or oral interview. The information needed includes things like if you have ever worked before? How can you handle stress? Do you like the pharmacy? Etc.

Intelligent Questions

The other type of questions is those that seek to test the intelligent of the intending interns’ student. They range from clinical questions to current affairs.

Common Interview Questions For Intending Internship Students In Nigeria

Clinical Questions
What is pharmaceutical care?
What is an antibiotic?
Give the classifications of antibiotics with two examples
Give classification of ant diabetic with two examples
Give classification of antimalarial with two examples
Give classification of anti-hypertensive with two examples

Read Also: The Life And Time Of A Day Of A Pharmacy Student In Nigerian University

Current Affairs
Mention three ministers in Nigeria and their portfolio
Name of the chief of army staff
Full meaning of ASUU, WHO
What is the name of the Medical Director of this establishment?
Who is the governor of this state?
Who is the minister of health?
Who is the commissioner for the health of this state?
Who is the current head of NAFDAC
What geographical zone is this?
What is the slogan of this state?
Sports
Who won the last EPL
Who won the last world cup?
When last Nigeria did win the African nations cup

One of the main difference I have noticed between oral and written from different sources is that while oral concentrates more on current affairs and sports, writing is more clinical. Therefore, when a centre ought for oral, you know what you are expecting and vice.

Fortunately, some centres do not interview intending interns. Just submit your form and wait for an approval letter. However, such centres are usually community pharmacy with few hospitals mostly in the Northern part of the country. A few, however, are from regulatory bodies.

After all said and done, most centres consider catchment areas while giving out space to interns. Therefore, it is advisable to consider the location of your State Of Origin.

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