Student visitation—An Aid to Hospital Pharmacy Recruitment

Abstract

As part of a long range program to interest students in and attract graduates to hospital pharmacy, the Central Ohio Society of Hospital Pharmacists organized a student visitation program. The program includes a tour of three hospitals where pharmacy activities are explained and demonstrated. Other hospital areas included on the scheduled Visit are the emergency room, a nursing station and occasionally radiology. A question and answer period follows the tour. The evening program features a dinner with a guest speaker and two door prizes; members of the local Society also attend to hear the speaker and to meet the students informally. Through the cooperation of the hospitals which sponsor the dinner and print the formal programs, and the pharmaceutical manufacturer or wholesaler who assumes the expenses of the speaker, the program is accomplished at a cost of less than S75.00 to the Society. There have been no follow-up surveys to determine the precise extent of interest or influence generated by the program; however, it is felt that the students, the College and hospitals have benefited.