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Purdue University's Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience (IPPE) Program requires second professional year pharmacy students to work or volunteer in a pharmacy practice setting. After introducing the program criteria, students are encouraged to create their own practice experiences. One Purdue student completed her IPPE requirement in a small community pharmacy in Swadlincote, England. Upon conclusion of the experience, the student discovered a number of interesting differences between pharmacy practice in England and the United States, including manufacturer packaging, pharmaceutical law, dispensing procedures, insurance and government programs, and pharmacist's educational requirements. Experiences, such as the ones described here, help students learn about the practice of pharmacy in other countries, as well as provide valuable insights and an opportunity to improve practice in the United States.

This study was undertaken to assess and compare levels of career commitment to pharmacy practice experience, professional pharmacy degree obtained, most important factor in deciding to become a pharmacist, and career plans of pharmacy students. Specific objectives of the study included assessment of: 1. pharmacy practice experience, professional pharmacy degree obtained (B.S. or Pharm.D.), demographics, highest level or position wish to attain in career, choice of practice setting, anticipated work patterns in terms of number of hours worked per week, most important factor in deciding to become a pharmacist, and 2. the relationships between those variables and pharmacy students' level of career commitment. Data were collected via a pretested questionnaire utilizing Rascati's adaptation of Blau's Career Commitment Scale. The questionnaire was administered to second-professional-year pharmacy students at the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy in April, 1995. A total of 114 students completed ...