Archives: Publications

Students and new graduates – March 3

Registration of students and new graduates

The College strives to give timely attention to all requests and applications. The staff at the College endeavors to meet the demands of an ever-increasing volume of registration requests in an efficient and effective manner. All applications and requests are deemed important and all applicants must be treated fairly.

The following suggestions will help ensure the application process is a positive experience.

Applicants

• Use the application checklist as a guide to ensure your application is complete before submitting it to the College. 
• Take note of the required format of certain documents and submit those correctly to avoid unnecessary delays.
• Give yourself plenty of time when requesting items that must be included with your application such as a criminal record check, insurance policy, etc.
• Communicate openly and regularly with your employer or preceptor so they are aware of registration delays due to items that may be missing from your application package or that you submitted in an incorrect format.

Employers / Preceptors

• Discuss the status of an application with the applicant; the College respects the privacy of each applicant and will only discuss an open file directly with them.
• Review the application checklist with a potential new hire or student to make sure they have submitted all required pieces to the College in the required format.
• Allow for reasonable application processing time when making plans for new hires and setting employment start dates.*
• Be an example to the new registrants as they begin their career in pharmacy in New Brunswick, to have a strong and mutually respectful relationship in all dealings with the College.

*Expect some processing time following the release of the PEBC exam results. Successful completion of the PEBC examinations is one of the many requirements for registration and licensure.

For access to all application packages, please visit the College website www.nbpharmacists.ca and click on the Applicant tab. {LINK}

For the complete update, please click here – {LINK}

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Sale of COVID-19 rapid tests in pharmacies – March 3

Please see the following update on information regarding the sale of COVID-19 rapid tests in pharmacies. This message has been updated since it was published on October 8, 2021 in an e-mail sent by the New Brunswick College of Pharmacists. {LINK – UPDATE}

For complete March 3 College update, please clock here {LINK}

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Non-sterile Compounding Implementation Deadlines – February 17

As the deadlines for implementation of the Model Standards for Pharmacy Compounding of Non-sterile Preparations (the Standards) are approaching, the College is sending this reminder of resources such as the timeline and checklists available on the College website [LINK].  

The College has offered additional support (links below) to pharmacy professionals navigating the implementation of the Standards and most recently, compounding pharmacist Sebastian Denison was invited to speak at a webinar that focused on Risk Assessments and Master Formulation Sheets [Link to recording]. Simultaneous French translation was provided during the webinar, however the audio recording malfunctioned and is unfortunately not available. The content of the slides has been translated however and is accessible on the College website.

As a reminder, the items that must be complete no later than the approaching Phase 2 deadline (April 1, 2022) are:

1. All Level A compounding requirements met*
2. Personnel training and skills assessment complete
3. Risk assessment complete
4. Policies and procedures documented
5. Looked ahead to Phase 3 requirements; considered early implementation

*If a compound is defined as Level A in the Standard, any pharmacy that compounds that product after April 1, 2022 must be compliant with the Standards. Requirements include:

1. Staff involved in compounding a Level A product are properly trained.
2. Facilities and equipment meet the requirements in the Standards.
3. Product and preparation requirements in Section 6 of the Standards are met. This includes such things a SOP, MFR, BUD assignment, personnel conduct, ingredients used, documentation, etc. 

*More information is included in the Checklist Overview of Phases 1, 2 and 3 document on the College website. As published in the document, work on some of the detailed goals may be completed in phase 3 (i.e., work that has begun in phase 2).

Guidance for New Brunswick Pharmacy Professionals 

Guidance Document for Pharmacy Compounding of Non-sterile Preparations [LINK] published by NAPRA in conjunction with the Standards was accepted by Council as a resource for pharmacy professionals, if needed.

Implementation Timeline [LINK]

Checklist Overview of Phases 1, 2 and 3 [LINK]

FAQ document [LINK]- to address some of the issues either not addressed in the Standards or Guidance Document, or that lack specificity.

Assessing Knowledge and Technique when Compounding [LINK] – to accompany the Standards and Guidance documents, which will serve as a caution to members regarding some risks inherent in compounding.

Tips for preparing Risk Assessments and Master Formulas [Webinar recording]

For full Feb. 17 update, please click here {LINK}

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NAPRA National Drug Schedule updates

(Published with permission from the Saskatchewan College of Pharmacy Professionals)

In accordance with its Policy for Natural Health Products (NHPs), the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA) has progressed with the planned removal of NHPs from the National Drug Schedules (NDS), in the stepwise, risk-based approach initiated in 2019.

NHPs in lower-risk categories were removed in 2020, while NHPs in all other categories were removed Jan. 2, 2022, with the exception of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, which will be removed from the NDS in January 2024. These exceptions were made in consideration of the impact of COVID-19 and the substance use crisis in Canada.

For complete Feb. 3 NBCP update, please click here

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Pharmacies adopting use of the N.B. vaccination scheduling system

The following standard operating procedures relate to pharmacies using the New Brunswick vaccination scheduling system. This information, sent on behalf of Public Health NB, includes screenshots demonstrating the user experience when accessing the system. {LINK}

– Updated guidance on COVID-19 vaccination after Myocarditis/Pericarditis

Please see the attached memo sent on behalf of Dr. Yves A. Léger, Acting Deputy Chief Medical Officer of Health, which provides updated guidance on COVID-19 vaccination after myocarditis/pericarditis. {LINK}

For complete Feb. 3 NBCP update, please click here

 

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Denosumab (Xgeva®) Administration by Community Pharmacists in Patients with Cancer – February 3

(This item was sent previously on January 10, 2022)

Katherine Simon is a pharmacy resident at The Moncton Hospital and is conducting a research project entitled, “Denosumab (Xgeva^®) Administration by Community Pharmacists in Patients with Cancer.”

As part of the project, a pre-recorded educational webinar was developed to review the clinical use of bone targeted agents (BTAs) in the oncology setting and introduce a proposed practice guideline and process map for denosumab (Xgeva^®) safe administration, adverse event monitoring and management by pharmacists in collaboration with ambulatory oncology clinics.

Pharmacy professionals are invited to watch the video and complete a short survey to assist with gathering valuable information.

Please note the video and the survey were provided in English only.

For complete details of the project, please read here…

For complete College Update on February 3, click here {LINK}

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Pharmacies adopting use of the NB vaccination scheduling system – Feb 3

Pharmacies adopting use of the NB vaccination scheduling system 

The following standard operating procedures relate to pharmacies using the New Brunswick vaccination scheduling system. This information, sent on behalf of Public Health NB, includes screenshots demonstrating the user experience when accessing the system. {LINK}

For complete February 3 College update, click here {LINK} 

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2019-2020 Annual Report

The New Brunswick College of
Pharmacists Annual Report 2019-2020.

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Follow up to webinar – Tips for Preparing Risk Assessments & Master Formulas – January 21

The College would like to thank everyone for attending Wednesday’s webinar entitled Tips for Preparing Risk Assessments & Master Formulas, that featured a presentation by special guest and pharmacist, Sebastian Denison. 

[Click here for Sebastian’s full bio…]

Sebastian was invited by the College to help support pharmacy professionals in applying the risk assessment, master formulations and other requirements into practice.  

Here is a link to the English version of the presentation. Simultaneous translation to French was offered during the webinar and we expect to share a French recording as soon as technical work on that is finalized.

As a reminder, the phases of implementation of the Model Standards for Pharmacy Compounding of Non-sterile Preparations, requirements and deadlines are outlined here.

For complete College update from January 21, click here {LINK}

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Introducing the Compliance Packaging Guideline – January 21

The new Compliance Packaging Guideline (the Guideline) recommended by the Professional Practice Committee and approved by Council:

• Focuses on outcomes that support the provision of safe, quality compliance packaging.
• Refers to existing requirements applicable to compliance packaging
• Empowers professionals to practice with autonomy and accountability, searching out and considering methods that help their unique practice site in meeting the requirements. 

The use of compliance packaging may be beneficial to some but it is not suitable for all patients and does not overcome all barriers to optimal medication management. Compliance packaging also presents risks such as process, labelling, the packaging environment and staffing limitations. Evidence of these have previously been identified through pharmacy assessments and complaints to the College. 

The outcomes in the Guideline describe who is accountable as well as illustrates requirements and links to applicable existing legislation. There are five outcomes:

1. A Quality Management Program is established for safe compliance packaging
2. Patients/caregivers receive orientation & education and are invited to collaborate in their care
3. Compliance packaging is provided in the context of the patient care process
4. Dispense safe compliance packaging
5. Document steps in the clinical and technical processes 

The College understands that with the introduction of new Guidance comes challenges for some pharmacies and questions on implementation. Potential questions and answers have been published in a FAQ document. 

The Guideline is now in force and can be accessed on the College website. Adherence will be measured through ongoing pharmacy site visits and monitoring of complaints.

For complete College update from January 21, click here {LINK}

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