MCQ Quiz: Introduction to Personal and Professional Development

Personal and Professional Development (PPD) is a vital, ongoing process for student pharmacists that extends beyond clinical knowledge. It is designed to cultivate the essential skills, attitudes, and values necessary for a successful and impactful career in healthcare. The PPD curriculum focuses on developing key pharmacist attributes, including self-awareness, professionalism, leadership, effective communication, and interprofessional collaboration. Through activities like creating a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) plan, building a curriculum vitae (CV), and engaging in reflective practice, students learn to navigate the complexities of the pharmacy profession. This quiz will test your understanding of the foundational concepts of PPD that are critical for your growth as a future pharmacist.

1. What is the primary purpose of the Personal and Professional Development (PPD) course series in the Pharm.D. curriculum?

• a) To teach advanced pharmacokinetics.
• b) To track and facilitate the personal and professional growth of individual students.
• c) To focus solely on sterile compounding skills.
• d) To prepare students for the pharmacy law exam.

Answer: b) To track and facilitate the personal and professional growth of individual students.

2. The concept of being able to examine and reflect on one’s own knowledge, skills, beliefs, and emotions is best defined as:

• a) Leadership
• b) Self-awareness
• c) Interprofessional Collaboration
• d) Patient Advocacy

Answer: b) Self-awareness

3. The Continuing Professional Development (CPD) cycle is a structured process for lifelong learning. Which of the following is a key step in this cycle?

• a) Reflect & Plan
• b) Act
• c) Evaluate
• d) All of the above

Answer: d) All of the above

4. A CV, or Curriculum Vitae, is a detailed document that outlines a person’s educational and professional history. In the PPD course, students are required to:

• a) Write a one-page resume instead of a CV.
• b) Submit their CV to a job application website.
• c) Create, update, and upload their CV to their portfolio in a system like CORE.
• d) Only create a CV in their final year of pharmacy school.

Answer: c) Create, update, and upload their CV to their portfolio in a system like CORE.

5. What does the “S” in SMART goals stand for?

• a) Simple
• b) Systematic
• c) Specific
• d) Self-aware

Answer: c) Specific

6. The PPD syllabi mention several IPE (Interprofessional Education) activities. The purpose of these activities is to:

• a) Learn how to work effectively as a member of a healthcare team with other professions.
• b) Compete against students from other health colleges.
• c) Fulfill a requirement for hospital rotations only.
• d) Learn advanced business management skills.

Answer: a) Learn how to work effectively as a member of a healthcare team with other professions.

7. A “co-curriculum” is best described as:

• a) The required science courses in the Pharm.D. program.
• b) A set of activities that complement the formal curriculum to help achieve professional development.
• c) Optional social events for students.
• d) The final capstone project.

Answer: b) A set of activities that complement the formal curriculum to help achieve professional development.

8. According to the syllabi, what is the consequence of having 3 or more late assignments without a prior request for an extension?

• a) A 10-point deduction from the final course grade.
• b) A referral to the Professionalism Committee.
• c) Automatic failure of the course.
• d) A requirement to complete extra co-curricular hours.

Answer: b) A referral to the Professionalism Committee.

9. The Professionalism Advisement Plan outlines a tiered response to lapses in professionalism. An example of a professionalism lapse mentioned is:

• a) Asking a question in class.
• b) Failing to arrive to class on time or being prepared for class.
• c) Meeting with a Career Coach.
• d) Receiving a perfect score on a quiz.

Answer: b) Failing to arrive to class on time or being prepared for class.

10. What is the purpose of a Situational Judgement Test (SJT) as described in the PPD courses?

• a) To test knowledge of drug information resources.
• b) To assess a student’s ability to handle and respond to realistic, challenging workplace scenarios.
• c) To evaluate a student’s clinical calculation skills.
• d) To measure a student’s typing speed.

Answer: b) To assess a student’s ability to handle and respond to realistic, challenging workplace scenarios.

11. The Career Coach program is designed to:

• a) Provide tutoring for difficult science courses.
• b) Help students with career planning, goal setting, and portfolio development.
• c) Offer financial aid and scholarships.
• d) Assign students to their experiential rotations.

Answer: b) Help students with career planning, goal setting, and portfolio development.

12. An “innovative and entrepreneurial mindset,” a focus of the PPD 5 course, encourages students to:

• a) Follow existing protocols without question.
• b) Develop new ideas and approaches to improve quality or overcome barriers in pharmacy practice.
• c) Focus only on clinical tasks.
• d) Avoid taking any risks in their professional career.

Answer: b) Develop new ideas and approaches to improve quality or overcome barriers in pharmacy practice.

13. A student’s “personal brand,” as mentioned in the Pharmacy Practice Management course, refers to:

• a) The type of car they drive.
• b) Their reputation and the value they project as a professional.
• c) The logo on their lab coat.
• d) Their social media follower count.

Answer: b) Their reputation and the value they project as a professional.

14. The “team contract” assignment at the beginning of the PPD 1 course is intended to:

• a) Be a legally binding document.
• b) Establish group norms, roles, and expectations for working effectively as a team.
• c) Assign a leader for the entire semester.
• d) Outline the topics for the final exam.

Answer: b) Establish group norms, roles, and expectations for working effectively as a team.

15. One of the core pharmacist attributes listed in the PPD syllabi is “Interprofessional Collaborator.” This means a pharmacist should be able to:

• a) Work independently without consulting other professionals.
• b) Contribute medication-related expertise as part of a healthcare team.
• c) Supervise nurses and physicians.
• d) Perform tasks outside their scope of practice.

Answer: b) Contribute medication-related expertise as part of a healthcare team.

16. Which of the following is a key element of professionalism in pharmacy?

• a) Integrity and trustworthiness.
• b) Disrespectful communication.
• c) Arriving late to rotations.
• d) Sharing patient information on social media.

Answer: a) Integrity and trustworthiness.

17. The “Grit-S” assessment mentioned in the PPD 2 syllabus is a tool used to measure a student’s:

• a) Clinical knowledge.
• b) Passion and perseverance for long-term goals.
• c) Physical strength.
• d) Financial literacy.

Answer: b) Passion and perseverance for long-term goals.

18. PPD courses require students to log co-curricular and community engagement hours. What is the purpose of these activities?

• a) To fulfill a punishment for being late to class.
• b) To contribute to personal and professional development outside of the required curriculum.
• c) To guarantee a high-paying job after graduation.
• d) They serve no specific purpose.

Answer: b) To contribute to personal and professional development outside of the required curriculum.

19. When giving effective feedback to a peer, as taught in the PPD 3 course, one should:

• a) Be vague and indirect.
• b) Focus on the person’s character rather than their behavior.
• c) Provide specific, constructive, and actionable comments.
• d) Only provide negative feedback.

Answer: c) Provide specific, constructive, and actionable comments.

20. According to the Professionalism Advisement Plan, the first incident of a professionalism lapse results in:

• a) Immediate dismissal from the program.
• b) A meeting with the Dean of the College.
• c) Notification to the student and official documentation of the concern by the College.
• d) A failing grade in the PPD course.

Answer: c) Notification to the student and official documentation of the concern by the College.

21. A student’s ability to recognize their own strengths and weaknesses is a key component of:

• a) Self-awareness
• b) Pharmacokinetics
• c) Medicinal chemistry
• d) Pathophysiology

Answer: a) Self-awareness

22. Creating a personal mission statement, an assignment in the PPD 3 course, helps a student to:

• a) Fulfill a requirement for their APPE rotations.
• b) Define their core values, purpose, and professional goals.
• c) Practice their creative writing skills.
• d) Choose their elective courses.

Answer: b) Define their core values, purpose, and professional goals.

23. The “difficult conversations” module in PPD 3 aims to equip students with skills to:

• a) Avoid all conflict in the workplace.
• b) Win every argument with a colleague.
• c) Handle challenging interpersonal situations professionally and constructively.
• d) Report all disagreements to a supervisor.

Answer: c) Handle challenging interpersonal situations professionally and constructively.

24. The concept of a “growth mindset” encourages individuals to believe that:

• a) Their intelligence and abilities are fixed and cannot be changed.
• b) Their abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work.
• c) Only talented people can succeed.
• d) Effort is not important.

Answer: b) Their abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work.

25. In the context of the PPD syllabi, CORE is:

• a) The central part of a medication’s chemical structure.
• b) An acronym for “Coordinated Outpatient Rotation Experience.”
• c) An electronic system used for managing portfolios and experiential education.
• d) The name of the main library at the university.

Answer: c) An electronic system used for managing portfolios and experiential education.

26. The PPD courses emphasize lifelong learning, which is essential in pharmacy due to:

• a) The static and unchanging nature of medicine.
• b) The continuous development of new drugs, therapies, and clinical guidelines.
• c) The requirement to retake the pharmacy licensure exam every year.
• d) The fact that all drug information is available online.

Answer: b) The continuous development of new drugs, therapies, and clinical guidelines.

27. What is a key objective of developing a CV early in the Pharm.D. program?

• a) To have a document ready for immediate job applications.
• b) To track one’s own experiences, accomplishments, and growth throughout the program.
• c) It is not important to develop a CV before the final year.
• d) To compare one’s accomplishments with those of other students.

Answer: b) To track one’s own experiences, accomplishments, and growth throughout the program.

28. An example of a co-curricular activity that contributes to professional development is:

• a) Attending all required classes.
• b) Studying for exams.
• c) Holding a leadership position in a student pharmacy organization.
• d) Completing a required lab report.

Answer: c) Holding a leadership position in a student pharmacy organization.

29. One of the pharmacist attributes is “patient advocacy.” This means:

• a) Following the physician’s orders without question.
• b) Representing and advancing the best interests of the patient.
• c) Minimizing interaction with patients.
• d) Focusing on the financial aspects of patient care.

Answer: b) Representing and advancing the best interests of the patient.

30. The “team debriefing” assignments mentioned in the syllabi are designed to help student teams:

• a) Assign blame for poor performance.
• b) Reflect on their teamwork process, identify challenges, and improve future collaborations.
• c) Complete individual assignments.
• d) Socialize outside of class.

Answer: b) Reflect on their teamwork process, identify challenges, and improve future collaborations.

31. The ability to express oneself clearly and effectively to patients and other healthcare providers is part of which pharmacist attribute?

• a) Innovator
• b) Communicator
• c) Steward
• d) Professional

Answer: b) Communicator

32. According to the syllabi, the Professionalism Milestone is based on:

• a) A single exam at the end of the fourth year.
• b) A direct observation of student behaviors throughout the academic year, tracked via the Professionalism Advisement Plan.
• c) The student’s GPA.
• d) A vote by the faculty.

Answer: b) A direct observation of student behaviors throughout the academic year, tracked via the Professionalism Advisement Plan.

33. An important aspect of leadership, as taught in PPD, is the ability to:

• a) Command and control every aspect of a team’s work.
• b) Motivate and inspire others toward a common goal.
• c) Avoid making difficult decisions.
• d) Work in isolation.

Answer: b) Motivate and inspire others toward a common goal.

34. The “Advocacy” assignments in PPD4, such as emailing a state representative, are designed to:

• a) Fulfill a community service requirement.
• b) Teach students how to engage in the political process to advocate for the profession of pharmacy.
• c) Provide students with a grade in political science.
• d) Help students find jobs in government.

Answer: b) Teach students how to engage in the political process to advocate for the profession of pharmacy.

35. A “fixed mindset” is the belief that your abilities are innate and unchangeable. A “growth mindset” is the belief that your abilities can be developed. PPD courses encourage a:

• a) Fixed mindset
• b) Growth mindset
• c) Both are equally encouraged.
• d) Neither is discussed.

Answer: b) Growth mindset

36. The final step in the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) cycle is “Evaluate.” What does this step involve?

• a) Planning new learning goals.
• b) Participating in a learning activity.
• c) Assessing whether the learning activity met the goal and what impact it had on your practice.
• d) Discarding all previous steps.

Answer: c) Assessing whether the learning activity met the goal and what impact it had on your practice.

37. How many professionalism lapses in a single academic year result in failure of the Professionalism Milestone?

• a) 2
• b) 4
• c) 6
• d) 8

Answer: c) 6

38. The use of generative AI (like ChatGPT) is generally permitted for learning but is prohibited for what, unless explicitly allowed by the instructor?

• a) Brainstorming ideas.
• b) Graded assessments.
• c) Explaining a concept.
• d) Writing practice questions.

Answer: b) Graded assessments.

39. One of the objectives of PPD is to “embody professional attitudes, values, and behaviors.” This includes:

• a) Punctuality and preparedness.
• b) Respectful conduct.
• c) Ethical communication.
• d) All of the above.

Answer: d) All of the above.

40. The overall goal of the co-curriculum is to produce graduates who are:

• a) Only knowledgeable about drug mechanisms.
• b) Ready for entry-level practice and continuous professional growth.
• c) Prepared to work only in hospital pharmacy.
• d) Able to pass the licensure exam without further study.

Answer: b) Ready for entry-level practice and continuous professional growth.

41. The SRSSDL assessment mentioned in the PPD 2 syllabus likely stands for:

• a) Statewide Registered Student Society for Drug Laws.
• b) Self-Regulated Strategy for Self-Directed Learning.
• c) Self-Rating Scale of Self-Directed Learning.
• d) Senior Rotation Site Selection for Didactic Learning.

Answer: c) Self-Rating Scale of Self-Directed Learning.

42. Why is receiving feedback from peers and preceptors considered a crucial part of professional development?

• a) It is a way to identify personal blind spots and areas for improvement.
• b) It is only useful for extroverted students.
• c) It is primarily used to assign blame for mistakes.
• d) It is not considered important in the PPD courses.

Answer: a) It is a way to identify personal blind spots and areas for improvement.

43. A pharmacist who takes the initiative to develop a new workflow to improve patient safety is demonstrating which attribute?

• a) Cultural awareness
• b) Innovation and entrepreneurship
• c) Self-awareness
• d) Patient advocacy

Answer: b) Innovation and entrepreneurship

44. A student who actively participates in a “Putting Families First” (PFF) IPE event is developing skills as a(n):

• a) Independent practitioner
• b) Research scientist
• c) Interprofessional team member
• d) Marketing specialist

Answer: c) Interprofessional team member

45. Which of the following is an example of a SMART goal?

• a) “I want to be a better student.”
• b) “I will improve my knowledge of diabetes medications.”
• c) “I will score at least 90% on my next therapeutics exam by studying two hours each night and completing all practice questions by the end of this month.”
• d) “I hope to learn about leadership someday.”

Answer: c) “I will score at least 90% on my next therapeutics exam by studying two hours each night and completing all practice questions by the end of this month.”

46. The PPD courses are graded on what basis?

• a) A-E Letter Grade
• b) Pass/Fail
• c) Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory
• d) Honors/High Pass/Pass/Fail

Answer: c) Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory

47. When a student fails to complete team evaluations after multiple reminders, the syllabus for PPD 3 states this will result in a:

• a) Warning email.
• b) Power Skills Advancement (PSA) assignment.
• c) Professionalism Lapse.
• d) Failing grade for the course.

Answer: c) Professionalism Lapse.

48. A key aspect of self-directed learning is:

• a) Waiting for the instructor to provide all information.
• b) Taking the initiative and responsibility for one’s own learning needs and goals.
• c) Memorizing facts without understanding them.
• d) Studying only the night before an exam.

Answer: b) Taking the initiative and responsibility for one’s own learning needs and goals.

49. An electronic portfolio, as used in the PPD courses, serves as:

• a) A social media profile.
• a) A repository to collect and reflect upon evidence of one’s learning and professional growth.
• c) A place to store lecture notes.
• d) A tool for billing insurance companies.

Answer: a) A repository to collect and reflect upon evidence of one’s learning and professional growth.

50. Ultimately, the skills, attitudes, and values taught in Personal and Professional Development are intended to:

• a) Make pharmacy school more difficult.
• b) Prepare students to provide high-quality, patient-centered care and achieve career success.
• c) Fulfill accreditation standards only.
• d) Replace the need for clinical knowledge.

Answer: b) Prepare students to provide high-quality, patient-centered care and achieve career success.