The PGY1 pharmacy residency program at Creighton University Medical Center - Bergan Mercy is designed to develop a practitioner’s expertise in the provision of pharmaceutical care that centers on development of knowledge and skills needed to become a competent and confident practitioner. The resident will be accountable for optimizing drug therapy and achieving the most favorable outcomes as a member of the medical care team. The resident will provide drug information and education to patients, other healthcare professionals and students. The resident will become proficient in developing a means of becoming a lifelong learner, monitoring his or her own skills, and embracing a commitment to the profession. The residency is flexible and provides the resident with a wide range of experiences.

This program will center on developing a core skill set in medication therapy management, teaching, team functioning, communication, clinical research, literature evaluation, time management, presentation development and delivery, and direct patient interaction in an academic medical center setting.

PGY1 residency programs build upon Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) education and outcomes to develop pharmacist practitioners with knowledge, skills, and abilities as defined in the educational competency areas, goals, and objectives. Residents who successfully complete PGY1 residency programs will be skilled in diverse patient care, practice management, leadership, and education, and be prepared to provide patient care, seek board certification in pharmacotherapy (i.e., BCPS), and pursue advanced education and training opportunities including postgraduate year two (PGY2) residencies.

The hospital’s pharmacy department is structured as a team unit with clinical services provided via centralized, decentralized, team-based, and rounding pharmacists. Our pharmacists collaborate with various medical services to provide care for all patients and their clinical functions include, but are not limited to: pharmacokinetic and anticoagulation dosing/monitoring, transitions of care, multi-disciplinary care team rounding, antimicrobial stewardship, IV to PO conversions, drug information, and overall medication therapy management.

In addition, decentralized clinical pharmacy services are provided to all patient care areas, which includes 24-hours per day/7 days per week emergency medicine and critical care pharmacy clinical services.

Features include: 

• Academic Medical Center affiliated with Creighton University
• Level I Trauma Center
• 50-plus Adult ICU beds
• Emergency Medicine Clinical Pharmacy Services 24/7
• Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
• Cardiothoracic, Vascular, and Neurosurgical Services

Requirements for Completion

In order to successfully complete the residency program and receive a certificate of completion, the resident must complete the following requirements:

• The resident must obtain their Nebraska Pharmacist Licensure by no later than 90 days after their start date – expectations are outlined below.  Failure to become licensed within 90 days will result in dismissal from the PGY1 pharmacy residency program. 
• The resident must successfully complete all required learning experiences with no Needs Improvement evaluations remaining at the completion of the residency.
• The resident must have 80% of the required competency areas, goals and objectives for the residency program evaluated to be “Achieved for the Residency” by the end of the residency year as determined by the Residency Advisory Committee.
• The resident must have completed all components of their longitudinal research project, as determined by the primary preceptor and the residency director.  Failure to complete components of this project as outlined below will result in disciplinary action (unless special exemption is given for outstanding circumstances beyond the resident control).  

1. 1. IRB protocol submission by November 1st of the residency year (at the latest) – this includes a completed copy of the data collection spreadsheet
   2. Data collection completed by March 1st of the residency year (at the latest)
   3. Formal written research report in accepted manuscript style and approved by the primary preceptor prior to the end of the residency year, unless specific exemption is granted by the primary preceptor for circumstances that would warrant delay of report preparation (i.e. project will continue past the end of the current residency year)

• The resident must present their research project at the Midwest Pharmacy Residents Conference.
• The resident must present two Grand Rounds presentations. Required timeline and expectations for each grand rounds presentation will be agreed upon by the resident and preceptor in advance of the presentation (see “Grand Rounds Timeline Due Dates – Resident and Preceptor Agreement” form for details). Failure to comply with this required expectation will result in disciplinary action.  
• The resident must complete a drug monograph and/or class review and Medication Use Evaluation (MUE) as assigned by the primary preceptor within the timeline given.  Failure to adhere to project deadlines can result in disciplinary action.
• The resident must be present at all Grand Rounds sessions unless the absence is excused by the Residency Program Director. 
• The resident must complete all didactic teaching requirements, as described in the manual.
• The resident must complete all clinical service/staffing hours and duties, as described in the manual.
• The resident must complete one written Clinical Pearl for the CHI Health Pharmacy/Provider Newsletter when assigned.

Program Structure

About CHI Health Creighton University Medical Center-Bergan Mercy PGY1 Pharmacy Residency

The primary rotation site is CHI Health Creighton University Medical Center-Bergan Mercy (CUMC-Bergan), an academic teaching hospital. CUMC-Bergan is the principal teaching facility for the Creighton University Health Sciences Schools. Twenty-four hour unit dose, decentralized pharmacy services are provided at CUMC-Bergan. Decentralized pharmaceutical services are offered for all patient care areas.

Connections working at CHI Health Creighton University Medical Center-Bergan Mercy PGY1 Pharmacy Residency