Two Weeks Short
Tomas is in week 50 of the ITP in a hospital pharmacy. He has completed 2,050 of the 2,080 hours. His preceptor has concerns: Tomas failed two workplace-based assessments, one on medication safety and one on patient counselling, and a recent audit found he missed three clinically significant interactions in a week. The ITP assessment panel recommends not signing off his final competencies. Tomas has a conditional job offer as a hospital pharmacist starting in eight weeks; the offer depends on registration. His preceptor is emigrating in two weeks and says, 'I'll sign you off to be kind; you can learn on the job.' Tomas asks whether he can sit the Assessment Centre anyway because his hours are almost complete.
1. Should the preceptor sign off Tomas's competencies? Justify your answer.
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No. Signing off competencies is a professional declaration that the intern has met the required standard, not a farewell kindness. Tomas has failed two assessments and missed three clinically significant interactions in a week; those are exactly the areas in which a hospital pharmacist must be reliable. A false sign-off would expose patients to avoidable harm and would mislead PSNZ and PCNZ. It would also be a conduct issue for the preceptor and would undermine the value of the ITP for every intern. The preceptor's impending emigration is not a reason to complete the paperwork early. If the preceptor cannot see the remediation through, the honest step is to hand over to another approved preceptor or to the ITP coordinator with a clear record of the concerns. Tomas's hours being nearly complete is irrelevant if the competence requirements are not met; hours measure time, not capability.
2. What should happen next in the ITP and with PCNZ?
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The concerns should be escalated to the PSNZ ITP coordinator or assessment panel promptly. Tomas should have a documented remediation plan with specific goals in medication safety and counselling, additional supervised practice, further assessments, and a realistic timeframe. His ITP completion date should be extended; he should not sit the Assessment Centre until the ITP requirements are met. The plan should identify who will supervise him after the current preceptor leaves. If concerns persist despite remediation, PCNZ's competence pathway may be relevant, but the first step is to use the ITP's own processes. Tomas should cooperate, reflect on the missed interactions, and keep a log of learning. The preceptor should provide a factual handover rather than a sign-off. The aim is not to punish Tomas but to ensure that registration, when it comes, means he can practise safely without close supervision.
3. What should Tomas tell his prospective employer?
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Tomas should tell the employer that his ITP completion is likely to be delayed because further assessment and remediation are required, and that his registration start date is not confirmed. He should not accept the job on the basis of a false sign-off or allow the employer to assume he will be registered by the proposed start date. He can ask whether the offer can be held open, whether a later start date is possible, or whether there is a non-registered position he could fill while completing requirements. He should be factual and avoid over-sharing confidential health or assessment details, but he must not misrepresent his status. If the employer withdraws the offer, that is a consequence of the delay, not a reason to conceal it. Honesty at this point protects patients, the employer and Tomas's own registration prospects.