Teaching caring: Unexpected benefits of a veterinary therapeutics elective course

Objectives. This manuscript explores the contribution of a veterinary therapeutics elective course to the learning of professional caring values in pharmacy students. Students' reflective and evaluative comments about the course were solicited at the midpoint and end of the course to assess educational outcomes reflective of student learning. Methods. A qualitative evaluation of the comments was conducted. The expected responses to the questions were in the content areas of new knowledge on veterinary disease states, therapeutic management, and the regulatory acts and statutes that affect the practice of veterinary pharmacy. Results. While students reported a gain of knowledge and confidence with the subject matter, an unexpected theme of professional caring and caring behaviors was identified. Elements of caring and caring attitudes were a strong undercurrent in student's comments. Conclusions. The unexpected benefit of students expressing and displaying core values of caring serves to reinforce the teaching of caring in the pharmacy curriculum and highlights the value of a veterinary therapeutics course to instill caring values.