Here's the deal. I really, really want to do a pharmacy residency (and a specialty residency in psych). But I also really, really want a house. I will be 30 when I get my PharmD, and I'm ready for my husband and I to start our lives already! Because resident pay is only 30,000-40,000(at best) per year, I am not going to be able to save much, especially with the amount of loans (and credit cards) I'll have to pay off. My husband is a counselor, so also, not a lot of dough coming from him, either. Do you know of anyone who has successfully worked part time in a hospital or retail staff positon while doing their residency? I'm thinking this could be a could way to help us save for our down payment during my residency.

When I was interviewing for residency positions, I did talk to some of the residents about that. Most did not work. One person said that he worked quite a few weekends in the beginning (retail), but the rotation he was in was making it difficult, so he had to cut back on hours. Moonlighting is doable...but it may be rotation specific. I wouldn't count on being able to work EVERY weekend, especially when there are side or longitudinal projects you have to work on (like in April-May, when you've got your research project to present).

I knew this resident who worked like 40 days straight (weekend staffing + moonlighting). It all depends on how much punishment you can take and whether or not your rotation preceptor will allow you to work elsewhere. Even so, I don't know if I'll be working much during my residency cuz I'll probably be pretty tired when I do get the rare day off. If you can handle it though, working some wouldn't be a bad idea, although it wouldn't augment your income all that much if you just work an extra one day a month.

I know a pharmacist who worked at Albertson's during her psych residency. I think she worked only Sundays.

I believe you don't have to start paying off your loans until after your residency(s).

Here's the deal. I really, really want to do a pharmacy residency (and a specialty residency in psych). But I also really, really want a house. I will be 30 when I get my PharmD, and I'm ready for my husband and I to start our lives already! Because resident pay is only 30,000-40,000(at best) per year, I am not going to be able to save much, especially with the amount of loans (and credit cards) I'll have to pay off. My husband is a counselor, so also, not a lot of dough coming from him, either. Do you know of anyone who has successfully worked part time in a hospital or retail staff positon while doing their residency? I'm thinking this could be a could way to help us save for our down payment during my residency.

Most people I know highly discourage working at another job during the residency. Although you may only put in 40 hrs /week at the site, you maybe working another full 40 hrs/wk on projects. 12 hrs+ per day is very common. I know I do not plan on working when I start my residency this year, I will have way too much to do already! Plus you don' t want to stretch yourself too thin at all, burn-out will come on very very fast!!! And yes, mostly you can defer your loans for that year, but not all will let you....so I would check with your lender. I know I can defer, thank god, but I would check with your lender first! Good Luck!!!

So who all are graduating this year?

A friend of mine is doing a residency and she works at a retail store one weekend a month for extra cash. I don't think she'd want any more hours than that because it would just be too much work, not enough rest/relaxation! :)

The residents at our hospital dont have time to work outside their residency. They have a lot of general projects and projects for their specific rotation in addition to staffing every other weekend without any additional days off. If possible, try not work because you'll burn yourself out before you get start working "for real."