Making quite an impression on the residents during rotation...

[Reirrac]

I make it no secret to people that I have mixed feelings about residency, especially when considering job outcomes, return on investment from time and foregone wages, and so on. While I concede that residency training is necessary for specialist positions, I do know for a fact that specialist positions are hard to come by and job outcome results may vary. And the compensation difference is pretty marginal compared to a staff pharmacist (or clinical generalist, as some may call it) unless one has aspirations for DOP and maybe the vice president of the hospital and such.

As you may have guessed, a couple of residents I met during rotation and lecture were less than thrilled to hear my frank opinion about pursuing a residency. While I welcome discussion and maybe perhaps hear some convincing arguments that doing a residency is in my best interest, so far most of the remarks I heard include me being insensitive, arrogant, offensive, and you get the drift.

I don't know what to make out of this. Should I just keep my mouth shut and keep my opinions to myself? I figure I should just focus on passing the rotations without causing a firestorm debate.

---

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[PolarPop]

Should I just keep my mouth shut and keep my opinions to myself?

Yes... if you end up deciding to apply you aren't doing yourself any favors by getting on their bad side.

If you are convinced you won't apply then say whatever you want.

 

[confettiflyer]

Yeah I'd probably exercise some tact and not be so frank...it's not just working with pharmacy residents, it's like hanging out with a bunch of pediatricians and talking how underpaid that specialty is at dinner.

Or hanging out with newly graduated lawyers saying it's a really crappy profession to be in.

I mean, factually correct but not exactly a productive discussion seeing as a) no ones gonna change your opinion and b) these PGY-1's/2's are wrapping up their choices.

Plus like the post above me, you just have zero to gain in this conversation, so from a cost/benefit perspective don't even bring it up.

 

[bacillus1]

Just remember, to each their own. The residents have reasons that they decided to pursue a residency. You may have a reason not to pursue residency. Neither is wrong, just different career pathways. I am a "clinical generalist" and feel like residency was useful for my position. Moreover, my hospital does not hire anyone without residency for this position.

 

[WVUPharm2007]

I wouldn't until they no longer have power over you. People are petty and failing students gives some people a rush.

People in academia seem like weak minded people that need to feel like they are acquiring prestige to me. Painting with a broad brush? Perhaps. But that's more or less the vibe I get from it all.

I tell every intern I come across what a fleecing residency is. You are essentially electing to take a drastic paycut for on the job training that the employers should be paying for. It's not like medical residency where people can own their own practice one day. If you want to do that type of thing in pharmacy, you have to work for someone. And getting the idiots to do a year of training for a third of the price under the facade of prestige is sheer genius. And then require that everyone do one of these residencies...it's simply anti labor collusion. I tip my cap to them. Genius.

But that's just one Mike's opinion.

 

[BenJammin]

Next time don't tell them your opinion, just ask them what it's like knowing they're spending a year at 1/4th normal pay to learn how to do something their school should have taught them to do. My biggest regret during rotations was putting on a show for my preceptors when I should have completely let loose.

It's the biggest scam in health care. Let's not hire good pharmacists with great potential so we can train them to be great pharmacists, let's pay one pharmacist a crappy salary for one year and just rotate through them every year. Who cares about "having a familiar face"? The patients and medical residents won't know the difference.

 

[confettiflyer]

I tell every intern I come across what a fleecing residency is. You are essentially electing to take a drastic paycut for on the job training that the employers should be paying for. It's not like medical residency where people can own their own practice one day. If you want to do that type of thing in pharmacy, you have to work for someone. And getting the idiots to do a year of training for a third of the price under the facade of prestige is sheer genius. And then require that everyone do one of these residencies...it's simply anti labor collusion. I tip my cap to them. Genius.

But that's just one Mike's opinion.

To be fair, it's not just pharmacy that sees a "this used to be paid training" thing. This shift from paid internships to unpaid internships happened lots of other industries (business/marketing, finance, etc...). We have students clamoring for unpaid pharmacy internships as well.

It's the new normal for Gen Y. Higher cost, more work, less outcome.

 

[confettiflyer]

It's the biggest scam in health care. Let's not hire good pharmacists with great potential so we can train them to be great pharmacists, let's pay one pharmacist a crappy salary for one year and just rotate through them every year. Who cares about "having a familiar face"? The patients and medical residents won't know the difference.

Interns and residents are a great way to expand services without imploding the budget. I love it.

It's also a great way to do a work trial with someone for longer than a standard probationary period...if you have enough residents, there's a ready pool of people trained/ready to hire at the standard RPh rate each year. Less money wasted on training a dud cuz you already know who they are.

 

[Sparda29]

If you're doing a residency, you better be getting a clinical coordinator position, if not you just wasted a year.

 

[Rouelle]

The key to rotations: Don't rock the boat.

Just do what they ask and know when to keep your mouth shut and most preceptors will pass you.

 

[farmadiazepine]

I did rotations at the famous NewYork Presbyterian Columbia and the pharmacists would always ask me, "Are you going to do a residency?" and I would reply back with "Hell, no. I'm not wasting my time to get the same job a year later." They all would laugh and say "Good!". They all told me me I would be able to work there and do clinical work without having to be residency trained. As much as I hated clinical rotations at Columbia, hospital staff kept it so real.

 

[confettiflyer]

I did rotations at the famous NewYork Presbyterian Columbia and the pharmacists would always ask me, "Are you going to do a residency?" and I would reply back with "Hell, no. I'm not wasting my time to get the same job a year later." They all would laugh and say "Good!". They all told me me I would be able to work there and do clinical work without having to be residency trained. As much as I hated clinical rotations at Columbia, hospital staff kept it so real.

What year was this?

 

[SClENCE]

I would just keep my mouth shut. These people are doing a residency because they are not cut out for retail and believe that a hospital job is more prestigious. They don't like this being pointed out in addition to the fact that they are making a terrible financial decision.

 

[gwarm01]

We have students clamoring for unpaid pharmacy internships as well.

Just goes to show how desperate people are becoming, and how we continue to devalue our time and efforts. I've only been out of school for two years, but during my time in pharmacy school I worked as a paid intern for a local pediatric hospital. Not only did I make good money for a student, I gained a lot of valuable knowledge and skills that helped me land a position in peds after graduation. No residency required.

"Are you going to do a residency?" and I would reply back with "Hell, no. I'm not wasting my time to get the same job a year later."

I love this. While it's true that a PGY1 will give you a leg up in getting that first job, and will definitely give you (all other things being equal) a stronger clinical foundation, it does not guarantee some unicorn position. I work with a fairly even mixture of residency and non-residency trained pharmacists. Many of us were hired in a similar time period, and we all have been given the same opportunities. I guess, in the end, it boils down to the individual.

 

[PolarPop]

Just goes to show how desperate people are becoming, and how we continue to devalue our time and efforts. I've only been out of school for two years, but during my time in pharmacy school I worked as a paid intern for a local pediatric hospital. Not only did I make good money for a student, I gained a lot of valuable knowledge and skills that helped me land a position in peds after graduation. No residency required.

You also started your career 2 years ago as opposed to 1 or 2 years from now. It might not be a long time, but it's long enough in this field that the conditions you were hired under will likely be completely different.

 

[SpartanLaser]

PGY2. What a scam. With the rising cost of tution and unsubsidized loans, you are essentially working for free. A job isn't guaranteed either with residency. I know this girl that did 2 years of residency only to end up working at walmart.

Quote from Reddit:
"One of the hospitals in my area has 3 residents every year. None of them get hired by the hospital when they're done, they just reload with 3 more PGY1s and send the old ones on their way."

 

[radio frequency]

PGY2. What a scam. With the rising cost of tution and unsubsidized loans, you are essentially working for free. A job isn't guaranteed either with residency. I know this girl that did 2 years of residency only to end up working at walmart.

Quote from Reddit:
"One of the hospitals in my area has 3 residents every year. None of them get hired by the hospital when they're done, they just reload with 3 more PGY1s and send the old ones on their way."

Your second quote is what I'm seeing and it has me thinking a lot of residencies don't result in great outcomes for the residents (beyond additional experience and learning, both of which could be gained in a job).

 

[confettiflyer]

Like every good discussion...it depends on the local market, position, and applicant.

I had a clinical job waiting for me on the east coast after graduation, but I wanted a fast track to SF California clinical position no overnights where I had zero network. I could have waited in misery 3-4 years before making the jump or fast track my way over with a pay cut.

But change up even one of those factors, change SF Bay Area California to Central Valley CA, and the calculus changes away from PGY1. Same if you change my want from day shift clinical to night shift urban area.

Final thoughts: PGY1 is just on the job training with slightly better portability, and it's a means to an end. For some, it's upper echelon clinical unicorn jobs in major urban areas, for others it's more nebulous.

 

[Rockinacoustic]

Looking at the calendar, you're either a P4 on their first APPE, or even worse, a P2 or 3 IPPE student.

Residency opinions aside, have fun the rest of this block after questioning the utility of the people who arguably will teach you/have your back the most on rotation.

 

[Guilded_Age]

Everybody is just jealous of OP being super Alpha.

OP you keep rockin' it like you do and make sure you make those goobers feel bad about their silly career decisions. Once you drink the Kool Aid... you can't spit it back up. The poison will have already taken hold by then.

 

[Dred Pirate]

I preface my statement by saying I do not have a residency, graduated 12 years ago when times where different, and have a job that most hospitals require a residency/"equivalent experience" to have. Times are a changing, and do feel that residencies in general are a good way to get cheap labor, BUT that being said, you do not get anywhere near the equivalent of a full time, experienced pharmacist out of a resident, you get a grub who can do a lot of your busy work for you, but also takes your time to educated.

BUT, don't rock the boat dude, you are just asking for trouble, remember, "The toes you step on today may be connected to the a$$ you have to kiss tomorrow"

Pharmacy (like many professions) is a lot smaller than you realize when you are in school. Just because you have no desire to work in a hospital (or whatever field you currently on rotation in) doesn't mean I don't know someone that is hiring for the retail world that you are applying to. I have interviewed people and saw they worked at or rotated through buisnes XXX and called up my buddy and got a "Hell no, don't touch them, bad attitude"

Don't dig your own grave in a world where jobs are not a dime a dozen

 

[WVUPharm2007]

Pharmacy is not a small world. Maybe in a single town. My reputation is probably total **** in WV. Let's be honest. I moved 4 hours away and nobody had any idea who I was. I was able to have a complete rebirth. 4 hours away. And now I have a boss that tells me I'm awesome every time I see him and people try to poach me.

Pharmacy is only a small world if you live in a small world.

 

[bacillus1]

Pharmacy is not a small world. Maybe in a single town. My reputation is probably total **** in WV. Let's be honest. I moved 4 hours away and nobody had any idea who I was. I was able to have a complete rebirth. 4 hours away. And now I have a boss that tells me I'm awesome every time I see him and people try to poach me.

Pharmacy is only a small world if you live in a small world.

It depends. Our pain pharmacist (in California) knows the pain pharmacist I worked with during my residency in Philly. Also one of our managers went to my pharmacy school, though this was long ago, so I still think it's a small world, at least in the hospital/clinical setting.

 

[Sparda29]

It depends. Our pain pharmacist (in California) knows the pain pharmacist I worked with during my residency in Philly. Also one of our managers went to my pharmacy school, though this was long ago, so I still think it's a small world, at least in the hospital/clinical setting.

Yeah, I know the NYC/Long Island/Westchester area is a pretty small world even though there are a lot of pharmacists here. The first director I worked for as a pharmacist looked at my CV, saw that I did a rotation at this hospital that was close by where he used to work chuckled and asked me, "how was that rotation? is the director there still a total bitch?"

 

[farmadiazepine]

The NYC world is a small one, and once you cross the 2 minute bridge into NJ it's another separate world of its own. It's so crazy because every NY pharmacy or pharmacist I usually deal with has no idea about anyone or anything in NJ pharmacy wise and vice versa.

 

[Dalteparin]

OP, I did a residency and hated it, but I can also understand where the residents at your rotation site are coming from. You just met them and immediately **** all over their career choices; that's not something a person who's easy to get along with does. If you think residencies are stupid, fine. Don't do one. But no matter what field you're in, it's not a good idea to insult a bunch of coworkers you barely know and lecture them on how stupid they are. As other posters have pointed out, someday one of these people may be a DOP you need to impress. And while I think Mike's post is colored by his own (extremely unfair) experience, he has a point: These people have a say in your grade. Being rude to them is unwise.

Consider also that rotations aren't just for clinical knowledge; they can be a big lesson in things like time management and office politics. In both your professional and personal life, you are going to watch a lot of people make bad decisions. Sometimes you need to talk them out of it, and sometimes you need to just shut your cakehole and let them learn from their mistakes.

 

[WVUPharm2007]

The NYC world is a small one, and once you cross the 2 minute bridge into NJ it's another separate world of its own. It's so crazy because every NY pharmacy or pharmacist I usually deal with has no idea about anyone or anything in NJ pharmacy wise and vice versa.

See? A new life is a few PATH station away.

 

[Trent Steele]

I did not do a residency but I understand how gravely important residents are in a tertiary academic medical center. In small hospitals I don't really see the need but they are vital to our departement's success today. That's just how it is. Coming from a preceptor, I'd fail you for unprofessionalism immediately. If you were an FTE, you'd be in some serious trouble. The department cannot run without the residents. Keep your mouth shut and do your rotation work, and you might get a job after you graduate. In large hospitals, proper politics are the most difficult skills to master, and it seems you have a looong way to go.

 

[Sparda29]

I did not do a residency but I understand how gravely important residents are in a tertiary academic medical center. In small hospitals I don't really see the need but they are vital to our departement's success today. That's just how it is. Coming from a preceptor, I'd fail you for unprofessionalism immediately. If you were an FTE, you'd be in some serious trouble. The department cannot run without the residents. Keep your mouth shut and do your rotation work, and you might get a job after you graduate. In large hospitals, proper politics are the most difficult skills to master, and it seems you have a looong way to go.

I don't know about being in trouble if you said this as a full-time pharmacist. At my per-diem hospital job, the staff pharmacists hate the residents because the residents act like the eyes and ears of management. We used to all wear jeans, listen to music, bring in nice food during the evening shifts and weekends. We even let the interns just sit around doing homework for pharmacy school, or even sleep. Then one resident who wasn't doing so well in his residency decided to kiss management's ass by reporting what the pharmacists were doing while management was gone. ****ing rats.

 

[confettiflyer]

I don't know about being in trouble if you said this as a full-time pharmacist. At my per-diem hospital job, the staff pharmacists hate the residents because the residents act like the eyes and ears of management. We used to all wear jeans, listen to music, bring in nice food during the evening shifts and weekends. We even let the interns just sit around doing homework for pharmacy school, or even sleep. Then one resident who wasn't doing so well in his residency decided to kiss management's ass by reporting what the pharmacists were doing while management was gone. ****ing rats.

That's annoying. These residents obviously haven't mastered the art of office politics (someone pointed that out above).

BUT....I can see their perspective. Facing unemployment next year? Hospital management determines your destiny? Hospital management fostered that kind of adversarial work environment? These kids were doing nothing more than trying to secure gainful employment after finishing.

Also it sounds like hiring decisions are made without general staff input anyway. In that case, out of desperation for employment, I'd probably throw as many peons under the bus as possible if it actually does benefit me (but it rarely does, but you've worked in some weird places sparda).

 

[confettiflyer]

On that note, by my calculation, I'm now at break-even with the salary I missed out on from PGY-1 based on my original out-of-school offer. From here on out, to steal a phrase from the investment thread, I'm definitely in the money.

 

[Sparda29]

That's annoying. These residents obviously haven't mastered the art of office politics (someone pointed that out above).

BUT....I can see their perspective. Facing unemployment next year? Hospital management determines your destiny? Hospital management fostered that kind of adversarial work environment? These kids were doing nothing more than trying to secure gainful employment after finishing.

Also it sounds like hiring decisions are made without general staff input anyway. In that case, out of desperation for employment, I'd probably throw as many peons under the bus as possible if it actually does benefit me (but it rarely does, but you've worked in some weird places sparda).

That resident ended up applying for one of the full-time positions and didn't get it. Management figured all hell would break loose if that resident was hired. They ended up giving it to this pretty nice/sweet intern chick who was at the hospital for 5 years.

 

[BidingMyTime]

OP, moaning & complaining and putting down other's career choices is what Student Doctor (and the internet is for.) Come here and say all the things that you know would be socially unacceptable to say in public. And yes, putting down residencies, while you are working on a rotation, is socially unacceptable. As someone else pointed out, would you point out to a pediatrician you just met that (s)he underpaid compared to every other medical specialty? Would you go to your grocery store and ask the bagger why (s)he is degrading herself/himself when (s)he has a JD degree? Would you tell your brother's unemployed girlfriend that its her own fault because she wasted 4 years of school & money getting a Fine Arts degree? All of this is socially unacceptable. Don't be the one to tell the empire that he isn't wearing clothes, he really won't believe you anyway.

See, if I knew you in person, I wouldn't ever point your egregarious behavior out to you. I'd just smile and politely agree or change the subject. Then I would come to Student Doctor and post out how rude pharmacy students are these days. There is a time and a place for everything. The semi-anonymity of the internet is the place to come to gripe about other people.

 

[confettiflyer]

That resident ended up applying for one of the full-time positions and didn't get it. Management figured all hell would break loose if that resident was hired. They ended up giving it to this pretty nice/sweet intern chick who was at the hospital for 5 years.

Five years? Oh six year program I'm assuming. Yeah I'd hire them too, lol.

I think people over emphasize "cheap resident labor" and under emphasize the "cheaply trained labor pool" aspect of it. The latter is much more valuable over time because you end up expending a lot of staff time to obtain the former.

 

[WVUPharm2007]

I did not do a residency but I understand how gravely important residents are in a tertiary academic medical center. In small hospitals I don't really see the need but they are vital to our departement's success today. That's just how it is. Coming from a preceptor, I'd fail you for unprofessionalism immediately. If you were an FTE, you'd be in some serious trouble. The department cannot run without the residents. Keep your mouth shut and do your rotation work, and you might get a job after you graduate. In large hospitals, proper politics are the most difficult skills to master, and it seems you have a looong way to go.

This is why I didn't survive in hospital pharmacy. Office politics. It is so ridiculous. Too many egotistical dinguses like you that think people should pander to them. And you would actually fail a student because they didn't like how the system works?

Pathetic. Laughable. Or; a perfect person to man a teaching hospital.

You clearly found your calling.

 

[Trent Steele]

This is why I didn't survive in hospital pharmacy. Office politics. It is so ridiculous. Too many egotistical dinguses like you that think people should pander to them. And you would actually fail a student because they didn't like how the system works?

Pathetic. Laughable. Or; a perfect person to man a teaching hospital.

You clearly found your calling.

Sorry you couldn't cut it in a hospital or wherever, but it hardly makes me an "egotistical dingus" to discipline obviously unprofessional students running their mouths ON ROTATION. I wouldn't fail a student for not liking how the system works (as I agree it is broken) I'd fail them for unprofessionalism since they are continually displaying insubordination. If you haven't figured that out by P4 then you probably should seek alternate employment. Politics comes to play in all walks of life, just a bit moreso in the large academics. If you want to let your students run around making your department look like a bunch of amateurs that's up to you. Prick.

 

[pharmdpharmd]

Sorry you couldn't cut it in a hospital or wherever, but it hardly makes me an "egotistical dingus" to discipline obviously unprofessional students running their mouths ON ROTATION. I wouldn't fail a student for not liking how the system works (as I agree it is broken) I'd fail them for unprofessionalism since they are continually displaying insubordination. If you haven't figured that out by P4 then you probably should seek alternate employment. Politics comes to play in all walks of life, just a bit moreso in the large academics. If you want to let your students run around making your department look like a bunch of amateurs that's up to you. Prick.

I am in large academic center now, and I have to say I work with people like you all the time (well, I avoid them really).. The poster you quoted had some strong language that wouldn't use, but failing a student for expressing strong, unwise opinion is pretty petty and a little egotistical. For lots of people, pharmacy is just a way to earn a living and put food on the table, nothing more or less, and there is nothing wrong with that

 

[BenJammin]

If you fail a student just because they disagree with the concept of residency, you are the bane of this profession. Turn in your preceptor license asap. No respect for people like you.

 

[confettiflyer]

If you fail a student just because they disagree with the concept of residency, you are the bane of this profession. Turn in your preceptor license asap. No respect for people like you.

So the student who openly expresses distaste with residency ON ROTATION is canonized as a saint, while the preceptor who privately muses on SDN he/she ought to fail them is burned at the cross?

Man, residency prejudice on here runs deep. Thanks, Obama.

 

[BenJammin]

So the student who openly expresses distaste with residency ON ROTATION is canonized as a saint, while the preceptor who privately muses on SDN he/she ought to fail them is burned at the cross?

Man, residency prejudice on here runs deep. Thanks, Obama.

Notice I said "if you fail a student". If, if, if. He can think about whatever he wants.

 

[Sparda29]

Yeah, I wouldn't fail a student for talking badly about residencies on rotation. That's just their opinion of it.

When I was full-time at the hospital a couple of years ago, the P4 students used to rotate every month through the place. In the morning they'd work with the clinical pharmacist, in the mid-day with the director, and in the afternoon/evening with the staff pharmacists. I convinced damn near all of them not to do residency unless they were sure they wanted to be some sort of clinical specialist.

Here's my opinion about it. Pharmacists have been working in hospitals for quite a while now, as staff Rph, clinical Rph, director, etc. Some of my best preceptors were pharmacists who had a BS in Pharmacy and graduated in the 70s-80s, and some of my worst preceptors were pharmacists who graduated 3-4 years before me and completed their residencies. It's pretty clear that you don't really need a residency to be a clinical pharmacist.

 

[confettiflyer]

You don't need residency to be a clinical pharmacist on a skills basis, hands down.

You DO need a residency on a differentiation/labor market basis for your first job in any major urban/suburban market. Exceptions apply, of course.

Basic guiding Gen Y principle...we have to fly for twice the cost to get where our predecessors got to just by walking.

Remember when there were more residencies than applicants? And students got multiple offers with bonuses? Yeah...I remember them like I remember 8 track tapes.

 

[Transformer]

I wouldn't care if you expressed your opinions on residency (that's just me), but those opinions may get you in trouble with a lot of pharmacists who are pro-residency.

If one of them is your preceptor who grades you on rotation, then that preceptor might grill you more, find and expose your weaknesses, and ultimately, grade you harder than if you didn't open your mouth to put down anything or anyone (ex: residency)

Bottom line to surviving rotation: Be on time, be humble, be kind, be willing to learn, have a positive attitude, and work hard.

To answer your question: If I were you, I would keep my negative opinions to myself, focus on the rotation, and pass/graduate!

 

[BMBiology]

If your preceptor did a residency, tell her you are 100% sure you are doing a residency. Trust me, she is going to put more time and effort to educate and train you, as you may become a future colleague of her. If she thinks you are going to do retail then she is going to ask herself what is the point of training you. It is not like you are going to use the information anyways.

I didn't do a residency but some of my coworkers did. We do the same work. The difference? I get paid more because I take on more work.

Would I still have gotten the same position today? Maybe not. My good looks can only carry me so far. I kid..I kid.

 

[dbarth101]

Residency is not for everyone. I plan on doing one (more than likely 2) to specialize in critical care, but that's just my career path. Everyone is different. Could I work community? Easily. Did it for 2 years, and loved it. Wouldn't mind it one bit. Got a job at a hospital. Spend 1/3 of my time in the ED, and love that, too. I enjoy when doctors ask me questions, and I help them with patients. I don't know if it's my personality, but I shine in dispelling stigmas and prejudices. I'm a measly third year student that only spends a third of my time in the ED, but the doctors treat me like I'm one of their own. So naturally that experience drives me to where I want to attain a job that will afford me more inter-professional opportunities. I have co-interns that HATE the ED!!! Avoid it like the plague. Do I judge them? Do I say they are making the wrong decision? No. If you are at the age you are (old enough to be in pharmacy school), and really give a damn about what path people take for them to be happy, or what they think will make them happiest, shame on you. People saying OP is an alpha? I will refrain from stating what I see to avoid hypocrisy, but like a shark, one swift, verbal punch to the nose, and I bet he wouldn't say anything.

Disclaimer: I am not a marine biologist, and do not know if there is factual evidence to punching a shark in the nose to make them go away.

 

[WVUPharm2007]

Laughable.

I'm laughing.

 

[halipharmd]

My question what exactly is the OP trying to convey by telling people who are doing a residency that it's a waste? No real motive, then yeah keep it to yourself.

 

[BenJammin]

Residency is not for everyone. I plan on doing one (more than likely 2) to specialize in critical care, but that's just my career path. Everyone is different. Could I work community? Easily. Did it for 2 years, and loved it. Wouldn't mind it one bit. Got a job at a hospital. Spend 1/3 of my time in the ED, and love that, too. I enjoy when doctors ask me questions, and I help them with patients. I don't know if it's my personality, but I shine in dispelling stigmas and prejudices. I'm a measly third year student that only spends a third of my time in the ED, but the doctors treat me like I'm one of their own. So naturally that experience drives me to where I want to attain a job that will afford me more inter-professional opportunities. I have co-interns that HATE the ED!!! Avoid it like the plague. Do I judge them? Do I say they are making the wrong decision? No. If you are at the age you are (old enough to be in pharmacy school), and really give a damn about what path people take for them to be happy, or what they think will make them happiest, shame on you. People saying OP is an alpha? I will refrain from stating what I see to avoid hypocrisy, but like a shark, one swift, verbal punch to the nose, and I bet he wouldn't say anything.

Disclaimer: I am not a marine biologist, and do not know if there is factual evidence to punching a shark in the nose to make them go away.

You really don't get it. We're criticizing residencies because we believe that they devalue the PharmD degree and are a scam. If you saw your friend calling a guy back who claimed to be a Nigerian prince who needs to deposit some of his fortune in your friend's bank account, would you try and stop him?

 

[Digsbe]

I'll likely do a residency because I want to be a clinical pharmacist, but in all honesty the scam aspect is in the form of no additional compensation for training received. Clinical pharms don't make more (and sometimes make less) than retail counterparts, with advanced training should come advances in pay but that won't happen so long as insurance companies don't reimburse pharmacists for services and hospitals view you not as a revenue generator but a cost savings measure and a factor to improve outcomes.

 

[Sine Cura]

The reward for being a clinical pharmacist is not being a (chain) retail pharmacist and being able to do something you ostensibly like. At the end of the day, who REALLY loves working for Wags, CVS, Rite Aid, et al.? Salaries are determined by market forces (as already stated), not advanced training in itself, but I'd take a salary hit over a quality-of-life hit any day.