VA intern

[Jibby321]

Recently applied to one because the VA does interest me. Has anybody worked as an intern at the VA? What's the pay? Job duties?

Currently work retail and have been for 4 years I would like to see something different possibly.

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[68quebec]

you mean Veterans Affairs, correct? if Virginia, then never mind me.

IMO, VA is one of the best place that you can work in this era, because of their job securities, much less work loads, and not-too-bad pay. You will get some incentives (or sign-up bonus) in most VA or DOD pharmacy every year.

If you are a veteran, current reservist, military spouse, family member, you will have some advantages over others while applying. If you are more than 20-30 % Service-connected veterans, then you will get 10 points extra on your application.

Good luck, and you will mostly like it. I'm currently working at Veterans Affairs Medical Center It's great place!

 

[bacillus1]

you mean Veterans Affairs, correct? if Virginia, then never mind me.

IMO, VA is one of the best place that you can work in this era, because of their job securities, much less work loads, and not-too-bad pay. You will get some incentives (or sign-up bonus) in most VA or DOD pharmacy every year.

If you are a veteran, current reservist, military spouse, family member, you will have some advantages over others while applying. If you are more than 20-30 % Service-connected veterans, then you will get 10 points extra on your application.

Good luck, and you will mostly like it. I'm currently working at Veterans Affairs Medical Center It's great place!

Much less workload? Depending on which VA. Not so much where I work. Actually thinking of leaving, not because I don't like the VA, but because I don't like this particular one.
Job security is real. With the "incentives", pay is about equal to private sector job. There are no sign-on bonuses, but some VAs still have loan reimbursement (though many now do not).

 

[68quebec]

Much less workload? Depending on which VA. Not so much where I work. Actually thinking of leaving, not because I don't like the VA, but because I don't like this particular one.
Job security is real. With the "incentives", pay is about equal to private sector job. There are no sign-on bonuses, but some VAs still have loan reimbursement (though many now do not).

I'm sorry to hear that you are thinking of leaving. I've met more than +200 pharmacists in VA/DOD pharmacy, and none of them were thinking of leaving at that moment. you are right, workload may be depend on where you are at.

 

[Jibby321]

Thanks for the information!! And yes I meant veterans affairs. Lol. I'll keep yall informed. I appriciate it!

 

[PCPharmD]

I am pharmacy intern in the VALOR program, and I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience. During the summer, I had a lot of time to shadow clinical pharmacy specialists in areas such as ambulatory care, psychiatry, and internal medicine. I also had longitudinal staffing duties mostly in the outpatient pharmacy, but I did spend some time in the inpatient pharmacy, as well. Now that school has resumed, I work a few weekends per month doing MTM for patients on admission and on discharge, as well as delivering medications to patients before discharge and counseling them on it. It has been a great experience, and I would highly recommend it.

 

[Jibby321]

Thanks pc. Still waiting to hear back. Hopefully I get the position. Also what is the intern pay rate?

 

[PCPharmD]

Best wishes as you wait to hear back. The VALOR intern pay is definitely a perk. It starts around $19/hr and I've heard numbers as high as $24/hr, though location is what will drive the wage that you receive. I didn't know what the pay was going to be until I was offered the position, and it is was definitely a nice surprise; but honestly, I would have done it for minimum wage for the experience. Good luck!