Advice For New Grads

[Mr. Corporate Pharmacist]

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I am onboarding and training 3 new grad pharmacists right now, and I could use some help from some other seasoned pharmacists.

What are some things you wish you knew when you first graduated?

C2 protocols were a nightmare for me. What else can you think of?

 

[mentos]

Get compression socks and very good walking shoes. Don't gossip, don't post anything to social media, don't work off the clock. Don't go above and beyond because then you'll be expected to do that same workload all the time, and you won't get a raise or bonus anyway. Don't be a doormat.

 

[PumpkinSmasher]

Take a few moments on the way home from work everyday to reflect on a positive experience you had with a patient or solving an issue. Then turn off work completely until your next shift. I do not work in dispensing, so I don't have much to offer for the various tasks

Do not sweat the small stuff and make sure to take breaks during the day if you can. Get outside for some fresh air and decompress.

And of course get long-term disability insurance, term life (shop around for disability and life insurance and make sure it is fixed rate and own occupation for disability) invest in tax deferred retirement options, always do 401k type plan up to company match. An emergency fund is good idea and start paying down debt. There is more but that would be a good start....

 

[sadface]

Is this outpatient new pharmacist advice?

Be nice to the technicians but use the technicians. If you try to do everything yourself you will get extremely behind. If you are a jerk when deferring work don't be surprised if your techs are afraid of you/don't try to make your life easier. If they are afraid of you communication will break down and make things more difficult. Doing things like stepping in when customers are mad at them to help diffuse the situation can go a long way in getting the techs on your side.

That said, I would encourage new pharmacists to learn how to do almost everything their techs do in preparation for call ins, working with new techs, etc. Easier to learn this while "in training" compared to staffing and short a person. Also in the rare instance you are all caught up, helping with technician work ensures the pharmacy runs smoothly and they will notice and appreciate it.