Being on call

[letjin]

I work at a retail chain pharmacy. Recently they hired a new,old pharmacist who used to work as a clinical pharmacist at well-known large hospital. I asked him why he switched and he reasoned that he hated being on call. He said he frequently has to get up in the middle of night to answer that.
I also see my pharmacy practice professors answer page many times a day when they are in class/discussion/meeting, etc.
Is being on call pretty much required for ALL clinical pharmacists? For the practicing pharmacists out there, how much nights a week are you on call? What frequency? Is this the most annoying aspect about the clinical pharmacy?

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[KARM12]

I work at a retail chain pharmacy. Recently they hired a new,old pharmacist who used to work as a clinical pharmacist at well-known large hospital. I asked him why he switched and he reasoned that he hated being on call. He said he frequently has to get up in the middle of night to answer that.
I also see my pharmacy practice professors answer page many times a day when they are in class/discussion/meeting, etc.
Is being on call pretty much required for ALL clinical pharmacists? For the practicing pharmacists out there, how much nights a week are you on call? What frequency? Is this the most annoying aspect about the clinical pharmacy?

Being on call is NOT required for all clinical pharmacists, but it is for some. It all depends on where you work and what you do. Clinical pharmacists work in a variety of settings hospitals, amb clinics, industry, community, etc...

A lot of the larger hospitals will require some of the pharmacists to be on call. An on-call program is not uncommon for a pharmacy resident... The frequency all depends on the program. I know one pharmacist that is a resident at a teaching hospital and is on call one night a week. I know another pharmacists that works in an anticoag clinic and is never on call. It all depends on the job you take and is something to consider when looking for employment in the future.

 

[psychoandy]

I don't think any of the residents I see are on call...they might pick up an evening/weekend shift as their staffing shift, but they're definitely not on call.

I feel that this would be more prevalent in smaller hospitals. My pharmacy has night shift RPhs, so there is no overnight call. I mean, you might be asked to work a night shift, but that's usually an occasional staffing issue. Comparatively, with smaller hospitals that don't have 24 hour pharmacy services, you would definitely have call.

Of course, if you're moderately important, you're always on call (like managers)...but thats more like paging an attending, it's usually about something really important.

 

[sdn1977]

Yep - call is usually for the hospitals without a 24 hr pharmacy. Its also an issue when you work for some home health pharmacies.

Yes - it gets old fast. Even if you don't have to go in....which if you have a good nursing supervisor, you don't...you still might get that call which disrupts you & your SO.

As you get more experienced & the nursing supervisor gets to know you, you often don't have to go in - you can advise something else or a stopgap thing until the first shift comes on. But...you've been awakened & have to get back to sleep. Unfortunately, it doesn't happen enough to get your body used to it as an OB would, for example.

However....the older you get the less you like call.

 

[KARM12]

Many of the residencies I've looked into do require that their residents be on call. It was not unique to a particular practice setting. It was part of the program at UIC (which most residents complained about) and also at some of the smaller more community based hospitals. Best advice is to look into it when applying for jobs and residencies. Some require it and some don't. If it is not something you are willing to do, then I wouldn't take that job.

 

[sdn1977]

Many of the residencies I've looked into do require that their residents be on call. It was not unique to a particular practice setting. It was part of the program at UIC (which most residents complained about) and also at some of the smaller more community based hospitals. Best advice is to look into it when applying for jobs and residencies. Some require it and some don't. If it is not something you are willing to do, then I wouldn't take that job.

I agree - if you're not willing nor able (a single parent for example) - don't take the job.

But...when you're young....I would advise taking advantage of opportunities. Some of the best ones don't come often!

 

[genesis09]

Many of the residencies I've looked into do require that their residents be on call. It was not unique to a particular practice setting. It was part of the program at UIC (which most residents complained about) and also at some of the smaller more community based hospitals. Best advice is to look into it when applying for jobs and residencies. Some require it and some don't. If it is not something you are willing to do, then I wouldn't take that job.

They actually make a big deal about the on-call program. Some of the residents have said that was one of the reasons why they chose UIC. If you decide to take the Resident Shadowing elective, they recommend you do one on-call shadow.

 

[letjin]

Thanks for the advice!