ED Pharmacist interview tips?

[alphabetsoup2]

Interviewing for an emergency department position next week.

I'm residency-trained, but never did an ED rotation as our hospital didn't have an ED pharmacist. But, I always learned so much going to the ED during my rotations to visit patients before they were transferred to the floor. I'm doing a lit search to better-educate on ED pharmacists as a whole.

Are there any specific types of interview questions I should expect? Are there any ED-specific scenarios or topics I should prepare to be asked about? Do you have any general tips?

Thanks in advance!

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[TheBlaah]

You're going to have a rough time of it if you haven't had ED experience. Generally, ED pharmacists will be responsible to responding to codes, intubations, ect. So you should be aware of treatment guidelines *as well as how to pull/mix/prepare the meds/drips*. You WILL get yelled at if you're slow at it.

Also you should have a good idea about administration rates and dosages for emergency drugs like mannitol and RSI.

 

[alphabetsoup2]

Yes, absolutely. You're right, I do anticipate a large learning curve, but I'm not one to step away from a challenge. Some skills will be transferable, though, med rec, counselling, antibiotic assessment, etc.

Thanks so much for those topics.

I guess everybody has to start somewhere! I imagine not all ED pharmacists got formal training via residency or something else before starting.

 

[Dred Pirate]

Be able to know RSI doses inside and out, when to use each agent, etc. know what abx to use empirically in each situation,

 

[sakigt]

I went straight out of school without a residency to the ED in the footsteps of two very experienced Pharmacists so I had a lot to learn fast.

I became an ED podcast junkie. Start with Emcrit. Then EM Basic. Elective Rotation with Pharmacy Joe. BLS, ACLS and PALS.

 

[spacecowgirl]

Emergency Medicine PharmD

I'd also know a lot about emergent anticoagulant reversal. Everyone on warfarin likes to fall and hit their head. Maybe some info on reducing ICP in SAH and TBI. STEMI and NSTEMI protocols.

I'm not an ED pharmacist, but these are questions I've had lately.

 

[samven582]

I have an interview myself for a ED pharmacist position. Any tips would be appreciated.