First year as a RPh

[pharmacology888]

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Hey all

I just want to know how difficult the transition was from being a student in pharmacy school to your first year as a registered pharmacist. What was the most difficult part after graduation? Are there any specific questions/mistakes you stumbled over as a new RPh? The reason I ask this is because I just finished my first year of pharmacy school and just started working at the pharmacy, and I feel like I don't know much. I see how knowledgeable the pharmacists are at my pharmacy, and I'm just wondering whether I can actually get to that point.
Any insight would be appreciated
thanks

 

[dgroulx]

Hey all

I just want to know how difficult the transition was from being a student in pharmacy school to your first year as a registered pharmacist. What was the most difficult part after graduation? Are there any specific questions/mistakes you stumbled over as a new RPh? The reason I ask this is because I just finished my first year of pharmacy school and just started working at the pharmacy, and I feel like I don't know much. I see how knowledgeable the pharmacists are at my pharmacy, and I'm just wondering whether I can actually get to that point.
Any insight would be appreciated
thanks

I love being a pharmacist compared to being a student. Even when I was an intern at a crazy, busy store, I would say to myself that it was still better than school.

The main difference is that you are making decisions for actual people. You have to be confident in your choices and recommendations. If you hesitate or appear to be guessing then the patient won't have any faith in what you are telling them. I keep my PDA with me, too. Sometimes the computer will flag an interaction and I can look it up quickly on my PDA and get more details on it.

You will learn everything about the pharmacy that you work at. It just takes a little time.

 

[12345]

I am still in rotations so I am sure it is much different, but damn I love them way more than class. Anyone who says school is better than the real world did not go to pharmacy school in my opinion.

 

[Doctor M]

I am still in rotations so I am sure it is much different, but damn I love them way more than class. Anyone who says school is better than the real world did not go to pharmacy school in my opinion.

I went to pharmacy school and I miss skipping class and sleeping in once in a awhile. Can't really do that with the real world🙂. But I do love being a pharmacist when all goes smoothly. We all know that dont happen all the time.

 

[letjin]

Hey all

I just want to know how difficult the transition was from being a student in pharmacy school to your first year as a registered pharmacist. What was the most difficult part after graduation? Are there any specific questions/mistakes you stumbled over as a new RPh? The reason I ask this is because I just finished my first year of pharmacy school and just started working at the pharmacy, and I feel like I don't know much. I see how knowledgeable the pharmacists are at my pharmacy, and I'm just wondering whether I can actually get to that point.
Any insight would be appreciated
thanks

I'm not a RPh yet, but I'm an intern with a couple years of experience. I am already looking forward to the day I'll be working as a pharmacist. It was very tough at the beginning when I started out as a tech, but I'm glad I decided to work during school. (And I feel sorry for those who are not working while in school... if they are going into retail) Experience really helps... and I get to apply my pharmacology and therapeutics knowledge every day, and help people get best out of there therapy.

For example - one day, I had a lady with a prescription for 2 antibiotics and omeprazole. She only wanted omeprazole - she wondered why her MD prescribed her antibiotics, when her only complaints were GI discomfort. The techs working at the drop-off window let her fill omeprazole only, but I caught that when I was updating her insurance when she came to pick it up. I was able to explain that it was treatment regiment for H.Pylori caused ulcers - then she was willing to pick up all of her medications. What would've happened if she did not use the medications as directed? THe ulcer would've recurred, and she would've have to shell out money for more drugs. (One of reasons she didn't want ABX was because that was extra money for copay!) Seeing the actual regimens and helping them gives more meaning to the seemingly pointless schoolwork...

I've seen that the best pharmacists are the ones who worked as techs while in school - I think students who are techs now won't have any problem transitioning as an RPh.

 

[trx]

Your post (with example) made me appreciate my work experience even more. Although I don't know if I ever came across a good of an example as yours, I do do some "clinical" thinking as well as the "technical" work (insurance, stock adjustment, etc.). I remind myself that every thing I do is a learning experience (zpak doesn't know it, but the appreciation and awareness were motivated by his annoyed pm). I still feel like there's so much more to learn, and I'm trying to be proactive and do as much as I can.

 

[pharm_girl]

It was very tough at the beginning when I started out as a tech, but I'm glad I decided to work during school. (And I feel sorry for those who are not working while in school... if they are going into retail) Experience really helps... and I get to apply my pharmacology and therapeutics knowledge every day, and help people get best out of there therapy.

I've seen that the best pharmacists are the ones who worked as techs while in school - I don't think students who are techs now won't have any problem transitioning as an RPh.

I am thinking about working every other weekend at a retail pharmacy while in school. But I'm worried that I won't have time to study especially since exams are every week and I'll be going into the 2nd year of school, which I've heard is the hardest one. How often did you work while you were in school? How did you manage to balance out working and studying?

 

[alwaystired]

On the working while in school, definitely do it. It's not just he paycheck, you really learn a lot practical things. I don't feel nervous to be on my own next year at all. I have worked as an intern since I started and have learned soooooo much. Day 1: scared to death of everything, esp insurance and angry customers Today: 100% confident I can do the job right.

This is an interesting question though, because I am sure there will be things that pop up Day 1 and you're like, hmmm, what do I do? I am curious too to see what the recently graduated RPh have to say tripped them up at first, etc.....

 

[ZpackSux]

Your post (with example) made me appreciate my work experience even more. Although I don't know if I ever came across a good of an example as yours, but I do some "clinical" thinking as well as the "technical" work (insurance, stock adjustment, etc.). I remind myself that every thing I do is a learning experience (zpak doesn't know it, but the appreciation and awareness were motivated by his annoyed pm). I still feel like there's so much more to learn, and I'm trying to be proactive and do as much as I can.

And I was just telling one of my good friends that this is exactly the reason why I stick around this forum.

Thanks!

 

[Jbuprepharm]

I worked almost every saturday during my first year and I've been working full time this summer. I can honestly say that while it didn't help me with the science classes like biochem and such (having had them in undergrad did though 😉) in the couple of actually pharmacy related classes I noticed that my prior knowledge and overall ability to conceptualize what was being taught was greatly enhanced by my work experience. Even with little things like knowing what the different Sig notations meant.

We have a brand new Rph that just graduated from my school and got licensed last wednesday, she worked all through school and she said that she would be completely lost if she hadn't. instead, nerves aside, she's moved right into the role with relative ease (however she triple checks everything on her PDA just to be sure 😀)

 

[vida]

Does this mean that if a pharmacy student doesn't work as a tech, have tough time during the transition state (from student to RPh)? This is a true concern question from me. (Please do not be cynical)
I am actually speaking and asking for myself.
I donot have any pharmacy experience prior to joining pharmacy school. I worked for 16hrs during my first year in pharmacy as an intern but that was busy store all I did was doing a regular tech job. I actually learned a lot during my rotations than working! So if you could really post your concerns regarding the first year experience from being a student to Rph that would be great.

 

[Doctor M]

Does this mean that if a pharmacy student doesn't work as a tech, have tough time during the transition state (from student to RPh)? This is a true concern question from me. (Please do not be cynical)
I am actually speaking and asking for myself.
I donot have any pharmacy experience prior to joining pharmacy school. I worked for 16hrs during my first year in pharmacy as an intern but that was busy store all I did was doing a regular tech job. I actually learned a lot during my rotations than working! So if you could really post your concerns regarding the first year experience from being a student to Rph that would be great.

You should be fine. I worked only 4 hrs per week during pharmacy school and full time in the summers. I learned everything during rotations and during the 2 1/2 months as a grad intern. You need to be confident and if your ever not sure of something, look it up. I know a lot of students in my class that did not work and they did fine during the transition. Good luck

 

[Doctor M]

Hey all

I just want to know how difficult the transition was from being a student in pharmacy school to your first year as a registered pharmacist. What was the most difficult part after graduation? Are there any specific questions/mistakes you stumbled over as a new RPh? The reason I ask this is because I just finished my first year of pharmacy school and just started working at the pharmacy, and I feel like I don't know much. I see how knowledgeable the pharmacists are at my pharmacy, and I'm just wondering whether I can actually get to that point.
Any insight would be appreciated
thanks

You wont know much after your first year, don't worry about it. You still have 3 years, 1 being rotations where you will learn a lot. The hardest part of the transition was studying for the boards especially the law. After 4 years of study, the last thing I wanted to read was any law BS, but it had to be done. Any questions/mistakes? Well, the difference between artane and navane. That was my fist error I made😡. Anyway, good luck on your trip to being a pharmacist.