Goodbye Night Rx!

[dgroulx]

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The Night Rx program that I work for has officially bitten the dust. We didn't have enough pharmacists to complete the work. That would have required 4 pharmacists per shift. Instead of 1 pharmacist, they gave us 3 techs. It takes as long to confirm a tech order as it does to enter it yourself and I think it was a bad decision. They never staffed the other shift past 2 pharmacists. Orders weren't completed and it was doomed to fail. February is our last month.

I had a bad feeling about the program for a while and started my new job hunt in November. The market in Florida is at its saturation point. Too many schools dumped too many students into the marketplace, then Walgreens laid off pharmacists when Power came out. I fell on my feet into two jobs.

My old boss recommended me for the overnight position at her new hospital. I'm just waiting for the background check to be completed. I've done the physical and drug test. During my week off, I will be managing a mom & pop start-up pharmacy. I get to decide what drugs we stock and have total control of the pharmacy. Since I work nights, I can also pop in during my normal work week at the other job.

Some of my coworkers were already working PRN at other hospitals, so they may be able to pick up extra hours. However, 2 pharmacists will be looking for new work. I feel bad for them. I offered one of them retail hours when my new place opens in March, but she only wants hospital.

If you are looking for work when you graduate, stay away from Florida!

 

[pharmwannebe2]

The Night Rx program that I work for has officially bitten the dust. We didn't have enough pharmacists to complete the work. That would have required 4 pharmacists per shift. Instead of 1 pharmacist, they gave us 3 techs. It takes as long to confirm a tech order as it does to enter it yourself and I think it was a bad decision. They never staffed the other shift past 2 pharmacists. Orders weren't completed and it was doomed to fail. February is our last month.

I had a bad feeling about the program for a while and started my new job hunt in November. The market in Florida is at its saturation point. Too many schools dumped too many students into the marketplace, then Walgreens laid off pharmacists when Power came out. I fell on my feet into two jobs.

My old boss recommended me for the overnight position at her new hospital. I'm just waiting for the background check to be completed. I've done the physical and drug test. During my week off, I will be managing a mom & pop start-up pharmacy. I get to decide what drugs we stock and have total control of the pharmacy. Since I work nights, I can also pop in during my normal work week at the other job.

Some of my coworkers were already working PRN at other hospitals, so they may be able to pick up extra hours. However, 2 pharmacists will be looking for new work. I feel bad for them. I offered one of them retail hours when my new place opens in March, but she only wants hospital.

If you are looking for work when you graduate, stay away from Florida!

that is so sad. It really makes me want to start saving money rather than spluring money cause you never know what is going to happen next 🙁

 

[ValeRx]

If you are looking for work when you graduate, stay away from Florida!

Interesting...

Florida:
65,795 square miles
18,328,340 estimated population
-------------------

0 jobs? In the ENTIRE state of Florida?

Maybe because your location is "10 Minutes from Disney World" is why there are no jobs.

 

[dgroulx]

Interesting...

Florida:
65,795 square miles
18,328,340 estimated population
-------------------

0 jobs? In the ENTIRE state of Florida?

Maybe because your location is "10 Minutes from Disney World" is why there are no jobs.

I live in Tampa and have to drive 75 miles to be 10 minutes from Disney World. 2 other pharmacists on my shift also have to drive from Tampa. On the other shift, one comes from Jacksonville and another from West Palm. All for a rural job.

I phoned CVS - no jobs in the entire 4 county area (including rural) around Tampa. WAGS is the same. There are probably jobs in the Pan Handle which really should be considered Alabama. I think there is one down job mid-state, extremely rural and lots of palmetto bugs (huge Florida roaches). They don't spray in rural areas. So, yes there are jobs in Florida but no place where anyone would want to live, unless you are over 70 years old and retired. If you come to Florida, that's where you will be working.

 

[PharmDstudent]

I live in Tampa and have to drive 75 miles to be 10 minutes from Disney World. 2 other pharmacists on my shift also have to drive from Tampa. On the other shift, one comes from Jacksonville and another from West Palm. All for a rural job.

I phoned CVS - no jobs in the entire 4 county area (including rural) around Tampa. WAGS is the same. There are probably jobs in the Pan Handle which really should be considered Alabama. I think there is one down job mid-state, extremely rural and lots of palmetto bugs (huge Florida roaches). They don't spray in rural areas. So, yes there are jobs in Florida but no place where anyone would want to live, unless you are over 70 years old and retired. If you come to Florida, that's where you will be working.

Can you go back to Kmart?

 

[tungsten87]

ugh... all this talk is extremely frustrating to someone who will be starting pharmacy school next year and wants to eventually work in FL.

 

[Kumura]

How long were you working there?

 

[PharmDstudent]

ugh... all this talk is extremely frustrating to someone who will be starting pharmacy school next year and wants to eventually work in FL.

Then I suggest you get a part-time intern job and piggyback your way into the market through that company.

Some of the students in my graduating class will be moving out-of-state for jobs since they did not work during pharmacy school and do not have strong connections with employers.

 

[Passion4Sci]

Similar situation in California.

I wonder, how would completing a 1-year residency improve your chances? I know traditionally residencies have been for sprucing up your post-graduation resume, but could it be that a residency could also nail down employment?

Look folks, it's the Almost-Great Depression, and every profession sucks in more demographics than pharmacy does. Even recession-proof sectors such as law enforcement and other first responders are seeing cuts and lay-offs... we aren't immune. But I think a Pharm.D coupled with strong recommendations and a residency is one of the most flexible and powerful degrees in this post-industrial/post-recession United States.

 

[J ROD]

Wow, I have turned down 3 full-time offers since I am going to med school and secured two part-time jobs and working on a third.....

retail, hospital, and nursing home....

what a difference a state makes!! 😱

 

[SmKN808]

show-off 😛

 

[type b pharmD]

The Night Rx program that I work for has officially bitten the dust. We didn't have enough pharmacists to complete the work. That would have required 4 pharmacists per shift. Instead of 1 pharmacist, they gave us 3 techs. It takes as long to confirm a tech order as it does to enter it yourself and I think it was a bad decision. They never staffed the other shift past 2 pharmacists. Orders weren't completed and it was doomed to fail. February is our last month.

I had a bad feeling about the program for a while and started my new job hunt in November. The market in Florida is at its saturation point. Too many schools dumped too many students into the marketplace, then Walgreens laid off pharmacists when Power came out. I fell on my feet into two jobs.

My old boss recommended me for the overnight position at her new hospital. I'm just waiting for the background check to be completed. I've done the physical and drug test. During my week off, I will be managing a mom & pop start-up pharmacy. I get to decide what drugs we stock and have total control of the pharmacy. Since I work nights, I can also pop in during my normal work week at the other job.

Some of my coworkers were already working PRN at other hospitals, so they may be able to pick up extra hours. However, 2 pharmacists will be looking for new work. I feel bad for them. I offered one of them retail hours when my new place opens in March, but she only wants hospital.

If you are looking for work when you graduate, stay away from Florida!

no matter which way you look at it, florida is probably one of the worst states to live in , REGARDLESS of the pharmacist surplus!! Stay Away!

 

[J ROD]

show-off 😛

just want to show there are opportunities out there.....😀 😉

 

[J ROD]

no matter which way you look at it, florida is probably one of the worst states to live in , REGARDLESS of the pharmacist surplus!! Stay Away!

I like FL.....👍

except the hurricanes, cost to live there.....

I will stay in SC.....😍

 

[ethyl]

Secured a job in central Florida by interning with them my first and second year of pharmacy school. My worry is if going straight into retail will damage my ability to get a hospital job later on.

 

[J ROD]

Secured a job in central Florida by interning with them my first and second year of pharmacy school. My worry is if going straight into retail will damage my ability to get a hospital job later on.

Depends on if you have worked in a hospital pharmacy....

I know my hospital does not like hiring retail pharmacist....we hired one recently and it has taken that person twice as long to get where they need to be compared to others with some experience....

It really is a different world....best thing to do is try and find a PT job with a hospital and go from there....get your foot in the door!!

 

[rphello]

The Night Rx program that I work for has officially bitten the dust.

With your 25+ years programming experience, you might want to look into this:

http://omopcup.orwik.com/

$10,000 for the winner. I'm just now getting into programming, so my meager skills aren't yet up to the task.

 

[pharmwannebe2]

Depends on if you have worked in a hospital pharmacy....

I know my hospital does not like hiring retail pharmacist....we hired one recently and it has taken that person twice as long to get where they need to be compared to others with some experience....

It really is a different world....best thing to do is try and find a PT job with a hospital and go from there....get your foot in the door!!

exactly. so far I worked my first 2 years of pharm school in retail. Now I got a job in hospital. You never know what you are going to do while in school...you might change your mind about retail. Hospital is hard to get into if you are just retail....so you might as well experiment now. Plus if you work in a hospital that opens other doors. Like I know Hostace prefers people with hospital experience.

Plus if you decide to do retail after you graduate, you always have those 2 years...when applying for a job.

 

[J ROD]

exactly. so far I worked my first 2 years of pharm school in retail. Now I got a job in hospital. You never know what you are going to do while in school...you might change your mind about retail. Hospital is hard to get into if you are just retail....so you might as well experiment now. Plus if you work in a hospital that opens other doors. Like I know Hostace prefers people with hospital experience.

Plus if you decide to do retail after you graduate, you always have those 2 years...when applying for a job.

hospice?

 

[pharmwannebe2]

hospice?

i can't spell....🙁

 

[J ROD]

i can't spell....🙁

 

[dgroulx]

Secured a job in central Florida by interning with them my first and second year of pharmacy school. My worry is if going straight into retail will damage my ability to get a hospital job later on.

Yes, it will be extremely hard to get a hospital position without a residency, except in a rural area. I only worked one year of retail, then got an opportunity for hospital at my current job. Now that job is gone, I have secured another hospital position. The first job was in Polk County (rural) and this one is in Marion County (retiree area). I cannot get into the Tampa Bay area without a residency. Lesson learned: Do a residency!

 

[J ROD]

Yes, it will be extremely hard to get a hospital position without a residency, except in a rural area. I only worked one year of retail, then got an opportunity for hospital at my current job. Now that job is gone, I have secured another hospital position. The first job was in Polk County (rural) and this one is in Marion County (retiree area). I cannot get into the Tampa Bay area without a residency. Lesson learned: Do a residency!

FL is hardcore....😱