How hard is it to get into residency?

[chichan]

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I've been debating whether I should go for residency or not.
In the hospital pharmacy I work many staff pharmacists encourage me to do residency so I won't be like them. They make it sound like they have the worst job ever and they kind of look down on new grads that did not pursue residency. I think that it'd rewarding to have a clinical position, better work hours and career opportunities but I am having problems with my grade. My GPA is below 3.0 and seeing how competitive getting a residency is nowadays, I am very discouraged if not depressed. It feels like I'm falling into the hole where at least the pharmacists at work see themselves in.
For those who have experienced the residency process, how hard is it to get into a program? Are out of state residencies (I'm in CA) easier to get into?
And for the pharmacists out there without a residency, is it really that bad?
I am worried and feeling trapped that perhaps I won't be able to get into a residency and not being happy working as a usual pharmacist.
Thanks for reading

 

[RxWildcat]

What year are you in school? As long as you can get a 3.0 ish I think you could get into a residency somewhere, although maybe not all of the super-competitive ones. You never know until you apply, so keep your options open. I can't remember the exact numbers, but last year there was about 1900 people who applied for pgy1 residencies and about 1600 of them matched, so I'd say your chances aren't that bad.

 

[njac]

at my hospital the staff pharmacists can't understand why I want to do a residency. They see it as another hoop to jump through to have the same job they do.

Where I've worked staffing isn't that bad. People will whine about their jobs wherever they are.

 

[PharMed2016]

I think that as pharmacy gets more competitive, residencies will become more important for potential employers to distinguish who to employ like the Rh.P vs. PharmD of current.

What I would choose? Well, I'm applying for medical school after I'm done with my PharmD but I may change my mind between now and then. If I do, I will probably pursue a residency and (possibly a fellowship). Sure, you'll be making less than regular traditional pharmacist for the first couple of years but when you finish... a whole world of opps are opened for you both clinical and ... corporate if you like.

If you become a specialist like ID, you maybe consulted on various things, all for a nominal fee. Also job satisfaction is greater along with flexibility.

Eh, its all up to you.

 

[RxWildcat]

I think that as pharmacy gets more competitive, residencies will become more important for potential employers to distinguish who to employ like the Rh.P vs. PharmD of current.

What I would choose? Well, I'm applying for medical school after I'm done with my PharmD but I may change my mind between now and then. If I do, I will probably pursue a residency and (possibly a fellowship). Sure, you'll be making less than regular traditional pharmacist for the first couple of years but when you finish... a whole world of opps are opened for you both clinical and ... corporate if you like.

If you become a specialist like ID, you maybe consulted on various things, all for a nominal fee. Also job satisfaction is greater along with flexibility.

Eh, its all up to you.

You're right, it's a great way to set yourself apart from the crowd.

 

[njac]

But you rarely, if ever, make that much more than your counterparts. So money should be a minimal part of the equation.

 

[Pintobeans]

But you rarely, if ever, make that much more than your counterparts. So money should be a minimal part of the equation.

what is the salary diference? some hospitals even have hybrid positions of staffing and clinical. In my hospital the clinical pharmacists staff half of the time and still work crazy hours when staffing.

 

[njac]

what is the salary diference? some hospitals even have hybrid positions of staffing and clinical. In my hospital the clinical pharmacists staff half of the time and still work crazy hours when staffing.

I think it depends from location to location. at my hospital the day pharmacists do half clinical and half staffing - if you work on the floors you do kinetics, etc while keeping up on your order entry.

the residency lets you start at a pay grade as if you'd been working as a pharmacist for 3 years already, but with union negotiations the last couple of years, that works out to be no difference at our place.

 

[aboveliquidice]

what is the salary diference? some hospitals even have hybrid positions of staffing and clinical. In my hospital the clinical pharmacists staff half of the time and still work crazy hours when staffing.

At this point - Residency is pretty much future-proofing yourself. Its also a great way to continue to grow and learn pharmacy practice. Like everything else in life - doing it for the money is generally the wrong mindset...

~above~

 

[RxWildcat]

ACCP Position

No one has brought that up so far so I thought I would post it.

 

[ItsOverZyvox]

At this point - Residency is pretty much future-proofing yourself. Its also a great way to continue to grow and learn pharmacy practice. Like everything else in life - doing it for the money is generally the wrong mindset...

~above~

Nice way of putting it.

 

[bigpharmD]

during inteviews i typically look at the following qualities:
1. Your attractive if your female
2. You like to watch football and party if your male

if you meet these it shouldnt be hard.

 

[njac]

What if you're #1 and meet the non male requirements of #2?

 

[bigpharmD]

hired!

 

[Hels2007]

I would say, that if you want to work in the hospital, it's best to do a residency. Otherwise, it's not worth it.

It's funny how nearly every student I have spoken to in the last couple years keeps saying how their schools push everyone into residency... Out of my class, I think about 1/5 ended up doing one. The years before mine - about 1/3... but I didn't do it, opting instead for a fellowship, since I knew exactly what I wanted to be when I grow up, and hospital pharmacy was (and still is) not part of that future.

 

[VCU2011]

I would say, that if you want to work in the hospital, it's best to do a residency. Otherwise, it's not worth it.

It's funny how nearly every student I have spoken to in the last couple years keeps saying how their schools push everyone into residency... Out of my class, I think about 1/5 ended up doing one. The years before mine - about 1/3... but I didn't do it, opting instead for a fellowship, since I knew exactly what I wanted to be when I grow up, and hospital pharmacy was (and still is) not part of that future.

They do- school's push and push and push residency, and i'm sure if you polled an entire class of 130 (thats just my size), probably 20 would say they are definitely doing one, 40 would say they're not sure or haven't decided, and 70 would say no. What ends up happening is probably 38/40 of those unsure people get dangeled a check upon graduation that they cant resist which only leave 22/130 going to residency.

 

[RxWildcat]

They do- school's push and push and push residency, and i'm sure if you polled an entire class of 130 (thats just my size), probably 20 would say they are definitely doing one, 40 would say they're not sure or haven't decided, and 70 would say no. What ends up happening is probably 38/40 of those unsure people get dangeled a check upon graduation that they cant resist which only leave 22/130 going to residency.

If I had to guess I'd say that's pretty close to my school as well, probably a bit closer to 25% doing a residency though. We have a lot of people on the fence that I'd bet won't do one... money talks.

 

[patmcd]

My school generally gets about 20% of each class into a residency.

 

[bacillus1]

I would say, that if you want to work in the hospital, it's best to do a residency. Otherwise, it's not worth it.

What about a drug info residency? That's worth it if you want to go into drug info.

(Just pointing something out).

Of course, if you don't want to do hospital work/drug info, don't do a residency. But it seems like hospital work is more pleasurable than retail (depending on the hosp. and retail chain, of course), and industry is harder to get into.

 

[Hels2007]

What about a drug info residency? That's worth it if you want to go into drug info.

A lot of drug information residencies have become PGY2 specialty residencies. However, I heard that some are deciding to give up ASHP accreditation in order to be able to hire their own people straight out of pharmacy school, since they prefer people who are clearly focused on drug information.

There are also academic/hospital associated drug info residencies and industry associated drug info residencies - two very different things.

However, I think that hospital drug information is the most miserable thing, but I had bad experience with it... horrid catty people where I were, and the job itself BORING. I can't even express how bored I was... The only drug information position I would consider is with a poison control center. A lot more dynamic and exciting environment.

Of course, if you don't want to do hospital work/drug info, don't do a residency. But it seems like hospital work is more pleasurable than retail (depending on the hosp. and retail chain, of course), and industry is harder to get into.

There are a lot more options for a pharmacist than retail and hospital, though pharmacy schools tend to focus on those two (and rightly so, as that's where majority of graduates end up) and ignore all the other paths. Unfortunately, there are very few schools that really do tell students about all the options out there...

And whether hospital is better, is very much a personal preference. I personally found the experience entirely miserable (though I do try to be fair and on these boards tell the good and the bad, for me personally, it was no enjoyable overall) and would only work in a hospital if I had no choice whatsoever.

 

[iphetamine]

What's really Drug Information, what do you really do?? I've read mixed things, not really clear about it as a residency or career.

 

[Glycerin]

What's really Drug Information, what do you really do?? I've read mixed things, not really clear about it as a residency or career.

I know nothing about this program, other than a friend of mine is doing it and likes it. http://druginfo.creighton.edu/Residency.asp

Hopefully this'll give you at least an idea.

 

[iphetamine]

ah, thanks.

that seems a lot of work, i thought it'll be like sitting at a computer and working with databases...

 

[117296]

What's really Drug Information, what do you really do?? I've read mixed things, not really clear about it as a residency or career.

Write monographs, help w/ P&T committee related tasks (such as formulary reviews), take DI questions.

It's not as boring as one would think.

 

[Hels2007]

It's not as boring as one would think.

Oh yes, it is! But I am biased. Sitting in a P&T committee is a lot less exciting than it seems. While some questions (and answers) are really interesting, the overall work environment requires a certain personality type, which I am not.

 

[PharmaTope]

Write monographs, help w/ P&T committee related tasks (such as formulary reviews), take DI questions.

It's not as boring as one would think.

if you are a nerd who is into doing projects then you will love it. that stuff is pretty boring to me. i prefer the patient interaction and student interaction.

 

[iphetamine]

if you are a nerd who is into doing projects then you will love it. that stuff is pretty boring to me. i prefer the patient interaction and student interaction.

Yes, I do love working on projects.....but hate memorizing too much..hmm