New job at the VA! :o)

[pharmdinfl]

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About a month ago, I was looking through the job openings at the local VA randomly and saw an open spot listed for the outpatient pharmacy. I decided to apply, as I'm not thrilled with with company I've been working for. So, to make a long story short, I interviewed and was offered the position! It is an 8 to 4:30 pm job, with no weekends or federal holidays!!!!!!!!!!! That alone just makes me so happy.

Anywho, all that is left right now is they are checking into my references (my current employer, included, I assume) and then if all goes well, I can officially give my 2 weeks notice.

Thank you for letting me share my excitement!

 

[UNMorBUST]

About a month ago, I was looking through the job openings at the local VA randomly and saw an open spot listed for the outpatient pharmacy. I decided to apply, as I'm not thrilled with with company I've been working for. So, to make a long story short, I interviewed and was offered the position! It is an 8 to 4:30 pm job, with no weekends or federal holidays!!!!!!!!!!! That alone just makes me so happy.

Anywho, all that is left right now is they are checking into my references (my current employer, included, I assume) and then if all goes well, I can officially give my 2 weeks notice.

Thank you for letting me share my excitement!

Amazing scedule. To have weekends and holidays is simply a godsend. Congrats, now go out and party

 

[AznClubHead]

If you don't mind, how much money does that kind of job offer you?

 

[MountainPharmD]

About a month ago, I was looking through the job openings at the local VA randomly and saw an open spot listed for the outpatient pharmacy. I decided to apply, as I'm not thrilled with with company I've been working for. So, to make a long story short, I interviewed and was offered the position! It is an 8 to 4:30 pm job, with no weekends or federal holidays!!!!!!!!!!! That alone just makes me so happy.

Anywho, all that is left right now is they are checking into my references (my current employer, included, I assume) and then if all goes well, I can officially give my 2 weeks notice.

Thank you for letting me share my excitement!

I am looking to do the same thing in about 10 months. I worked as an intern for the VA. I like how they do things.

 

[pharmdinfl]

If you don't mind, how much money does that kind of job offer you?

It depends where the VA is and your level of experience. If you check out the VA website, most jobs on there will show you the exact salary range available and they determine where in that range you fall.

 

[dgroulx]

Congrats! A friend of mine left Walgreens a couple of months ago for the VA in Tampa.

 

[patmcd]

Pay us back for our tax dollars by taking good care of our vets 😛

 

[MountainPharmD]

About a month ago, I was looking through the job openings at the local VA randomly and saw an open spot listed for the outpatient pharmacy. I decided to apply, as I'm not thrilled with with company I've been working for. So, to make a long story short, I interviewed and was offered the position! It is an 8 to 4:30 pm job, with no weekends or federal holidays!!!!!!!!!!! That alone just makes me so happy.

Anywho, all that is left right now is they are checking into my references (my current employer, included, I assume) and then if all goes well, I can officially give my 2 weeks notice.

Thank you for letting me share my excitement!

So how did it turn out? Are you happy with the VA?

 

[pharmdinfl]

So how did it turn out? Are you happy with the VA?

So far, so good! The staff are all a pleasure to work with so far. The best part really is that I know I am helping out people who have served our country. It's really a great feeling and I feel like this will be a very rewarding job. 🙂

 

[Ross434]

say hello to federal benefits!!

 

[pharmdinfl]

say hello to federal benefits!!

Yes - those are awesome as well ....and also wonderful are the regular M-F banker hours 😀

 

[Allure]

You're lucky not to have to work weekends. Where I was at, the pharmacists had to do every third weekend and some holidays since patients are still in the hospitals even on holidays.

 

[pharmdinfl]

You're lucky not to have to work weekends. Where I was at, the pharmacists had to do every third weekend and some holidays since patients are still in the hospitals even on holidays.

Yes, in the inpatient clinics they don't have quite as nice hours. I am in the outpatient clinic which is why I have the regular business hours.

 

[UNMorBUST]

Yes, in the inpatient clinics they don't have quite as nice hours. I am in the outpatient clinic which is why I have the regular business hours.

Im glad that you are enjoying the job so far👍.

 

[PharMed2016]

About a month ago, I was looking through the job openings at the local VA randomly and saw an open spot listed for the outpatient pharmacy. I decided to apply, as I'm not thrilled with with company I've been working for. So, to make a long story short, I interviewed and was offered the position! It is an 8 to 4:30 pm job, with no weekends or federal holidays!!!!!!!!!!! That alone just makes me so happy.

Anywho, all that is left right now is they are checking into my references (my current employer, included, I assume) and then if all goes well, I can officially give my 2 weeks notice.

Thank you for letting me share my excitement!

I would love to work at the VA but the moutain of paperwork that you have to do to get in is daunting.

It took me about 3 months to get into the VA to do ID research there after getting finger-printed and everything. Is it any faster if you are applying for a job?

 

[pharmdinfl]

I would love to work at the VA but the moutain of paperwork that you have to do to get in is daunting.

It took me about 3 months to get into the VA to do ID research there after getting finger-printed and everything. Is it any faster if you are applying for a job?

Not really! It took about 2 months for all of my stuff to be processed after I was offered the spot. I think it's this way for most government jobs.

 

[Eptifibatide]

do you need to do a residency to work at the VA?

 

[RxWildcat]

do you need to do a residency to work at the VA?

No, except you may need one for certain clinical jobs at the VA.

 

[meister]

That sounds like a pretty sweet schedule and obviously federal benefits are great. So what's the catch?

 

[crossurfingers]

I interviewed for the VA here and didn't bother completing my application. It was for a position as an outpatient pharmacist. I thought their computer system was outdated and would probably be difficult to learn. They told me training is usually 6 months where you work with another pharmacist, but due to their current lack of staffing I would be working solo after about a month. They also told me they were currently trying to fill 6 vacant pharmacist spots- red flag anyone? They told me they were currently really backed up (like 2000 prescriptions backed up) due to staffing issues.

They were willing to match my current salary in retail and they had A LOT of benefits. I just wasn't sure it was the kind of work environment I wanted to be in. Also, outpatient VA is a lot different from retail (they are required to formally counsel all patients and play a large role in the methadone clinic). I didn't think that their training would be adequate. Maybe I'll look into it again sometime in the future.

 

[All4MyDaughter]

I work for the VA in the outpatient pharmacy and like it a lot. It is super busy but very automated and well staffed with pharmacists. Yesterday there were 2 pharmacists taking requests from patients and counseling, 2 pharmacists checking and two pharmacists taking phone calls (doctor and patient calls). Then there were a couple more there that I'm not sure exactly what they were doing. I hope to continue working there as an intern and a pharmacist after I graduate.

 

[RxWildcat]

I work for the VA in the outpatient pharmacy and like it a lot. It is super busy but very automated and well staffed with pharmacists. Yesterday there were 2 pharmacists taking requests from patients and counseling, 2 pharmacists checking and two pharmacists taking phone calls (doctor and patient calls). Then there were a couple more there that I'm not sure exactly what they were doing. I hope to continue working there as an intern and a pharmacist after I graduate.

I'm gonna work for the VA too! Sweeeeeet!