Night shift

[KoreanPharmacist]

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anyone here working the graveyard/night shift at a hospital? If so, mind sharing your experience? How do you like it? Do you switch over to normal hours on off days? (7 on 7 off). Whats the best way to switch from working hour to non-working hours? Thanks for all your feedbacks.

 

[Versed06]

I've been working nights for a little over a year now and I did a five-month stint at my previous job. Where I work, I'm responsible for working 80 hours in a 7-day period (7 on/7 off). For the most part, I'd say it's totally worth it. You get paid considerably more and you don't have to deal with the drama of dayshift work; I also value being able to work independently to force myself to become resourceful when those stressful situations arise. Thankfully, the schedule isn't hard for me to adapt to, as I get by on little sleep during my on week (I sleep for about five hours on a normal work day). My last night shift of the week ends Thursday mid-morning before 11, and I end up sleeping for about 5/6 hours in the afternoon and wake up that night and relax before shifting to normal sleeping hours. The day that I start work, I usually stay up for most of the day and sleep for up to 5 hours in the late afternoon (usually 3) before starting work. In working this shift, just make sure you plan how to use your off-time to make the most of it (travel/fun/errands). Also, try to stick to a hard habit of maintaining your health while working (I shift my diet to include more veggies and lean meat, try to cut back on sugar when I can) and I hit the gym after work. From what I've been told, this kind of shift has an underestimated negative impact on your health (years off your life and harder to maintain a healthy weight). But if you don't have a ton of obligations (family, extracurricular-activity/dating conflicts), it's an awesome schedule to have.

 

[IndyPrePharm]

It's fantastic. I love it. I'll be doing this for as long as they allow until retirement. I do 7 on 7 off, but I refer to it as 7 on 8 off because the first night on I don't nap before so that way I'm super tired by end of the shift in the morning to get a full day's sleep without tossing and turning. The last shift I work when I get off in the morning (first day off), I don't go home and sleep. I plan things for the day and don't go to sleep until normal bedtime so I'm super tired again and sleep entire night without tossing and turning and I get back on "normal people" sleep schedule. I've done it this way for 4 years now. Works like a champ...while I'm young anyways.

 

[Versed06]

It's fantastic. I love it. I'll be doing this for as long as they allow until retirement. I do 7 on 7 off, but I refer to it as 7 on 8 off because the first night on I don't nap before so that way I'm super tired by end of the shift in the morning to get a full day's sleep without tossing and turning. The last shift I work when I get off in the morning (first day off), I don't go home and sleep. I plan things for the day and don't go to sleep until normal bedtime so I'm super tired again and sleep entire night without tossing and turning and I get back on "normal people" sleep schedule. I've done it this way for 4 years now. Works like a champ...while I'm young anyways.

I've contemplated not sleeping before starting and after ending my work week, but I'm so afraid I wouldn't make it through the day and crash my car somewhere, lol. But I'm with you, I could NEVER go back to a dayshift/rotating schedule (unless I absolutely had to).

 

[Charcoales]

7 on 7 off is great, esp when u use 70 pto and get 3 straight weeks off, very nice. 10 to 8 is good for dinner with friends

 

[PharmDBro2017]

-Stay up as late as possible the night before you go into work
-Keep Good dietary habits, like the poster above recommended. It’s easy to plow junk food at night just cuz you can.
-I sleep 5-6hrs each night while working, and when I’m coming off my shift I’ll sleep 5-6hrs, say 0800-1400, wake up for 8-9hrs and then go to bed at a regular time with my wife at 2200ish. I’m able to convert back to normal night sleeping easily this way. Works great for me.
-Keep a good exercise routine, I hit the gym immediately after work as well.



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[KoreanPharmacist]

Great feedbacks everyone. Thanks.

Ive been in retail for a year now and am def getting burnt out. I have an interview this thursday for the night shift and if all goes well i was gonna take it. Am more convinced that i should really go after this after reading all your comments.

Am not sure this would be something I want to do for a long time considering I want to have a family at some point but seems like it would be a great opportunity to get my foot thru the door in getting hospital/clinical experience.

Retail seems like a deadend job at this point. Feels like a professional cashier haha.

 

[PharmDBro2017]

Great feedbacks everyone. Thanks.

Ive been in retail for a year now and am def getting burnt out. I have an interview this thursday for the night shift and if all goes well i was gonna take it. Am more convinced that i should really go after this after reading all your comments.

Am not sure this would be something I want to do for a long time considering I want to have a family at some point but seems like it would be a great opportunity to get my foot thru the door in getting hospital/clinical experience.

Retail seems like a deadend job at this point. Feels like a professional cashier haha.

Don’t blame you. I could never do retail after seeing & doing the “dark side”.


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[RxPreceptor]

I'm pretty similar with PharmDBro2017's sleep schedule/eating/exercise pattern recommendation (except in off weeks, I stay nocturnal). I work community currently but want to eventually go into hospital after loans are paid off (that whole "dark side" you know).

I would just like to add: in off weeks, you want to stock pile for supplies 1-2 days prior to starting the work week & kill off errands (laundry, post office, scheduling appointments, etc.). Work week should be just the basics: wake up, hygiene, food, work, exercise, check (e)mail, sleep. It's a great lifestyle (big) IF you have no family commitments, young, & physically & mentally able still...no 9-5 BS, rush hour, & being a sheep conforming to the US way of life (less stressful at least personally)

 

[Dalteparin]

The other thing that’s awesome about night shift is that there’s zero drama. Pharmacy departments all have a ton of drama on day shift, but the graveyard crew just goes in, does their thing, and goes home. My stress level went down about 200% after I went to nights, largely because I no longer had to deal with the biggest complainers in the department.

As far as staying healthy on the night shift, getting exercise and eating right is a must. It also helps to get most of your household chores out of the way during your week on; I do a mountain of laundry before the week starts and then I have 7 sets of scrubs so that I don’t have to do laundry again until the week is over.

Night shift is tough sometimes but it’s also the best job I’ve ever had. 10/10, highly recommended.


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[Apotheker2015]

Great feedbacks everyone. Thanks.

Ive been in retail for a year now and am def getting burnt out. I have an interview this thursday for the night shift and if all goes well i was gonna take it. Am more convinced that i should really go after this after reading all your comments.

Am not sure this would be something I want to do for a long time considering I want to have a family at some point but seems like it would be a great opportunity to get my foot thru the door in getting hospital/clinical experience.

Retail seems like a deadend job at this point. Feels like a professional cashier haha.

Make sure that you get the differential from the moment you walk through the door until you leave; i.e., through your entire shift. CVS tried to play games with me when I first took an overnight position for a few months. They went back on their word to give me the differential through the entire shift. I said I wouldn't do it, then. They backpedaled and gave it to me. Still, it ended up being a disaster. I wasn't there for very long.

Best of luck!

Make sure you take vitamin D.

 

[Schwimmy]

My wife wants me to go night shift. I'm not against it particularly, but it essentially boils down to her feeling like the town we are living in is too small, and she doesn't want to put the child into daycare, so she wants "her freedom" by having me work nights in a 7-on-7 off scenario and taking care of the child during the day.

Our current setup, small town manager dealing with a slow store/low stress, is pretty good, and we're a year and a half in on our house payments so that'd be a loss, but I'm not convinced that there's a retail position in a big city that would have a 7-on-7-off position that would be worth moving for or stable enough to keep working at for 10+ years.

 

[Dalteparin]

My wife wants me to go night shift. I'm not against it particularly, but it essentially boils down to her feeling like the town we are living in is too small, and she doesn't want to put the child into daycare, so she wants "her freedom" by having me work nights in a 7-on-7 off scenario and taking care of the child during the day.

Wait, she wants you to take care of the kid during the day and then go to work at night? Exactly when are you supposed to sleep?


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[Schwimmy]

Wait, she wants you to take care of the kid during the day and then go to work at night? Exactly when are you supposed to sleep?

I've tried explaining to her that children sleep less when they grow older. She seems to overlook this observation.

 

[mqt5070]

I feel like I am the only one with a negative experience with nights. Was per diem at a hospital where I was a student at and picked up overnights there for a bit. Job was cake, even as a newly licensed pharmacist. I was by myself with another tech. I was my own boss and as long as I got the work done, i could do whatever I wanted. Fast forward to the present day where I literally just started FT night shift at a much busier and understaffed hospital where I get pooped on on a daily basis. Calls and faxes from nurses/MDs every min around the clock about missing meds, pyxis issues, etc. I have a partner who is extremely competent and a good guy, but is very difficult to understand and rages every time nursing calls. I went from a cozy night shift where I could literally watch netflix, eat, nap, visit the floors and talk with nurses to the polar opposite of constant calls and no breaks. I used to sleep 7-8 hours easy after my nights, but with this position I'll sleep 5-6 hours if I'm lucky since its so stressful. Bright side is they are implementing epic in 2 months and switching their inventory over to pyxis next year hopefully which will solve 80% of my problems I face. If you can find a night shift position at a small community hospital where there's only one pharmacist, I would highly recommend it. The grass isn't always greener on the other side. Its saying a lot when I say I rather work retail right now.

 

[Dalteparin]

I've tried explaining to her that children sleep less when they grow older. She seems to overlook this observation.

Yeah, no, that situation is not going to be sustainable. Either she stays on SAHM duty while you're working or the little one goes to daycare. If you're too tired to function, you're a danger to yourself and everyone else on the road when you're driving to/from work, you're not an effective caregiver for the little one, and you risk losing your license and livelihood when you make a mistake at work. Ask her how much she's going to enjoy her "freedom" if you die in a car accident or kill a patient, lose your license, and wind up unemployed and unemployable.

 

[Apotheker2015]

I've tried explaining to her that children sleep less when they grow older. She seems to overlook this observation.

I am sorry. I smell fish. It's never a good sign when someone, especially your wife, tells you that she wants "her freedom". That does not sound good at all. I am not being a jerk; just pragmatic. She does not sound like someone who can be trusted. I had more to say but I am sure that the truth is staring at you right in the face. Liars are sloppy. When they start asking for concessions to accommodate their lying and make it less troublesome, that's when they start getting sloppy. You will see it when you're ready to see it. Do yourself a favor and update the beneficiary on your life insurance, 401k and all of that. Carefully observe her reaction.

All the best.

 

[KoreanPharmacist]

Lol seems like the post is moving in a weird direction. So... imma stay away from marital advice haha

My interview is tomorrow moring. Wish me luck.

 

[Sabril]

I feel like I am the only one with a negative experience with nights. Was per diem at a hospital where I was a student at and picked up overnights there for a bit. Job was cake, even as a newly licensed pharmacist. I was by myself with another tech. I was my own boss and as long as I got the work done, i could do whatever I wanted. Fast forward to the present day where I literally just started FT night shift at a much busier and understaffed hospital where I get pooped on on a daily basis. Calls and faxes from nurses/MDs every min around the clock about missing meds, pyxis issues, etc. I have a partner who is extremely competent and a good guy, but is very difficult to understand and rages every time nursing calls. I went from a cozy night shift where I could literally watch netflix, eat, nap, visit the floors and talk with nurses to the polar opposite of constant calls and no breaks. I used to sleep 7-8 hours easy after my nights, but with this position I'll sleep 5-6 hours if I'm lucky since its so stressful. Bright side is they are implementing epic in 2 months and switching their inventory over to pyxis next year hopefully which will solve 80% of my problems I face. If you can find a night shift position at a small community hospital where there's only one pharmacist, I would highly recommend it. The grass isn't always greener on the other side. Its saying a lot when I say I rather work retail right now.

Thanks for the info. i plan to find a per diem job just because I want some hospital experience. I know it varies between hospitals and less people around you means less politics, but wouldn't it be more difficult for you to start out with no experience and have to work alone by yourself?

 

[Apotheker2015]

Lol seems like the post is moving in a weird direction. So... imma stay away from marital advice haha

My interview is tomorrow moring. Wish me luck.

LOL

best of luck!

 

[KennethCool]

-I sleep 5-6hrs each night while working

How do you sleep at work without getting caught?

 

[RxPreceptor]

Positive he means during the daylight hours...an overnight person's "night"

 

[PharmDBro2017]

Positive he means during the daylight hours...an overnight person's "night"

Lol exactly. Sorry for leaving that open to misinterpretation. I meant that during my on week of working, I sleep 5-6hrs in the morning when I get home.


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[Saiyo]

I'll be switching to a night-shift position soon, and I'm a little worried that it "won't be for me"
I don't know how well I'd be able to adjust to nights or working 12 hrs x 7 days straight but maybe it won't be that bad.

 

[TheBlaah]

I'll be switching to a night-shift position soon, and I'm a little worried that it "won't be for me"
I don't know how well I'd be able to adjust to nights or working 12 hrs x 7 days straight but maybe it won't be that bad.

12 hours x 7 days? You might be getting ripped off. Most night shifts I see are 10 hrs x7 days and are paid for 80 hours.

 

[Saiyo]

12 hours x 7 days? You might be getting ripped off. Most night shifts I see are 10 hrs x7 days and are paid for 80 hours.

Ha, we'll see, I'm not too sure what the hours are yet, Haven't heard anyone with that type of deal but that sounds nice and really doable!

 

[Apotheker2015]

12 hours x 7 days? You might be getting ripped off. Most night shifts I see are 10 hrs x7 days and are paid for 80 hours.

How would he or she be getting ripped off? The only way I see that happening is by working 12 hours x 7 days = 84 hours and getting paid for less than 84 hours.
Some places will confuse people by saying "you'll work 70 hours and we will pay you for 80"';instead of just telling you what your differential is, which you can easily calculate.

60/hour on day shift x 80 = 4800;
4800 / 70 hours graveyard = 68.57/ hour

*Your differential is 8.57/hour.

Now if you are working 84 hours and getting paid for those 84 hours with that differential, which did happen at CVS, then you are making way more money than with the other 70 for 80 deal.
84 x 68.57 = 5759.88

There you go.

 

[TheBlaah]

How would he or she be getting ripped off? The only way I see that happening is by working 12 hours x 7 days = 84 hours and getting paid for less than 84 hours.
Some places will confuse people by saying "you'll work 70 hours and we will pay you for 80"';instead of just telling you what your differential is, which you can easily calculate.

60/hour on day shift x 80 = 4800;
4800 / 70 hours graveyard = 68.57/ hour

*Your differential is 8.57/hour.

Now if you are working 84 hours and getting paid for those 84 hours with that differential, which did happen at CVS, then you are making way more money than with the other 70 for 80 deal.
84 x 68.57 = 5759.88

There you go.

Nah. I'm talking about getting paid for 80 hours for 70 hours' work, with those 80 hours being at differential rate for however many hours are in the night shift. That's how every hospital I've been at (4 hospitals) works anyway. I guess it might be a regional thing?

 

[Charcoales]

I only get like 2 an hr more for overnight. I just like the 7 on and 7 off also I enjoy more freetime only averaging 35 a week instead of full 40 while getting full benefits still. Less total commute too. I hated having to work 2 or more closing shifts a week it really made socializing a pain impossible to hang with friends when work 2 to 10... But with 10 to 8 I can hang with friends (we usually play board games or get dinner or see a movie or go on dates etc... etc etc) every day on the week on and stay out even later or travel on the week off. Oh yeah forgot to mention I can plan trips many many months in advance without requesting off since I know exactly when I'm off which makes planning ezpz

 

[KoreanPharmacist]

Just finished the interview. It went pretty well. I've known the director of pharmacy for a long time (I used to volunteer at this hospital pharmacy for a couple of years before starting pharmacy school) and am good friends with a pharmacist that used to work there who is now the director at an affiliate hospital. I'm assuming I have a decent chance of landing the job. Fingers crossed.

I didn't ask about the pay differential since I didn't wanna sound like I'm doing this for money which I am not. I'm trying to keep my retail position as PRN so I can work a day or two during my off days. So hopefully that could help with pay decrease. I would much rather take a pay cut then keep on working in retail lol

We shall see that they say about all the details once I get the job.

To be continued...

One thing I wanted to ask you guys was how busy are you with IVs? The director of pharmacy mentioned that I would have to fly solo at night most of the time and would def help if I have experience in making IVs, which I do from one of the rotations during school. And apparently there is a shortage of IV bags?! Docs and nurses are stressing out about it... haha hmmm would appreciate it if yall could give a short run down of what your day(or night haha) looks like.

 

[Apotheker2015]

Just finished the interview. It went pretty well. I've known the director of pharmacy for a long time (I used to volunteer at this hospital pharmacy for a couple of years before starting pharmacy school) and am good friends with a pharmacist that used to work there who is now the director at an affiliate hospital. I'm assuming I have a decent chance of landing the job. Fingers crossed.

I didn't ask about the pay differential since I didn't wanna sound like I'm doing this for money which I am not. I'm trying to keep my retail position as PRN so I can work a day or two during my off days. So hopefully that could help with pay decrease. I would much rather take a pay cut then keep on working in retail lol

We shall see that they say about all the details once I get the job.

To be continued...

One thing I wanted to ask you guys was how busy are you with IVs? The director of pharmacy mentioned that I would have to fly solo at night most of the time and would def help if I have experience in making IVs, which I do from one of the rotations during school. And apparently there is a shortage of IV bags?! Docs and nurses are stressing out about it... haha hmmm would appreciate it if yall could give a short run down of what your day(or night haha) looks like.

I hope you at least get a technician or two. Otherwise, it's just your set of eyes looking at whatever you're dispensing.
You're not really taking a paycut even if it seems that way, at first. This health system is likely not-for-profit. Jump on that wagon now, certify your place of employment and get your loan forgiven in 10 years (or 120 payments) on an income driven repayment plan.

Don't forget to send a quick thank you email with a short recap of the interview and reiterating your interest.

I wish you the best of luck!

 

[KoreanPharmacist]

I hope you at least get a technician or two. Otherwise, it's just your set of eyes looking at whatever you're dispensing.
You're not really taking a paycut even if it seems that way, at first. This health system is likely not-for-profit. Jump on that wagon now, certify your place of employment and get your loan forgiven in 10 years (or 120 payments) on an income driven repayment plan.

Don't forget to send a quick thank you email with a short recap of the interview and reiterating your interest.

I wish you the best of luck!

Good point on the school loan. I shall look into that.

As I stated, Ive know the director of pharmacy for a long time and hes a really chill person so i dont think conventional post-interview formalities are necessary although i do agree with you for any other interviews. He sounded like he was really pushing for me but also didnt wanna sound like hes doing any favors for me in front of other interviewers haha

Apparently, the technician will stay until 11pm so ill get a tech for the first two hours and im flying solo. Hopefully theyll train me enough for me to be comfortable working alone

 

[Apotheker2015]

Good point on the school loan. I shall look into that.

As I stated, Ive know the director of pharmacy for a long time and hes a really chill person so i dont think conventional post-interview formalities are necessary although i do agree with you for any other interviews. He sounded like he was really pushing for me but also didnt wanna sound like hes doing any favors for me in front of other interviewers haha

Apparently, the technician will stay until 11pm so ill get a tech for the first two hours and im flying solo. Hopefully theyll train me enough for me to be comfortable working alone

Well, this is just my humble two cents. Regardless of how well you know each other, other people don't know that. He will likely sit down with a panel of people to go over the candidates and they might ask "did he send a thank you email?" You don't want him having to stretch the truth or whatever BUT then again, I am not you. You are not me, etc.

Unless the previous person was terminated and is now serving time for lethal medication errors, you will be fine. You will get the hang of it and you will be fine.

Here are some links for you.
https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/sites/default/files/public-service-employment-certification-form.pdf
Public Service Loan Forgiveness

 

[mfdoom]

One thing I wanted to ask you guys was how busy are you with IVs? The director of pharmacy mentioned that I would have to fly solo at night most of the time and would def help if I have experience in making IVs, which I do from one of the rotations during school. And apparently there is a shortage of IV bags?! Docs and nurses are stressing out about it... haha hmmm would appreciate it if yall could give a short run down of what your day(or night haha) looks like.

There's a shortage of all kinds of crap - the IV bags themselves, NS 250s, some D5s, sterile water (?). Lots of hospitals have started IV pushing abx. That was the case during my most recent shift, but I don't work hospital very often. I'm sure others can give you an updated rundown.

 

[KoreanPharmacist]

Well, this is just my humble two cents. Regardless of how well you know each other, other people don't know that. He will likely sit down with a panel of people to go over the candidates and they might ask "did he send a thank you email?" You don't want him having to stretch the truth or whatever BUT then again, I am not you. You are not me, etc.

Unless the previous person was terminated and is now serving time for lethal medication errors, you will be fine. You will get the hang of it and you will be fine.

Here are some links for you.
https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/sites/default/files/public-service-employment-certification-form.pdf
Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Youre right now that i think about it. Thanks for the advice. I just sent him a follwo up thank you email. Haha

 

[lalagirl]

Good point on the school loan. I shall look into that.

As I stated, Ive know the director of pharmacy for a long time and hes a really chill person so i dont think conventional post-interview formalities are necessary although i do agree with you for any other interviews. He sounded like he was really pushing for me but also didnt wanna sound like hes doing any favors for me in front of other interviewers haha

Apparently, the technician will stay until 11pm so ill get a tech for the first two hours and im flying solo. Hopefully theyll train me enough for me to be comfortable working alone

I am in the same boat. Transitioning from retail to hospital.. 7 on 7 off night shift. I am starting in February. It's been a while since I graduated from pharmacy school so I really need to brush up on clinical stuff. I just hope that I get enough training. Good luck!

 

[KoreanPharmacist]

I am in the same boat. Transitioning from retail to hospital.. 7 on 7 off night shift. I am starting in February. It's been a while since I graduated from pharmacy school so I really need to brush up on clinical stuff. I just hope that I get enough training. Good luck!

Where do you live?

 

[positivesign]

Just finished the interview. It went pretty well. I've known the director of pharmacy for a long time (I used to volunteer at this hospital pharmacy for a couple of years before starting pharmacy school) and am good friends with a pharmacist that used to work there who is now the director at an affiliate hospital. I'm assuming I have a decent chance of landing the job. Fingers crossed.

I didn't ask about the pay differential since I didn't wanna sound like I'm doing this for money which I am not. I'm trying to keep my retail position as PRN so I can work a day or two during my off days. So hopefully that could help with pay decrease. I would much rather take a pay cut then keep on working in retail lol

We shall see that they say about all the details once I get the job.

To be continued...

One thing I wanted to ask you guys was how busy are you with IVs? The director of pharmacy mentioned that I would have to fly solo at night most of the time and would def help if I have experience in making IVs, which I do from one of the rotations during school. And apparently there is a shortage of IV bags?! Docs and nurses are stressing out about it... haha hmmm would appreciate it if yall could give a short run down of what your day(or night haha) looks like.

I work solo at my night hospital gig. It really depends on the census and how many critical patients requiring IV therapies there are...I work at a community hospital with acute care bed < 50. So far, working without a tech has been doable even with making all the IVs and attending code blues. But making IVs will slow you down so you have to keep an eye on how behind you are on verifying orders 🙁(. If someone gets intubated in ER requiring Versed drip, I drop everything else and start making that IV then run to ER to hand the bag that's easily 10-20 min lost. Things get backed up if it is a busy night.

If the hospital is being reasonable with the adequate staffing level and still expecting you to work solo, I'm assuming that the night shift is fairly on the quiet side. You'll enjoy the downtime a lot. Great for brushing up on clinical stuffs.

Plus, you will also build great relationships with nurses, RTs because you see them ALL the time as you're walking everywhere in the hospital delivering meds. I like that I'm not only stuck in the basement verifying orders. When I used to intern at a bigger hospital, we were hidden behind our satellite pharmacies and I think it was a less rewarding environment for me personally.

I also get my brains picked on random questions from RNs and residents so it's been fun. I'm always learning something new.

 

[KoreanPharmacist]

I work solo at my night hospital gig. It really depends on the census and how many critical patients requiring IV therapies there are...I work at a community hospital with acute care bed < 50. So far, working without a tech has been doable even with making all the IVs and attending code blues. But making IVs will slow you down so you have to keep an eye on how behind you are on verifying orders 🙁(. If someone gets intubated in ER requiring Versed drip, I drop everything else and start making that IV then run to ER to hand the bag that's easily 10-20 min lost. Things get backed up if it is a busy night.

If the hospital is being reasonable with the adequate staffing level and still expecting you to work solo, I'm assuming that the night shift is fairly on the quiet side. You'll enjoy the downtime a lot. Great for brushing up on clinical stuffs.

Plus, you will also build great relationships with nurses, RTs because you see them ALL the time as you're walking everywhere in the hospital delivering meds. I like that I'm not only stuck in the basement verifying orders. When I used to intern at a bigger hospital, we were hidden behind our satellite pharmacies and I think it was a less rewarding environment for me personally.

I also get my brains picked on random questions from RNs and residents so it's been fun. I'm always learning something new.

That sounds awesome. One reason why i want to work at hospital is to utilize clinical knowlegde. And also have that medical professional interaction I used to have during rotations while being in school. Loved my icu rounds with residents.

 

[lalagirl]

Where do you live?

Northern CA (not bay area)

 

[sakigt]

I feel like I am the only one with a negative experience with nights. Was per diem at a hospital where I was a student at and picked up overnights there for a bit. Job was cake, even as a newly licensed pharmacist. I was by myself with another tech. I was my own boss and as long as I got the work done, i could do whatever I wanted. Fast forward to the present day where I literally just started FT night shift at a much busier and understaffed hospital where I get pooped on on a daily basis. Calls and faxes from nurses/MDs every min around the clock about missing meds, pyxis issues, etc. I have a partner who is extremely competent and a good guy, but is very difficult to understand and rages every time nursing calls. I went from a cozy night shift where I could literally watch netflix, eat, nap, visit the floors and talk with nurses to the polar opposite of constant calls and no breaks. I used to sleep 7-8 hours easy after my nights, but with this position I'll sleep 5-6 hours if I'm lucky since its so stressful. Bright side is they are implementing epic in 2 months and switching their inventory over to pyxis next year hopefully which will solve 80% of my problems I face. If you can find a night shift position at a small community hospital where there's only one pharmacist, I would highly recommend it. The grass isn't always greener on the other side. Its saying a lot when I say I rather work retail right now.

I have someone like this on my regular shift. I cant stand sitting next to her, all she does is complain about how stupid the nurses are. Theres the accent issue with her as well. I try and make it positive but that doesn't work. The raging coworker will destroy you.

As far as the IV thing, just go for it. The more you avoid it the worse it will be. Theres a sense of security when your tech leaves and you can do their job and yours. I suggest *being* not just shadowing a tech for at minimum a week. Learn how to run the machines and make an IV. Anything remotely medication related they will call you about.

 

[KoreanPharmacist]

So this may work out better than expected. Just got a call from the director of pharmacy. He said theyre going to hire another person with abit more of hospital expereince because she doesnt have a job right now and may be in abit more desperate situation than i am. Good news is that in 2 weeks, theyll open up another prn position which could eventually turn into day time 3/4 time or full time possition in near future.

Seems like there is a few of you that just started hospital recently so wanted to keep this post updated in case we can share our experiences and help each other out.

 

[KoreanPharmacist]

Quick question for those who work at a hospital. How does PRN work at hospitals? Is it a set schedule or is it random where you just come in when they need you? I know at retail, PRNs get their schedule at least 2-4 weeks before.

 

[headortail]

Quick question for those who work at a hospital. How does PRN work at hospitals? Is it a set schedule or is it random where you just come in when they need you? I know at retail, PRNs get their schedule at least 2-4 weeks before.

It probably depends on the place, but for the ones I'm familiar with, you have to give a set number of days you're available to work there per month (like 4 for example). Then, they may have you fill all or some or none of those days. In a sense, you have to commit to those days (until they get back to you), but they are not obligated to give you any hours.
Ex: I'm available to work Feb 5, 10, 17, 19. If they need me on any of those days they will schedule me, and until they finalized the schedule I have to keep those days open. If they are fully staffed, I will not get to work. This is usually not a problem as most places will have people take PTO, maternity leave (damn those females 😛), etc so usually you'll have some hours year-round. But sometimes when everyone is there or it's low-census and they need to flex shifts, you may not get any hours per schedule.

When each place gets their schedule out depends on the place and how short-staffed they are. If everything is smooth, they typically send it out 2-3 weeks in advance, but I've had to wait as long as the day before the next schedule starts for the new schedule to come out. It makes planning anything not work-related very difficult.