Pediatric Pharmacy

[domt]

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Hello Everyone,

I was wondering if anyone--may it be a student or pharmacist--that could tell me more about pediatric pharmacy. I'm really interest in going into this area and would like to know what is required and expected. Any information would be helpful, thank you!

 

[smileyangel11]

Hello Everyone,

I was wondering if anyone--may it be a student or pharmacist--that could tell me more about pediatric pharmacy. I'm really interest in going into this area and would like to know what is required and expected. Any information would be helpful, thank you!

As a peds pharmacist, you do everything the same as a regular hospital pharmacist (kinetics/anticoag/TPN/antibiotics/phenytoin/consults), except your patients are kids.

I guess the biggest difference is dosing schemes. Be familiar to think in mg/kg/dose scale. Be aware of how pharmacodynamics is a lot different in kids than adults, and is different amongst different age groups (neonate vs infants vs children) etc.

For oral drugs, make sure your patient can actually take it. A lots kids can't take tablets or they hate the taste of liquid and spit it out. You kinda develop a sense of what goes in apple sauce/pudding/chocolate syrup pretty quickly. For IV drugs, be keen on following fluid status because the smaller the body, the more susceptible you are to overload.

In general, you use the same mind set to solve problems. I suggest you take a peds elective in school or do a rotation in peds. There is no hard core requirement to be a peds pharmacist. However, most of them has either: (1) prior experience in peds; (2) strong clinical background

Good luck!

 

[Its Z]

I interned 3.5 years at a Ped Institution while in RX school.

Great experience. In fact, my manager was the original author of the "Lexi-Pediatric Dosing Hand Book." It also taught me I wasn't detailed enough to be a ped pharmacist.

As a ped pharmacist, you better know your stuff.

Best way to become a Ped Pharmacist? - Intern at Children's Hospital...then do a residency. Ped Pharmacist will alway have a job.

 

[PharMed2016]

I interned 3.5 years at a Ped Institution while in RX school.

Great experience. In fact, my manager was the original author of the "Lexi-Pediatric Dosing Hand Book." It also taught me I wasn't detailed enough to be a ped pharmacist.

As a ped pharmacist, you better know your stuff.

Best way to become a Ped Pharmacist? - Intern at Children's Hospital...then do a residency. Ped Pharmacist will alway have a job.

That's one rotation that my preceptor recommends and I personally can't wait to start providing I can get a spot. Unfortunately for me, I don't think some children like me all that much... why my previous girlfriend and I were walking in the mall and this girl of no more than 10 years old gave me a glare for no reason, lol.

 

[Farmercyst]

I'm rotating at County on Peds right now. Will have another rotation at CHCC in Fresno next. Looking into peds residencies. So far I like it.

 

[FruitFly]

Personally, I find pediatric pharmacy to be most rewarding. I love doing it. 👍

 

[twentyfive]

In the peds world, at least in my hospital, every IV is made from a dilution as a syringe pump is used to administer it.

On every order we have to type mg/kg/dose for each med. The most challenging part is finding pediatric dose for certain meds or searching for Iv dilution/oral suspension concentration for uncommon meds.

Some days are nice and then there are days you have a 'near drowning' kid that needs drips STAT and IV fluids changing every 15 mins. It can be quite stressful. Then you have CF patient.

Sometimes, you have babies who were born at the hospital and died at the hospital.

 

[aboveliquidice]

In the peds world, at least in my hospital, every IV is made from a dilution as a syringe pump is used to administer it.

On every order we have to type mg/kg/dose for each med. The most challenging part is finding pediatric dose for certain meds or searching for Iv dilution/oral suspension concentration for uncommon meds.

Some days are nice and then there are days you have a 'near drowning' kid that needs drips STAT and IV fluids changing every 15 mins. It can be quite stressful. Then you have CF patient.

Sometimes, you have babies who were born at the hospital and died at the hospital.

This is very similar to the NICU @ shands (with minor differences). The major challenges for RPhs (I was a tech at the time) was ensuring the dosage adjustments were appropriate. They have special requirements for labeling and drug delivery.

I also felt it weighed heavier on the staff. It's difficult to lose a patient; more so to lose a child.

 

[domt]

Thank you everyone for posting their experience in this field. I'm starting to have a better sense of what is expected from a pediatric pharmacist, and I will definitely do the internship like many of you have--to gain a better understanding and experience. 🙂

 

[mmdw]

What is the job outlook like for pediatric pharmacists? Is it any different as far as that goes from any other pharmacy specialty?