pharmacy residency

Started by sunnys
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sunnys

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What is a pharmacy residency like?...is it like a medical residency where people work 30 hour shifts or is it like a normal 40 hour a week day job?
 
What is a pharmacy residency like?...is it like a medical residency where people work 30 hour shifts or is it like a normal 40 hour a week day job?

From my experience working with residents in a handful of hospitals, it's a 40 hour a week job.

I do not believe it is standardized in any way by any organization but there seems to be an agreement that it's 40 hrs/week. Might just be the bay area though.
 
It really depends. Some residencies are more intense than others (on call, multiple projects, mandatory staffing, etc). Others may not be as crazy but will still be very busy. My guess is a majority of residents do 40-60 hour weeks (may include outside work on projects and such). Again, highly dependent on type of residency and where you do it. A residency at a large teaching hospital like Yale-New Haven is going to be different than a small ambulatory care residency at a community VA with 60 beds.
 
do most pharm schools require residencies to be completed? or is it completely your choice to do a residency?
 
I heard that at our UMC some residents have to be on call like the medical residents... it will vary from place to place. That is why "the match" is important. You want to find a residency that is going to be a good fit for you in terms of the focus and your time commitment.
 
It really depends. Some residencies are more intense than others (on call, multiple projects, mandatory staffing, etc). Others may not be as crazy but will still be very busy. My guess is a majority of residents do 40-60 hour weeks (may include outside work on projects and such). Again, highly dependent on type of residency and where you do it. A residency at a large teaching hospital like Yale-New Haven is going to be different than a small ambulatory care residency at a community VA with 60 beds.

Agreed. Definitely varies by program...you have to set career goals and do your research on programs based on that.

I know I'm certainly putting in far more than 40 hour work weeks, and I haven't even started taking overnight call yet.

do most pharm schools require residencies to be completed? or is it completely your choice to do a residency?

No schools require residencies. They all require rotations to graduate, but residencies are entirely post-graduate with the decision to pursue one made by the student.
 
How many pharmacy students per class actually opt to do a residency and what are the benefits?
I'm pretty sure this is school-dependent as some schools promote residency more than others, but there are a limited number of residencies available within the US and more applicants than spots. The benefits I've heard are an expanded knowledge base and qualification for some jobs that require a residency. The drawback is pay equal to about half of what a pharmacist typically makes during the residency, as well as workweeks that can be greater than a standard 40 hours.
 
I'm pretty sure this is school-dependent as some schools promote residency more than others, but there are a limited number of residencies available within the US and more applicants than spots. The benefits I've heard are an expanded knowledge base and qualification for some jobs that require a residency. The drawback is pay equal to about half of what a pharmacist typically makes during the residency, as well as workweeks that can be greater than a standard 40 hours.

what types of jobs other than a clinical position at a hospital or teaching position would require a residency? do know if someone that completed a two year residency and has taken the boards for certification could get a good job in lets say the fda or for a pharmaceutical/biotech company?
 
what types of jobs other than a clinical position at a hospital or teaching position would require a residency? do know if someone that completed a two year residency and has taken the boards for certification could get a good job in lets say the fda or for a pharmaceutical/biotech company?
I may be way off base here, but I thought you'd do a fellowship instead of a residency if you were interested in pursuing those options. Does anybody know? I think residencies would primarily qualify you for what you described previously.