pharmacy volunteering

[Suey]

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Hey guys,

I have a mission during my winter break. I want to volunteer/shadow a pharmacist to see if this is a field I want to get into. So I'm planning to just drive wherever tomorrow and stop at any pharmacies I pass by. What's the best way in being successful at getting a pharmacist to let me shadow them, even if it's for one day? Any suggestions/advice would help because I want to increase my chances of being able to get some exposure!

 

[EarlyEditionDude]

Suey,

It is very difficult to shadow a pharmacist in retail due to liability issues. You maybe can try your luck at a community pharmacy owned not by a corporation. I would also suggest in going to your local undergrad health center. There should be a pharmacist working, so you can ask him or her.

 

[ucdbiochem]

the most time-saving way to do this is to open up the phone book and call up all, yes, all independent pharmacies and see if they let you volunteer there. if you get multiple ok, go talk to the pharmacists and see which one you like best or which one you think you'll get along well. that's very important later on when you decide to ask for letter of rec.

good luck.

 

[Suey]

Thanks guys for your advice. So retail ones are a definite no, even though it may be just for a few hours for one day? Because right now, I'm undecisive about what I want to do so I thought just by shadowing a few hours I'd get the gist already if I want to do pharmacy or not.

Ucdbiochem, I go to UCD too. Were you successful at finding any pharmacies around Davis/Sac to volunteer at that AREN'T through the online signups? Since the signups fill up incredibly fast!

 

[GravyRPH]

Retail pharmacies are definitely not a No. You will find some willing to let you shadow them, and I would NEVER go into pharmacy without shadowing a retail pharmacist. If that doesn't scare you off, nothing will. 😉

 

[ucdbiochem]

yes suey, i'm an aggie. i was at your position last year.

i actually worked two years before i got into pharm school, so i didn't go through the lottery. like i said, i just called up whatever pharmacies that are on the phone book. most if not all retail Rx don't take volunteers, except thru connections from davis ICC. they only take clerks or pharmacy technicians.

I called up other independent pharmacies in Sac and one of them accepted me. the pharmacist is super nice. she taught me lots of things from medications to billing, and she spent the time to talk to me about pharmacy. at the end, she wrote me a great letter of rec. that helped me to get into all the schools that i applied.

so if you just wanna volunteer, try the independent pharmacies. if you don't mind working as a clerk/pharm tech, call the retail stores. but that will take some time before you can work while you can start volunteering at the independent pharmacies whenever they take you.

good luck

PM me if you have any questions about pharmacy.

 

[SteveL]

Originally posted by Suey
Thanks guys for your advice. So retail ones are a definite no, even though it may be just for a few hours for one day? Because right now, I'm undecisive about what I want to do so I thought just by shadowing a few hours I'd get the gist already if I want to do pharmacy or not.

Ucdbiochem, I go to UCD too. Were you successful at finding any pharmacies around Davis/Sac to volunteer at that AREN'T through the online signups? Since the signups fill up incredibly fast!

to work in retail you'll need a job there most likely. some stores are really stict about their pharms. Kroger doesn't let anyone in the pharmacy unless they work there (excluding the store manager - who has most likely gone through HIPPA training, privacy stuff, blah blah beuracracy (sp?). As mentioned, it's a liability thing. Also, as mentioned, you'll need to get a job at one to find out whether you really like it or not. Believe me...you could sit here and listen to people talk about how much they love it (haha, i'm sure) or don't like it, but until you get in there, you'll never really know.

 

[jemc2000]

Is there some advantage to volunteering as opposed to just getting a job as a clerk?

 

[jayski2030]

why not volunteer in a hospital pharmacy?