questions about VA pharmacy

[crazybob]

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I went to a Career Fair for school today. One of the benefits they mentioned was that it's one license to practice in 50 states.

The pharmacist who was there mentioned "once you're in, you stay in." He said that it's hard to find someone new since it takes a while, and it's difficult once they lose someone to transferring to a different location or retiring.

It kinda made it sound like I have to commit to the VA system once I start, so would it be worth looking into working for them after I graduate? Does anyone on SDN work for the VA right now? I like the idea of being able to transfer to a new location, but the pharmacist also said the staff wouldn't like it so much if I did that often.

 

[WhiteSnows]

You are gonna work your ass off for them with less pay. You should consider carefully.

 

[All4MyDaughter]

I work for the VA. Did you have specific questions?

 

[bacillus1]

Sorry to intrude on the thread, but...

1)Is there a significant pay difference between VA and non-VA clinical pharmacists
2)Is there a good chance to be an am care pharmacist in the VA with a PGY-1 (if it's a VA PGY1)?

 

[crazybob]

I work for the VA. Did you have specific questions?

I couldn't think of specific questions since I know little about the VA pharmacy. I know more about clinical pharmacy in general, but depending on your position, you may be able to give some detailed answers or it might be irrelevant.

Can you tell me what you enjoy about your job, and what some of the difficulties are compared to retail/hospital settings?

 

[All4MyDaughter]

I am still interning for the VA (still in school) and don't work very often. But here are some of the benefits I see in terms of being a pharmacist for the VA.

Good hours:
Outpatient O (early) shift is 8 to 4:30 (usually 5 pharmacists/day)
Outpatient O2 shift is 9:30 to 6 (3 pharmacists/day)
Outpatient P shift is 10 to 6:30 (1 pharmacist/day)
Inpatient shifts are usually 7 to 3:30
There may be a middle shift for inpatient that stays until 5 or 6 (not sure)
One inpatient pharmacist/day stays until 9 p.m. (it rotates)
Rotating weekends - usually one per month or less
Weekend hours for outpatient are 8 to 4:30 Saturday and Sunday
Nighttime pharmacist covers overnights (there are 2 that rotate)
Clinical pharmacists usually work 7 to 3:30

Lots of Holidays:
MLK, Vets Day, President's Day, Memorial Day, July 4, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Labor Day, and others I might be forgetting. Usually only one pharmacist and one tech work the holiday and everyone else is off.

Variation in duties:
Dedicated work stations that you rotate through on a daily basis (take in/counseling, order verfication, final check/QA, phones) instead of having to multitask and do EVERYTHING during a single shift (like in retail).

Lots of technicians and they are well trained:
Ratio is close to 1:1

E-prescribing and electronic charting is the standard. There is lots of automation and technology.

That's what I can think of for now.

 

[BelleMD2B]

You are gonna work your ass off for them with less pay. You should consider carefully.

I thought VAs paid a little more. Or maybe that is regional (comparably).

 

[All4MyDaughter]

In my area the VA pays less than retail pharmacy. But in my opinion, the difference in salary is offset by better working hours and conditions, no drive thru, etc. You don't have to deal with money or cash registers at all. No 10, 12 or 14 hour shifts. Don't have to keep the pharmacy open until 10 p.m. every night. No illegible handwritten prescriptions, no doctor calls for refills (all handled electronically by techs), and other benefits.

 

[crazybob]

In my area the VA pays less than retail pharmacy. But in my opinion, the difference in salary is offset by better working hours and conditions, no drive thru, etc. You don't have to deal with money or cash registers at all. No 10, 12 or 14 hour shifts. Don't have to keep the pharmacy open until 10 p.m. every night. No illegible handwritten prescriptions, no doctor calls for refills (all handled electronically by techs), and other benefits.

Can you talk about anything that any of your pharmacists mention about their jobs?

I'm probably going to work in retail or community pharmacy while I'm in school and move towards rotations in a hospital and then consider being a pharmacist for the VA.

 

[Pharmachic]

In my area the VA pays less than retail pharmacy. But in my opinion, the difference in salary is offset by better working hours and conditions, no drive thru, etc. You don't have to deal with money or cash registers at all. No 10, 12 or 14 hour shifts. Don't have to keep the pharmacy open until 10 p.m. every night. No illegible handwritten prescriptions, no doctor calls for refills (all handled electronically by techs), and other benefits.

👍👍👍 That's why I want to work there. Plus Education Debt Reduction Program (in approved locations), loan forgiveness after 10 yrs for working a public service job, and federal benefits. What's the likelihood of a new grad getting hired?

 

[inquirer89]

All4MyDaughter, do you know anything about pharmacists transferring from the military? I'm thinking of serving for a few years after school and then hopefully going directly to the VA. Will the years I serve be included in my 20 years towards retirement?

 

[ValeRx]

All4MyDaughter, do you know anything about pharmacists transferring from the military? I'm thinking of serving for a few years after school and then hopefully going directly to the VA. Will the years I serve be included in my 20 years towards retirement?

Transferring FROM the military? You still have to go through a regular hiring process. You'll get veterans preference but you don't "transfer." The military and the Department of Veterans Affairs are completely separate entities.

 

[pharm B]

I interviewed a psychiatric pharmacist (who works for the VA) the other day and found out a great deal of info from her.

According to her, your military time does transfer in as far as "pension" time. I served six years in the Navy and she said that time would count and might also allow me to come in at a higher pay grade (I still don't understand the GS scales...).

She mentioned the above points (8-1630 M-F with holidays off, vacation time, and sick days, along with what she described as several "cadillac" insurance plans that were very affordable). She also talked about her position as a psych pharmacist, and it sounds like she's a pretty independent operator. She's allowed to prescribe meds within her scope of practice, with controls being signed off by a physician.

I asked her about the programs available to pay for pharmacy school and she told me to talk to our regional pharmacy head about that.

My question is: if they pay for your school, will they allow you to pursue a residency (maybe even 2 years)? I'd really like to do a general PGY-1 followed by a psych pharmacy residency and the VA definitely sounds like where I'd ultimately like to end up working.

 

[inquirer89]

Transferring FROM the military? You still have to go through a regular hiring process. You'll get veterans preference but you don't "transfer." The military and the Department of Veterans Affairs are completely separate entities.

I know that, I was using wrong semantics.

I interviewed a psychiatric pharmacist (who works for the VA) the other day and found out a great deal of info from her.

According to her, your military time does transfer in as far as "pension" time. I served six years in the Navy and she said that time would count and might also allow me to come in at a higher pay grade (I still don't understand the GS scales...).

Good to know thanks!

 

[PumpkinSmasher]

My question is: if they pay for your school, will they allow you to pursue a residency (maybe even 2 years)? I'd really like to do a general PGY-1 followed by a psych pharmacy residency and the VA definitely sounds like where I'd ultimately like to end up working.

The VA doesn't have any program that is going to pay for all of your pharmacy school. By statute the maximum education debt reduction payment any employee can receive is 45,000, max of 10k/year, and funds are limited and not available at all sites. Education reduction payments are for specified health care disciplines for which recruitment or retention is difficult and pharmacists are not the hard to recruit anymore especially in metro areas. I spoke with a pharmacy director at the VA a few months back and they mentioned, they had not hired a non-residency trained pharmacist in a couple years for an inpatient/amb care position and none of them were getting EDRP funds, just was not available in the budget.

I would not bank on this loan assistance being available. You have to be a VA employee before you can even apply for EDRP.

http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/viewpublication.asp?pub_id=1682

 

[Hendlefe]

I heard that the VA trains more clinical pharmacists than they can offer positions. So many clinical pharmacists get relegated into a staff pharmacist position. Is this a prevalent issue? Perhaps in the CA region?

 

[eddie269]

Hey guys, glad I found this thread.

I am finishing up my last yr of pharmacy school (graduating in May). Does the VA usually hire on graduating pharmacy students like retail chains do?

Some of my classmates got offers from Walgreens already. I found an outpatient staff pharmacist position and was curious is it a waste of time to apply right now while finishing up my last rotation.

It's a LOT of paperwork and I don't want to waste my time if a new grad (not even, more like a soon to be grad) has no chance.

 

[RxBlueDevils]

I applied to a VA outpatient pharmacy. Does anyone have any experience with this?

 

[iknow]

I'm doing 2 ambulatory care rotations and 1 internal med rotation at the VA this year. Apart from making less $ I have heard many great things about the VA and I'm interested in trying to get a job with them. I just don't want to do a residency, which I guess is necessary right? Does anyone know how much they pay during residencies and as after?

 

[xiphoid2010]

I'm doing 2 ambulatory care rotations and 1 internal med rotation at the VA this year. Apart from making less $ I have heard many great things about the VA and I'm interested in trying to get a job with them. I just don't want to do a residency, which I guess is necessary right? Does anyone know how much they pay during residencies and as after?

The residency pay is on par with other other non-VA hospitals in my area, around $38-40K.

 

[pharma12]

I heard there are internships with the VA at certain locations. Is this true and how would I apply? Or would it be better to apply for a pharmacy tech position and work during school? thanks!

 

[PumpkinSmasher]

I'm doing 2 ambulatory care rotations and 1 internal med rotation at the VA this year. Apart from making less $ I have heard many great things about the VA and I'm interested in trying to get a job with them. I just don't want to do a residency, which I guess is necessary right? Does anyone know how much they pay during residencies and as after?

How hard is it to go to the residency directory and look at the stipend for every single residency??🙄

Then go to the www.usajobs.gov and see the salary ranges for different pharmacist jobs within the VA across the country.

I am always baffled how bad some pharmacy students are at researching or finding any information on their own...lost puppies. It just gives off the impression that you are lazy or helpless.

 

[iknow]

How hard is it to go to the residency directory and look at the stipend for every single residency??🙄

Then go to the www.usajobs.gov and see the salary ranges for different pharmacist jobs within the VA across the country.

I am always baffled how bad some pharmacy students are at researching or finding any information on their own...lost puppies. It just gives off the impression that you are lazy or helpless.

wolf wolf...Great job! you get to feel smart- thanks for saving another puppie 😉

 

[PumpkinSmasher]

wolf wolf...Great job! you get to feel smart- thanks for saving another puppie 😉

Unfortunately I do not think anyone can save you...especially if you are already a P3...🙁 The VA is most likely out of reach for you, sorry.

Though, the best revenge is living well...so kick ass during your P4 year and go after what you want.

 

[iknow]

Unfortunately I do not think anyone can save you...especially if you are already a P3...🙁 The VA is most likely out of reach for you, sorry.

Though, the best revenge is living well...so kick ass during your P4 year and go after what you want.

The VA is just an option. I'm learning more about it. If it was something I really wanted to do it would never be out of reach for me.
I was reading some of your other posts. I worry about you. Why are you so miserable? I hope this is not how you talk to your patients and colleagues when you become a pharmacist.

You can't put someone like me down with your bitter remarks but be careful of how you come across around other people. Most people don't like or trust someone who is always pretending to be above everyone else.

I'm sure you'll learn as you go and things will get better for you 🙂

 

[PumpkinSmasher]

The VA is just an option. I'm learning more about it. If it was something I really wanted to do it would never be out of reach for me.
I was reading some of your other posts. I worry about you. Why are you so miserable? I hope this is not how you talk to your patients and colleagues when you become a pharmacist.

You can't put someone like me down with your bitter remarks but be careful of how you come across around other people. Most people don't like or trust someone who is always pretending to be above everyone else.

I'm sure you'll learn as you go and things will get better for you 🙂

I win.

 

[AZbball35]

does the VA have any positions available for those who are still students? I assume they do, but what would be the best way to find out information on these positions since they don't seem to be posted on their website

 

[bacillus1]

does the VA have any positions available for those who are still students? I assume they do, but what would be the best way to find out information on these positions since they don't seem to be posted on their website

Yes, they have programs for students. Applications aren't out yet (at least for my city). I would call your local VA to find out if it has student programs.

 

[AZbball35]

thanks!