residency first

[gaba101]

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I'm pretty much either way on doing a residency or not (actually slightly on the "no" side). my primary reason for doing a residency would be job security (in the future when the shortage is gone). if I do a residency right after pharmacy school (in something clinical) but then afterwards go straight into retail (for my own reasons) or something not related to the residency education, would doing the residency even help me 20 or 30 yrs down the road when there is a surplus of pharmacists??

another question is, when a retail pharmacist wants to transition into other aspects of pharmacy (more clinical), what can a retail pharmacist do (i.e. positions, roles, etc) to stand out? The only opportunity I can think of is becoming the Pharmacy Manager (pretty hard to get a DM position so I wouldn't count on it).

 

[PharmDstudent]

I'm pretty much either way on doing a residency or not (actually slightly on the "no" side). my primary reason for doing a residency would be job security (in the future when the shortage is gone). if I do a residency right after pharmacy school (in something clinical) but then afterwards go straight into retail (for my own reasons) or something not related to the residency education, would doing the residency even help me 20 or 30 yrs down the road when there is a surplus of pharmacists??

another question is, when a retail pharmacist wants to transition into other aspects of pharmacy (more clinical), what can a retail pharmacist do (i.e. positions, roles, etc) to stand out? The only opportunity I can think of is becoming the Pharmacy Manager (pretty hard to get a DM position so I wouldn't count on it).

If you want to make an impression, you need more experience in that area. That's a universal principle which has never failed me! Therefore, you could get a part-time job in a hospital/clinical setting in addition to retail. It sounds like a heavy workload if you're full-time retail, but at least you would be closer to your goal than if you had worked exclusively at a retail dispensing-type job.

They also have those diabetes or AIDS clinics that are offered by some retail chains where you talk to patients about their disease management right in the stores. Maybe that could work as a transition for you.

 

[dgroulx]

They also have those diabetes or AIDS clinics that are offered by some retail chains where you talk to patients about their disease management right in the stores. Maybe that could work as a transition for you.

I think this is a good idea. Many of the pharmacies in my area are starting the move for a "patient care" type of pharmacy. Walgreens already uses remote verification. Soon all insurance problems will be fixed at a help desk remotely which frees up time for the pharmacists and techs. The pharmacists will be focusing more on patient care (& billing medicare part d). Retail is changing. Having a residency will give you a leg up in getting into one of these positions.

 

[pinkyrx]

Walgreens already uses remote verification.

Just curious... how does the remote verification work?

 

[Old Timer]

Look at this. If you want to do a residency, do it. Retail will be there when you are done. Don't worry about being employed. Do what you enjoy. The shortage may go away and increases may not be 5% per year, but of you are a talented pharmacist, you will always have a job. I was told a long time ago, there is always room at the top. And the clinical skills will serve you well as the dispensing model of pharmacy will eventually die out.

 

[genesis09]

At a place like Walgreens, they have so many other opportunities for pharmacists besides staff pharmacist/manager. My pharmacy manager's dream job is to work with Walgreens Health Initiatives. The issue is since she did not do a residency, she'll have to put in some years of experience. Walgreens also has a number of speciality pharmacies. Remember, I live near Walgreens's Headquarters in Deerfield, and so, I don't know how many jobs like those they have outside of Illinois.
A speaker just came in from one of the big chains, and she said they are planning on redoing their entire prescription process in the near future. Retail pharmacy is changing.

 

[Hels2007]

Just curious... how does the remote verification work?

All the hard copies are scanned into the computer and then typed, so you see the future label & the original prescription on your screen side by side. Before the label can be printed and prescription filled, a pharmacist has to verify it. So I click a button, and first all the waiters from my store come up, then the waiters from other stores that have longer wait times than mine at this moment. Since I have the hard copy and the typed info all in front of me, I can verify it and it will print out and be ready to fill in the store that typed it. I do it if I am slow, and the script is easy to read. Sometimes the scans are just too bad.

 

[pinkyrx]

All the hard copies are scanned into the computer and then typed, so you see the future label & the original prescription on your screen side by side. Before the label can be printed and prescription filled, a pharmacist has to verify it. So I click a button, and first all the waiters from my store come up, then the waiters from other stores that have longer wait times than mine at this moment. Since I have the hard copy and the typed info all in front of me, I can verify it and it will print out and be ready to fill in the store that typed it. I do it if I am slow, and the script is easy to read. Sometimes the scans are just too bad.

Thanks for the info! So, does the pharmacist on site still verify that the right pills are in the right bottle with the right label?

Do you have some sort of obligation to check a certain number of scripts from the busier store? Also, how does liability work... are you responsible for that script legally if a mistake is made?

 

[pharmdinfl]

Thanks for the info! So, does the pharmacist on site still verify that the right pills are in the right bottle with the right label?

Do you have some sort of obligation to check a certain number of scripts from the busier store? Also, how does liability work... are you responsible for that script legally if a mistake is made?

Currently, I am able to remotely verify other stores' prescriptions when I'm caught up in my own store. This takes stress off of pharmacists who are in busier stores than mine or vice versa. I work in the busiest store in my district, so other pharmacists in other stores actually verify for me quite often and I am very grateful for that help with the following caveat....

Being as I am responsible for the final check on any RX leaving my pharmacy, I ALWAYS double check the hard copy prescription. As a safety requirement, I require the hard copy to be sent down to me, along with the prepared prescription ,so that I can check it a 2nd time. This is not only to double check it when someone remotely verified it, but I use it to double check myself as well. It means I'm not as fast as other pharmacists, but patient safety is my number 1 concern.

We are not required to verify a certain number of prescriptions. I try to verify one or two an hour from other busier stores if I'm caught up that pop up on my screen just to help out, but it's by no means a requirement. If I'm too busy, I just close out of the screen. No big deal. 🙂

 

[pharmdinfl]

sorry for the duplicate post!

 

[pinkyrx]

Thanks for the info pharmdinfl! I think I would want to re-check too, just for my own sanity!

 

[pharmdinfl]

Thanks for the info pharmdinfl! I think I would want to re-check too, just for my own sanity!

You're welcome 🙂

 

[bananaface]

There are community care residencies available. Have you considered one of those?

 

[njac]

I've heard the community residencies are abit of a waste of time, but that's heresay and I haven't researched them.

I work with a pharmacist who did a residency, went out and worked at WalMart for 2 years, and is now back in the inpatient setting. Even though she was only 3 years out of school she was much more "on top" of things than the fresh new grads.