Residency vs. Retail?

Started by blueeyedgecko
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blueeyedgecko

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I am a point in my life where I have to make a very important decision, one between two completely different career paths. I applied for residency and went on interviews. Two days ago, I was offered a retail position and I am really having a hard time deciding between the two.
I want to do a residency because I really like clinical work. I feel that I could have a huge impact on patient care and that makes me happy. In order to get any kind of clinical pharmacy position, residency is usually required these days.
On the other hand, it would be nice to just work and not worry about projects, research, etc. I have been in college for a long time and I have a lot of credit card debt, I have a mortgage to pay, I need a new car, etc., etc., and going on a real vacation sounds really nice. And let’s face the facts….residencies are a lot of work and most people hit a wall where they feel like they can’t go on.
I never realized how bad the job market for retail pharmacy was getting. Where I live, the biggest chain is only hiring 2 pharmacists out of my class (compared to the 28 pharmacists that they hired last year). I never thought I would feel lucky to be offered a retail position and $115,000/yr is a lot of money to walk away from.
So, do I withdraw from the match and take the job or wait and see if I match? The job offer doesn’t expire until May, so I have time to see what happens, but what kind of life do I really want? My parents are pushing me to take the job, my friends are pushing me to stick out the match, and my boyfriend doesn’t care. I just don’t know what I want to do. I also feel like it will look poorly upon if I withdraw from the match from the point of view of the programs that I interviewed with and the pharmacists who wrote me letters of recommendation. I know I can always apply for residency later, but will I have burned some bridges by withdrawing?
I thought of just ranking the program that I liked the best and not the others to see what happens, but they are only taking 1 residency, so my chances would not be great. If I don't match, then fine...I will take the job. But if I do match than I am obligated to the program and I have decline the job offer.
I know that no one can tell me what to do or make the decision for me and I know that I don’t have much time left to make it. Does anyone have any advice/opinions/experience? I would really like hearing as many points of view as possible. Thanks!!
 
blueeyedgecko said:
I want to do a residency because I really like clinical work. I feel that I could have a huge impact on patient care and that makes me happy. In order to get any kind of clinical pharmacy position, residency is usually required these days.
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You just answered your own question... you know what you want to do but your getting tempted by the mula! You also mentioned that retail in your area isn't really hiring like they used to either... well just because they hire you doesn't mean they cant let you go either. in Florida, last year Walgreens (to my knowledge, anyone please correct me if Im wrong) cut 200 RPh positions because of POWER.

What Im trying say is... don't short change yourself on education and if a residency is something you want to do and it'll eventually make you happy, do it!

you have your whole life ahead of you to make the big bucks!

sorry if anyone else disagrees with my however, this is just my 2 cents😛
 
I was in the EXACT same position as you a year ago. I had an amazing offer from a retail pharmacy, and couldn't decide what to do. I had applied and interviewed at a few places, but when it came down to it there was only one place I was truly interested in. I decided to let fate decide, and here I am. The year has been flying by, and it's not like you aren't earning ANY income--it's just not as big as it could be.

My advice to you is: do whatever will make you happy.

BTW, if you withdraw from the match, I don't know if the programs get that info (maybe they won't be able to find your match number if they search the system). If you stay in the match but don't rank any programs, I CAN say for sure that nobody will know.
 
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As someone who has worked in retail for the past 1.5 years and is now applying/praying/holding breath to match, I feel like I can give you some advice.

I had always considered applying for residency throughout pharmacy school and in the end, I was too tired. Plain and simple, too tired. I was also in the position of needing a new car, paying down debt and affording my wedding. In the end, I've enjoyed some of the aspects of working in retail pharmacy. However, the idea of it being the "easy" way out - with stress-free days and a fat paycheck that makes it all better/worth it - is absolutely, 100% not true. Don't get me wrong, it's a lot of money and my job has enabled me to have the wedding I wanted, go on some nice trips, and afford my new car - but if you're feeling like you just want to do it because of the money and feel like you'll have the chance to go back and do a residency later - DON'T think that way.

I feel like I would have been a much more competitive applicant right out of school. I had a 3.4 GPA, extensive campus involvement/leadership experience, a summer internship with Pfizer, etc. While all of that still applies - programs are looking to see what you've done since graduation now that you've been out of school and working. If you think the work experience is enough to give a competitive edge - you're completely wrong. I applied to 6 programs and only got 2 interviews. The feedback from the programs that didn't invite me was that I hadn't shown enough commitment to the furthering of my education/involvement in the pharmacy community since graduation. i.e. In addition to working 40 hours a week, having the commitments of a house, family and friends, you are expected to publish papers, volunteer, stay up to date with current issues/developments in the field and remain involved in pharmacy organizations. This is much harder to do as a working adult who - at the end of the day (which may be at 10:00 pm) - just wants to go home, eat dinner, and go to bed before doing it all again the next day.

What I'm trying to say is - if you feel you're a competitive applicant now, don't withdraw from the match. You've already done the work, applied, interviewed. It sounds like you really do want to a residency and if you go right to retail, you may end up regretting that you didn't take the opportunity when it was there. Retail pharmacy will always be there. I plan on staying involved in retail pharmacy throughout my life and I'm grateful for the experiences I've had - but I do regret not applying for a residency directly out of school. It's only a year, or two, and the chance to do it may not be there - or may be much tougher - after you've already been in retail - i.e. responsibilities of a mortgage payment, car payment, being geographically limited because of your spouse/partner's job, or simply not appearing competitive enough (or wishy-washy about your career) compared to the current, over-eager beavers (i.e. starry-eyed pharmacy students) who are applying with you. If I could give this same advice to the me who took the retail job 2 years ago, I would.

I've determined that, no matter what, a residency is going to give you the experience needed to be a great pharmacist - whatever practice setting you work in. If you choose to work in retail in a couple years after residency because you need more money/the hours are better suited for your needs, you're going to be that much more desirable. Flip the scenario - applying for a clinical position after working as a retail pharmacist - unfortunately, not so much. From my heart and my amoxicillin-stained lab coat, take it from me - stay in the match if you're even thinking a residency is going to get you to your ultimate career goals.
 
I'm in the same exact spot, being tempted by offers from retail pharmacies and thinking about all my debt and how good it would feel to pay off my credit cards by next year. But then I think about how hard it was to apply and about all the people that helped me along the way. I'm just going to submit my number one choice and if I don't get in then I'll take that as a sign to take a retail job. I don't mind retail, I kind of like the fast pace, but I don't know if I can live with not knowing how my career would have changed if I had taken a residency with my number one choice.
 
I'm having the same exact problem as you... however, you sound a bit more into doing a residency than me. I am not 100% sold on it, since I only applied and interviewed at one place for a Managed Care residency. If I were you, I would follow your heart and do the residency... it sounds like it is something you truly want to do and would be happy doing. You may never get the opportunity again - Good luck! 🙂
 
Question... if one does in fact decide to match and ends up matching but for some reason or another decides that the residency is for not for them, can they withdraw from it? I've been told that the match is legally binding... clarification would be appreciated!
 
You aren't legally bound to do the residency. I know in a nearby hospital there was a year when 2 residents didn't show up to the residency with no notice one year. You can leave mid-residency if you want and you can be dismissed by the place too. Its an firm agreement, more than a contract.

In regards to the topic at hand, retail jobs are available if you want one. You may have to travel a little further than you'd like, but they are out there. Don't quit on a residency because 1 chain offered you a job. If a residency doesn't work out, you won't be out of work or anything. Retail can be a rewarding job I guess, but a lot of stores/companies are really a terrible work environment. If clinical things are what you like about pharmacy, do a residency.
 
vash1012 said:
You aren't legally bound to do the residency. I know in a nearby hospital there was a year when 2 residents didn't show up to the residency with no notice one year. You can leave mid-residency if you want and you can be dismissed by the place too. Its an firm agreement, more than a contract.

In regards to the topic at hand, retail jobs are available if you want one. You may have to travel a little further than you'd like, but they are out there. Don't quit on a residency because 1 chain offered you a job. If a residency doesn't work out, you won't be out of work or anything. Retail can be a rewarding job I guess, but a lot of stores/companies are really a terrible work environment. If clinical things are what you like about pharmacy, do a residency.
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Wrong. The match is a legally binding contract. If the programs wanted to pursue legal actions against you for not showing, up they can. Will they do this, likely not...

Withdrawing after the match is professional suicide... It is true when they say pharmacy is a small world. Plus you took away a spot from a candidate that really wanted to go there.

In summary...if you don't want to go to the program, DON"T RANK THEM!
 
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KARM12 said:
Wrong. The match is a legally binding contract. If the programs wanted to pursue legal actions against you for not showing, up they can. Will they do this, likely not...

Withdrawing after the match is professional suicide... It is true when they say pharmacy is a small world. Plus you took away a spot from a candidate that really wanted to go there.

In summary...if you don't want to go to the program, DON"T RANK THEM!
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👍 👍
 
KARM12 said:
Wrong. The match is a legally binding contract. If the programs wanted to pursue legal actions against you for not showing, up they can. Will they do this, likely not...

Withdrawing after the match is professional suicide... It is true when they say pharmacy is a small world. Plus you took away a spot from a candidate that really wanted to go there.

In summary...if you don't want to go to the program, DON"T RANK THEM!
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QFT

I came to the residency decision later in the game, but I'm so glad I did. Yeah, I lost out on about 70K I could have been making in retail, but I did float work on the weekends to make extra cash and in the grand scheme of things, I consider it 2K/year over my career to be happier with the options I have now. I truly think retail would kill my soul; I did it for 10 years, and still do float work now and I hate every.last.minute of it.
 
KARM12 said:
Wrong. The match is a legally binding contract. If the programs wanted to pursue legal actions against you for not showing, up they can. Will they do this, likely not...

Withdrawing after the match is professional suicide... It is true when they say pharmacy is a small world. Plus you took away a spot from a candidate that really wanted to go there.

In summary...if you don't want to go to the program, DON"T RANK THEM!
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Perhaps I am mistaken then or using the word "legally binding" in a different meaning. As far as I can tell, failure to comply with the match is only punishable by ASHP, wherein you will be barred from participating in the match for x number of years. I see nothing that says a program can seek legal action against you in any other fashion.
 
This is direct quote from the Match website...

"The Match results constitute a binding commitment from which neither the applicant nor the program can withdraw without mutual written agreement. A program must offer an appointment to each applicant with whom it is matched, and the applicant must accept the offer from the program, unless both parties agree in writing to release each other from the Match result.

Violations of the terms of the Agreements or the ASHP Match Rules will be reported to the ASHP. The ASHP may decide to impose penalties on those who violate the Agreements or the Match Rules."
 
For those on the fence between doing a residency or working retail after graduation, what did you decide and why?
 
Penalties to me does not imply a program can take legal action against you. When I think legally binding contract, I think of lawsuits and what not. In this case, the contract is binding in the sense that participation in the organization and program is at risk, not that you'd be at risk of a lawsuit. Please correct me if i'm wrong.
 
I did the residency route but always knew that is what I wanted to do. It is a worthwhile and challenging experience. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to do one. However, only do one if you really want to because I know people who have quit their residency. It is a lot of work and the expectations are high. It was the hardest time in my life. However, after residency, I can tell you that I felt like I could hit the ground running. Being the sole pharmacist in a large group of MD's who look to you for many of their therapeutic med recs during rounds feels perfectly fine, whereas it may be intimidating to a new grad. Plus, most clinical jobs require a residency.

If you do choose the retail route and then pursue a residency, be prepared to answer questions on why during interview. Working retail doesn't help a CV when looking for a residency. It also doesn't help when looking for a clinical job even after residency training. I have a lot of respect for retail pharmacists, but there are clinical pharmacists who would definitely question it. My old preceptors did when they were interviewing someone for a clinical spot.
 
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J DUB said:
Retail....make the money....

more school with less money afterwards....👎
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I don't agree. No amount of money can make up for a job you hate. Life is short. How much of your life are you willing to be miserable for $20K/yr (more like $10K more after tax)? 😕 $10K more or less isn't going to make a huge difference in a pharmacist life style, but suffering 8+ hours every day would.

I for hate retail work and love clinical work. I would rather put in 4 extra hours per week overtime at the hospital to to make the same money as retail. Of course if some one loves retail, it makes no sense to do residency.
 
J DUB said:
Retail....make the money....

more school with less money afterwards....👎
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You might not think that way when someone brings you a stool sample complete with a tablet shell in a dunkin donuts cup wrapped with saran wrap and asks you to "analyze it in your lab" and give some sort of a detailed report as to your findings.

Then challenge you/threaten to transfer all of their prescriptions/proclaim you not to be the real pharmacist when you inform them of your lack of a microscopic/analytical lab equipment.

By the way the phone is ringing. On 3 different lines. You have 1 tech on. The drive through is sounding. Someone is waiting to drop off. 3 people are in line to pick up. You have 12010281082 BS tasks to do as set up by X retail chain in the name of "customer service".

You haven't had your coffee. Above said dunkin cup makes your dunkin no longer seem appetizing. It's 9:20. You opened at 9:00.

Obviously, every position in pharmacy has its own challenges. And the poop situation actually ended up working out believe it or not.

Just letting you know it's not the cake walk people seem to think it is. Just a different game with different BS.

. . Yeah, it was a bad day today at work.

Good luck to everyone on the Match!!
 
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I have worked in retail for the past 1.5 years. If you want to complete a residency then don't be tempted by money. I have loathed every minute of it (aside from counseling patients), but I make myself think that I can make a difference, have hope that I'll match, and know that it was necessary for me to take the retail job since I had to support my husband and I since he lost his job my last year of school. I'm more determined than ever to become a clinical pharmacist. I want out of retail! It will chew you up and spit you out. Just remember, you don't have a permanent schedule, don't have control over your schedule since you'll float your first 1-2 years. Floating is awful! It's so saturated here that you're on call. You have to sit by your phone and be ready at anytime to get to a shift. You realize quickly that it's not about patient care and it's about profits. It's so sad and not something I can see myself practicing in long term.


Good luck everyone!
 
xiphoid2010 said:
How much of your life are you willing to be miserable for $20K/yr (more like $10K more after tax)? 😕 $10K more or less isn't going to make a huge difference in a pharmacist life style, but suffering 8+ hours every day would.
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This is very true. A few bucks more per hour is not going to make a difference in the long run.
 
jewess said:
For those on the fence between doing a residency or working retail after graduation, what did you decide and why?
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Most of my work experience in pharmacy school was in the retail setting. I only worked during the summer and on holidays, and I remember feeling ready to get back to class at the end of each summer... I'm a pretty patient person, and I like to be around people, but I didn't feel like retail was a setting I could work in long-term. I considered the FDA but thought I wanted more patient contact than I would get there. So, I applied to Walgreens and also decided to take a stab at the residency thing. I didn't really understand what I wanted to do with a residency - I just knew I could learn more, work in a new pharmacy setting and figure it out as I went. The way I saw it, one year of residency would expose me to new opportunities and open new doors, and I could always go back to retail if I didn't like the hospital setting. (I know, I know... it's not so easy to think like that anymore.)

Anyway, I had an offer from Walgreens for $116K + $40K sign-on when I went through the match in 2008. I matched, found my niche and stayed on for a PGY-2. I honestly don't regret it. The fact that I look forward to work every day more than makes up for all the money I've "lost" over the last two years. I should probably mention that I'm single and don't have any debt to pay off, and those factors obviously make a difference. But my feeling is... if you can afford to do it, why not take a shot?
 
People act like you make no money as a resident.... Yes, your salary is less, but the opportunity is more. Most residencies pay ~40K/yr..that is more than many families of 4 make and they get by. I understand there are loans to pay. I graduated with 100k myself and am completing my 2nd year of residency. It is totally doable and I live in an expensive city... You may not be able to live in that awesome high rise or by the new BMW right out of school, but the opportunity a residency provides you is worth it.
 
J DUB said:
Retail....make the money....

more school with less money afterwards....👎
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👎thumbdown
not true!!!! I make just as much now as I would in retail. Clinical pharmacy does not automatically equal lower pay, people!

And like others have said even if I did make a little less, it would be completely worth it not to lose my ever loving mind in retail pharmacy.
 
jewess said:
For those on the fence between doing a residency or working retail after graduation, what did you decide and why?
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I went ahead and ranked my top 2 choices in the match. If I match I'll go through with it, if I don't I won't do the scramble and take a job in retail. I figured that I can always go back to retail and all I would have lost is 70K, but if I don't at least try to match I may miss out on finding a pharmacy niche which makes me really happy. I know myself and am sure that I will never have the stamina to go through all the application and interview stuff for the residency in the future, so I may as well give it my best shot now.
 
MustLoveDrugs said:
Most of my work experience in pharmacy school was in the retail setting. I only worked during the summer and on holidays, and I remember feeling ready to get back to class at the end of each summer... I'm a pretty patient person, and I like to be around people, but I didn't feel like retail was a setting I could work in long-term. I considered the FDA but thought I wanted more patient contact than I would get there. So, I applied to Walgreens and also decided to take a stab at the residency thing. I didn't really understand what I wanted to do with a residency - I just knew I could learn more, work in a new pharmacy setting and figure it out as I went. The way I saw it, one year of residency would expose me to new opportunities and open new doors, and I could always go back to retail if I didn't like the hospital setting. (I know, I know... it's not so easy to think like that anymore.)

Anyway, I had an offer from Walgreens for $116K + $40K sign-on when I went through the match in 2008. I matched, found my niche and stayed on for a PGY-2. I honestly don't regret it. The fact that I look forward to work every day more than makes up for all the money I've "lost" over the last two years. I should probably mention that I'm single and don't have any debt to pay off, and those factors obviously make a difference. But my feeling is... if you can afford to do it, why not take a shot?
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which residency is it? sounds interesting 😀
 
Quick question: Are all of you residents/hopefuls looking to specifically acquire a clinical pharmacist position, or hospital staff pharmacist position??? Our hospital has 3 clinical only pharmacists, but each staff pharmacist rotates throughout the week completing clinical duties on various floors. In addition, will your salaries be higher than retail pharms after you've completed a residency anyway? Wouldn't you end up making more than a retail pharmacist in the long run? Sorry if these questions are irrelevant to the thread, I wasn't trying to highjack anything. Thanks
 
hckyplyr said:
Quick question: Are all of you residents/hopefuls looking to specifically acquire a clinical pharmacist position, or hospital staff pharmacist position??? Our hospital has 3 clinical only pharmacists, but each staff pharmacist rotates throughout the week completing clinical duties on various floors. In addition, will your salaries be higher than retail pharms after you've completed a residency anyway? Wouldn't you end up making more than a retail pharmacist in the long run? Sorry if these questions are irrelevant to the thread, I wasn't trying to highjack anything. Thanks
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In many areas, even a staff pharmacist position now takes a residency to get. The job market is that competitive now. My hospital hires people with residency on as staff pharmacist, and they have to wait until a clinical position is created or old RPh retires.

Residency is a tool, not a job guarentee. It just gives you access to job opportunities that you wouldn't other wise be able to get.

Retail does pay more for the same amount of hours, but the difference isn't that big. Coupled with the insane pace/stress levels of retail, it isn't worth the money for many people. A staff pharmacist at my hospital can easy work over time to make up the income difference without feeling burnt out. Try that in a CVS in this area, and you'll be lucky to stay out of the mental institutions before long.
 
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xiphoid2010 said:
In many areas, even a staff pharmacist position now takes a residency to get. The job market is that competitive now. My hospital hires people with residency on as staff pharmacist, and they have to wait until a clinical position is created or old RPh retires.

Residency is a tool, not a job guarentee. It just gives you access to job opportunities that you wouldn't other wise be able to get.

Retail does pay more for the same amount of hours, but the difference isn't that big. Coupled with the insane pace/stress levels of retail, it isn't worth the money for many people. A staff pharmacist at my hospital can easy work over time to make up the income difference without feeling burnt out. Try that in a CVS in this area, and you'll be lucky to stay out of the mental institutions before long.
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Thank you!
 
hckyplyr said:
Quick question: Are all of you residents/hopefuls looking to specifically acquire a clinical pharmacist position, or hospital staff pharmacist position??? Our hospital has 3 clinical only pharmacists, but each staff pharmacist rotates throughout the week completing clinical duties on various floors. In addition, will your salaries be higher than retail pharms after you've completed a residency anyway? Wouldn't you end up making more than a retail pharmacist in the long run? Sorry if these questions are irrelevant to the thread, I wasn't trying to highjack anything. Thanks
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Don't forget about faculty positions! The pay in academia may be less, but some people find teaching to be a rewarding part of residency and choose to make a career out of it.
 
iphetamine said:
which residency is it? sounds interesting 😀
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Geriatrics. There aren't many of us, and ending up where I am is honestly just the way the cookie crumbled... Had I matched with any other program as a PGY-1, I would probably be doing something completely different. I'm a firm believer in the "everything happens for a reason" philosophy.
 
xiphoid2010 said:
Retail does pay more for the same amount of hours, but the difference isn't that big. Coupled with the insane pace/stress levels of retail, it isn't worth the money for many people. A staff pharmacist at my hospital can easy work over time to make up the income difference without feeling burnt out. Try that in a CVS in this area, and you'll be lucky to stay out of the mental institutions before long.
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Taking into account what I get paid for being on call, I make as much or more per year as a retail pharmacist in my area ($56-58).
We don't have OT because we're salaried, but if I do need extra money for a trip or a home improvement, I just do float work in retail or LTC or whatever else is open. It's not hard to pick up extra hours. Granted I don't make time and a half that way, but I'm also not taxes as heavily then.
 
i think residency is the way to go to solidfy that resume, experience, etc and it opens more opportunities, there are still plenty of jobs, but you gotta be flexible....for example, there like a million pharm schools in OH, so the chance of getting a job there arent good, thats just the reality.

but if one decides to go retail first, and then back to residency....you have one question to answer: what did you do to advance your career/profession while working retail? if you started MTM, some other counseling sessions that you can show them, then you are A-ok.....but if you didnt (and lets be honest, we retail people dont have time to do anything other than fill scripts), then one will struggle with that question and getting a spot
 
I remember when I was pre-pharmacy in ~2004-2005, I was told by everyone "retail pharmacy, you can get a job anywhere and huge sign on bonuses. If you want to do a residency, do that first bc you can always get a retail job anytime and anywhere."

Fast forward to 2010. The retail job market isn't the same as before. Sign on bonuses are mostly long gone. Desirable locations aren't available anymore. In a lot of regions (i.e. larger cities) they just aren't hiring anymore for retail. Floating for 2-3 yrs, relocating to smaller cities a few hours away, or having a 1 hour commute each way to work is what's left for retail.

I know socal had a hiring freeze all of last year and barely any spots this year. SF was always hiring but from personal experience, only 2 retail chains considered me this year. I probably got one of the last 5-10 retail positions in the immediate SF area. I feel in 1-2 yrs, SF will end up like socal with no one hiring. The jobs just aren't open anymore. Sacramento is still good for a while since every recruiter kept asking if I wanted to move up there. 😡

My point: if you aren't 100% committed to clinical setting and have a retail offer you really like, don't do a residency just because you want to beef up your resume. You will let that retail spot get filled and in 1-2 yrs after your PGY-1/PGY-2 years and you decide retail is for you, you won't be able to get a good situation.

Residencies are hard work and it wouldn't make sense financially to do it "just because." Opportunity costs can be upwards of $80,000 (My retail offer was $120k/yr with OT while residency here pays around $40k/yr). Don't get me wrong, if I loved hospital and HATED retail (I really don't mind the fast paced setting, especially if I have a slower store and good technicians), then I'd definitely do a residency. But clinical work was never my calling and my hospital rotations didn't change that at all.

I guess I'm just trying to play devil's advocate here. 😉

On the flip side, I see many clinical positions open here in SF hospitals that require residency. In fact, more hospital jobs are open than retail here...go figure.
 
if you are matched, please go. I am all for professionalism and if you weren't sure, you shouldn't have applied to begin with. Pharmacy is definitely a small world and the residency coordinator can very well be the retail chain recruiter who is interviewing you 5 years from later.
 
"...You will let that retail spot get filled and in 1-2 yrs after your PGY-1/PGY-2 years and you decide retail is for you, you won't be able to get a good situation."

Someone who does a PGY2 is not likely going to want to go into retail. At least not 100%, full time.
 
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RedApples said:
You might not think that way when someone brings you a stool sample complete with a tablet shell in a dunkin donuts cup wrapped with saran wrap and asks you to "analyze it in your lab" and give some sort of a detailed report as to your findings.

Then challenge you/threaten to transfer all of their prescriptions/proclaim you not to be the real pharmacist when you inform them of your lack of a microscopic/analytical lab equipment.

By the way the phone is ringing. On 3 different lines. You have 1 tech on. The drive through is sounding. Someone is waiting to drop off. 3 people are in line to pick up. You have 12010281082 BS tasks to do as set up by X retail chain in the name of "customer service".

You haven't had your coffee. Above said dunkin cup makes your dunkin no longer seem appetizing. It's 9:20. You opened at 9:00.

Obviously, every position in pharmacy has its own challenges. And the poop situation actually ended up working out believe it or not.

Just letting you know it's not the cake walk people seem to think it is. Just a different game with different BS.

. . Yeah, it was a bad day today at work.

Good luck to everyone on the Match!!
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THIS is EXACTLY what I have felt from the first day of IPPE and makes me sick with worry waiting for match results tomorrow!!!! Thank you for painting that very vivid picture!!
 
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spacecowgirl said:
QFT

I came to the residency decision later in the game, but I'm so glad I did. Yeah, I lost out on about 70K I could have been making in retail, but I did float work on the weekends to make extra cash and in the grand scheme of things, I consider it 2K/year over my career to be happier with the options I have now. I truly think retail would kill my soul; I did it for 10 years, and still do float work now and I hate every.last.minute of it.
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what many don't realize is that hospitals usually have shift, evening, and weekend differentials that more than make up for the lower base salary.

More importantly, flexibility in scheduling and more vacation times are typical of hospital jobs.
 
StaviZFingerZ said:
what many don't realize is that hospitals usually have shift, evening, and weekend differentials that more than make up for the lower base salary.

More importantly, flexibility in scheduling and more vacation times are typical of hospital jobs.
Click to expand...
most definitely👍
 
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