Should I try to jump ship?

[applegirl89]

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For those pharmacists who have switched from retail to hospital, I would like to hear your thoughts!

I currently work in a retail setting. And to be honest, I do enjoy the work. I like the fast paced environment, patient interaction, and problem solving issues that are thrown at me. However, I really dislike that it gets so busy, and I get no break at all (bathroom once, and rarely ever get to eat on my 8-12 hours shift). My biggest concern is not enough tech hours/help and too many metrics from corporate, I'm afraid that in the long run (5-7 years), I'll be really tired and end up burn out/hating retail.

Now, I did have some PRN experience in a hospital setting, but due to me being a new grad and didn't have a residency or hospital experience, the hospital no longer wanted to spend the time to train me just for a PRN position. I have since been trying to get a full time staff pharmacist position but it's been difficult without residency. With the short time I had doing PRN, I realized that I like some aspects of staffing such as IV compound, order verification and doing simple calculations/PK dosing. However, I'm not super excited about the work, and when it comes down to it, I really only enjoy the IV compounding component of staffing, and not so much the clinical work. My PRN experience was only a few months, so I don't know if that was enough time for me to get into liking the job.

For now, I think that home infusion is essentially my ultimate goal and something I want to do in the long run. So my question is, should I just stick with retail, may be work for a better retail company and find ways to get a job in a home infusion setting in the future? or should I jump ship and try my best to get a full time staffing hospital position? The only reason I would consider hospital is because it will give me the IV admixture experience to help me get a home infusion position later on. I really don't know what route will best equip me for the future, especially with all the saturation, and residency required type of positions out there. Please help! I appreciate any comments/feedback!

 

[gwarm01]

If you have any chance at all I would say take the hospital staffing position. Depending on the hospital you may still get a lot of IV experience and plenty of hands on work. You may find that you enjoy the work and the benefits that come along with working at a hospital. Not everyone is expected to be a clinical superstar, and in many hospitals the staff pharmacists are still the backbone of operations and are very appreciated. It would definitely help you land a home infusion position in the future, but you may find that you aren't interested in that as time goes on.

 

[panasoniku]

It would definitely help you land a home infusion position in the future, but you may find that you aren't interested in that as time goes on.

I jumped ship from retail to hospital but always kept a foot on the other ship. Meaning, I keep a PRN job with retail. It's much easier to to do that than to do PRN hospital since retail doesn't really change as much. That way in the future should things not go your way, you have a backup. If your end goal is home infusion, hospital IV experience will definitely be needed.

The extra money is nice too!

 

[lane one]

Made the move and never looked back. I highly recommend you make the switch if you have an opportunity.

 

[Brenden2456]

I also have the same passion. Because chances don't come often. You should try for it. Good luck!

 

[applegirl89]

Thank you everyone for your responses. I can't believe how difficult it is to get an inpatient staff position. Is it because I'm a new grad without residency ? Or are experienced inpatient staff from other hospitals also have the some difficulty in getting it due to the saturated market ? .. the reason I'm asking is because in the retail setting, even for experienced retail pharmacists .. it's still difficult to switch between companies nowadays especially for good companies.

 

[lane one]

It's very hard unless you've got experience or completed a residency. Why would they hire and train you when they can hire a residency trained pharmacist for the same price? I got in because I had connections, but without connections or residency its very tough.

 

[Brenden2456]

Thank you everyone for your responses. I can't believe how difficult it is to get an inpatient staff position. Is it because I'm a new grad without residency ? Or are experienced inpatient staff from other hospitals also have the some difficulty in getting it due to the saturated market ? .. the reason I'm asking is because in the retail setting, even for experienced retail pharmacists .. it's still difficult to switch between companies nowadays especially for good companies.

You too. Enjoy!