Thinking about the future

[pharm405]

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I'm currently in my third year of pharmacy school. I have good grades and feel like I have a good grasp of the material I have learned thus far. Having said that, I don't really feel prepared to go out and start working as a R.Ph. This concerns me because, as I have already mentioned, I am a third year pharmacy student. I don't know if this feeling comes from the fact that I haven't worked in anything pharmacy related while going to school. This is not to say that I don't work, because I currently do work in a hospital as an OPT radiography technologist and make good money, about $23/ hour plus shift differential.

Right now I don't know if should possibly quit my job, and focus on getting a tech job for the experience or just keep doing what I am doing. It would kind of hurt taking the pay cut, but the upside I suppose would be the experience attained. Also, I know the fourth year is strictly rotations both retail and clinical, would that in itself be all the experience I need in terms of on the job training? I forgot to mention that I would probably prefer working in a hospital, as my IPPE experience in a CVS chain was not a good one. I pretty much filled the entire time I was there and felt like a cog in the machine. Any suggestions are welcomed. Thanks

 

[pharmd201389]

Honestly, school doesn't prepare you for verifying prescriptions at all. In fact, in the retail setting, I've learned most things by working. It's amazing how much working during school helps you in retail- you know all the drugs brand names and generics, you know their formulations, their usual doses, and random things like whether they have to be refrigerated or not or dispensed in original bottle.

Verifying scripts is based on experience. Don't worry. Your future retail chain will not just chuck you into the fire and tell you to start verifying. They'll have the DM's meet with you, talk to you, allay your fears, have you complete modules on verification, and have you practice it under a rph before it actually counts. Verifying is pretty much the only thing different between a pharmacist and an intern. Once you develop a routine, it will become easy. As with anything in life, experience = easy.

My suggestion to you, if you want to work retail is to go find a job ASAP. Right now. It's not too late, but you're kind of pushing it. You have to compete with guys like me who probably had been with the company since year 1. Just apply everywhere, be confident and show good social skills, and you'll probably get hired. Once you're hired, do your modules, do OJT and pay attention closely. Try to learn the system quickly, even if it means working more hours a week. This is your career. You'll graduate school, we all do. But yeah, go apply everywhere ASAP.

Message me if you have any questions. I'm feeling extra helpful tonight 🙂

 

[grumps]

Verifying scripts is based on experience. Don't worry. Your future retail chain will not just chuck you into the fire and tell you to start verifying. They'll have the DM's meet with you, talk to you, allay your fears, have you complete modules on verification, and have you practice it under a rph before it actually counts. 🙂

When did this start? Hell, back in the day they just threw you in the deep end. Modules on verification? For 350k you'd think pharmacy school would offer this.

 

[mustang sally]

It never hurts to get extra pharmacy experience if that's something you can do at this point, and it could make you feel more confident.

Having said that, I doubt most people really feel prepared at the moment you become "The Pharmacist." I know I didn't. If you work full time, you will just get used to it and get a good rhythm going for your work. Plus you get thrown into weird situations every day that no schooling could have ever covered. You just need to keep learning and stay on your toes. 🙂