To shadow or not to shadow

[Beet Pharmer]

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Hey guys and gals. I have another question brewing in my head.

I know I should have my LOR all lined up by now, but I don't. I'm hoping to get one from a pharmacist by shadowing one for a few weeks. The problem is that EVERYONE I asked (retail, hospitals, etc.) said they can't do it because of liability issues. Basically they can't have me around all the drugs because if I take any they will be liable.

How do I go about getting some actual pharmacy experience ??

 

[rxlea]

Do any of the hospitals have a volunteer program?

 

[Beet Pharmer]

They have volunteer programs, but not in pharmacy. That's where I want to volunteer. I hope I don't sound picky or anything, I'm not, but I kinda wanna see how a pharmacist operates and not change bed pans all night long.

 

[dblock05]

They have volunteer programs, but not in pharmacy. That's where I want to volunteer. I hope I don't sound picky or anything, I'm not, but I kinda wanna see how a pharmacist operates and not change bed pans all night long.

Have you tried applying just to be a pharmacy tech?

 

[Beet Pharmer]

Have you tried applying just to be a pharmacy tech?

Yeah I applied to some places, but unfortunately I live in CA and they require (as far as I know) you to be certified. I asked around to apply as a pharmacy clerk but no there either 🙁

 

[metallideth]

i was in the same situation that you're in and my advice is for you to just volunteer at another department of the hospital. i didn't get a chance to shadow pharmacists at my hospital until i volunteered in the patient support department for a while. volunteering at another part of the hospital will give you a leg up since you've got your foot in the door. after that ask the head of the department you volunteer at to ask the pharmacists if you can shadow them. if it turns out you can't shadow the pharmacists after that at least you still have some experience. anything is better than nothing.

 

[whatbout2morrow]

Perhaps there might be a clinical pharmacist you might be able to follow around on the floors?

 

[Beet Pharmer]

i was in the same situation that you're in and my advice is for you to just volunteer at another department of the hospital. i didn't get a chance to shadow pharmacists at my hospital until i volunteered in the patient support department for a while. volunteering at another part of the hospital will give you a leg up since you've got your foot in the door. after that ask the head of the department you volunteer at to ask the pharmacists if you can shadow them. if it turns out you can't shadow the pharmacists after that at least you still have some experience. anything is better than nothing.

Hey thanks ! I think I will have to end up doing that. I actually did volunteer in an outpatient pharmacy while in high school, but I think that was some sort of special program for high school kids. I'll definitely be making some calls this coming week 😀

Perhaps there might be a clinical pharmacist you might be able to follow around on the floors?

I hope so. My mom is an RN and she knows some of the pharmacists. Hopefully I can get a hookup that way.

 

[pharmschooler]

Hey guys and gals. I have another question brewing in my head.

I know I should have my LOR all lined up by now, but I don't. I'm hoping to get one from a pharmacist by shadowing one for a few weeks. The problem is that EVERYONE I asked (retail, hospitals, etc.) said they can't do it because of liability issues. Basically they can't have me around all the drugs because if I take any they will be liable.

How do I go about getting some actual pharmacy experience ??

Contact the nearest well-established school of pharmacy and tell them you're thinking of applying, and would be interested in shadowing some of their grads near where you live to see if pharmacy's really for you. Schools usually keep lists of recent grads who wouldn't mind talking with prospective students. You can then email these pharmacists directly and they might be able to get you in to shadow for at least a day. 👍👍

 

[cjflahave]

Are there any independent pharmacies near by? My boss let students watch us work all the time, but I'm from MN so things may be different in Cali.

 

[hye345]

I'm kinda in the same situation here. I was able to get a volunteering position in a hospital last November, but for legal reasons, I couldn't volunteer in the pharmacy. I was able to get a 1-hour shift in the pharmacy department upstairs a month or so back, but that was mostly clerical paperwork, not clinical at all.

 

[Beet Pharmer]

Yeah, I volunteered in a hospital a while back (high school) also and all they had me do was file receipts 🙁 HAHAH
At least I saw what drugs which people were using 😛

 

[hye345]

Yeah, I volunteered in a hospital a while back (high school) also and all they had me do was file receipts 🙁 HAHAH
At least I saw what drugs which people were using 😛

Better than nothing... its still experience in a healthcare setting 😀

 

[powerlifter8]

Yeah, I volunteered in a hospital a while back (high school) also and all they had me do was file receipts 🙁 HAHAH
At least I saw what drugs which people were using 😛

you can volunteer at ucsd med at thornton/hillcrest - 4 hour shift/week. however, there tends to be a long waiting line.

when i volunteered, all they had me do in the inpatient pharmacy is deliver meds to different parts of the hospital. kind of boring but i got to talk to the pharmacists that worked there during off-times

 

[ionou]

I know one place in SoCal that would allow it. I didn't do it because they had a 6 hr weekly requirement. PM for details.