Truth about pharmacy

[lauradiddle]

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I was thinking the same thing. And what is a "real American"? All those pre-pharms must be fake Americans?

I always thought you weren't a "real American" until you could see Alaska from your house... 😛

 

[rxlea]

I always thought you weren't a "real American" until you could see Alaska from your house... 😛

Lmfao 🤣 🤣 🤣

 

[spacecowgirl]

Wha? Deleted post? Don't retreat, Sonic, reload.

 

[phathead]

Not my fault the majority of people entering pharmacy school don't know a damned thing about pharmacy.

There needs to be a more stringent minimum hours of experience required before admissions. Shocks me how little a lot of my classmates actually know about what they'll be doing for the rest of their lives.

 

[FarscapeGirl]

Methinks Genius is bitter about flunking out, but he's lucky to have figure out now. I had a class mate who decided after the first semester, 3rd year, that she hated pharmacy and wanted nothing more to do with it. She quit, with massive loads of debt. She was soooo close to finishing, I don't know why she just didn't finish it, work long enough to pay her debt, than go back to school and do anything she wanted. But I supposed, all the money in the world isn't enough, if a person has no happiness.

I don't know... I wasn't the happiest in grad school, but I figured out my fourth year in I wanted to switch to pharmacy school. I finished and graduated from grad school two years later, a month before I started pharmacy school. It was insane, and at times, I didn't think I'd make it (at the end, I was working as an intern full time and writing my thesis in the evenings and on my days off). But it's nice having the doctorate, and I think it may come in handy with some of the careers I'm considering.

Personally, I think if you're more than halfway in, you should try and stick with it. Especially pharmacy, as there's a lot you can do with the degree (more than with a PhD in biology, anyway). But I can understand why people quit. I went from one stressful situation because I didn't like what I was doing and then went to the stress of pharmacy school. I guess on the plus side, they're very different kinds of stress...

 

[EnvyV07]

And how did he exactly get into pharmacy school? He probably lied his balls off to the interviewer, leaving out the fact that his mommy and daddy forced him.

He.. being general.

 

[R2pharmD2]

Shocks me how little a lot of my classmates actually know about what they'll be doing for the rest of their lives.

It is absolutely mind blowing to me how many people decide on pharmacy school and have no idea what they're getting themselves into. Getting in was a good deal of work and there's no way I would have bothered unless I knew pharmacy was for me.

 

[Passion4Sci]

They hear about the money and think, "Wow, it's less work than medical school, I still get to be a 'doctor', and it's easy to get into. Why NOT?"

I agree w/ Phathead. 100 hours, minimum, working in a pharmacy before you can even apply to pharmacy school.

 

[ucrx]

They hear about the money and think, "Wow, it's less work than medical school, I still get to be a 'doctor', and it's easy to get into. Why NOT?"

I agree w/ Phathead. 100 hours, minimum, working in a pharmacy before you can even apply to pharmacy school.

This is why I disagree with people who say people straight out of high school don't know what they want or aren't mature enough to go to pharmacy school. I worked 20 hours/week in a pharmacy in high school, and so did many of my friends who went through my 6 year program. We probably knew more about pharmacy than many who start school at 26+.


I completely agree that pharmacy experience should be a prerequisite.

 

[phathead]

This is why I disagree with people who say people straight out of high school don't know what they want or aren't mature enough to go to pharmacy school. I worked 20 hours/week in a pharmacy in high school, and so did many of my friends who went through my 6 year program. We probably knew more about pharmacy than many who start school at 26+.


I completely agree that pharmacy experience should be a prerequisite.

Totally agree, I worked min 20 hrs/wk for three years during high school.

Originally I was going to apply to Pacific University and they had you total up your pharmacy experience hours. Mine was something like 17,000 total hours (this was over a year ago too).

Wonder how that would have looked next to the guy who had like 10 lol

 

[Soonersyko]

Totally agree, I worked min 20 hrs/wk for three years during high school.

Originally I was going to apply to Pacific University and they had you total up your pharmacy experience hours. Mine was something like 17,000 total hours (this was over a year ago too).

Wonder how that would have looked next to the guy who had like 10 lol

Eh I tend to disagree to a certain extent. Hours in no way dictate your potential as a pharmacist, it only looks good on paper. The only reason I slightly disagree on the hours requirement for pharmacy school is that it just can't be possible or rational for a pharmacy school to require that. Like I've said before in another thread, I couldn't find a job at all related to pharmacy when I was in school. The only experience I had was the occasional cashier job that I had for a mom and pop pharmacy. My interest only peaked when I started learning more about the science of it all and that's what drew me to applying. It wasn't until my 3rd or 4th year I think that I got a job. Don't blame my lack of effort, believe me. I sent out resumes to pharmacies far and wide around the area and the few calls I got weren't going to fit with my schedule.

But it didn't hurt my knowledge as a professional I guess you could say. I still tested higher than my friends that have a million more hours than I did but they certainly have more skills when it comes to dealing with patients that yell. Maybe I got lucky, who knows.

 

[R2pharmD2]

Eh I tend to disagree to a certain extent. Hours in no way dictate your potential as a pharmacist, it only looks good on paper.

I agree that hours aren't a reflection of long term potential as a pharmacist, but working does teach you all of the little things that you don't learn in school. Dealing with irate customers (replace these with nurses in a hospital setting), insurance issues, learning the computer systems, etc. will all be easier if you've experienced them as a tech beforehand. And you might be absolutely in love with the science, but if those little things drive you crazy then you're going to be miserable. Working is just a good way to make sure pharmacy is for you and to help yourself hit the ground running once you're licensed.

I see your point that not everyone who wants a pharmacy job will be able to get one though. That's the only issue I'd have with a mandatory hours requirement. If a person were willing to volunteer though, I imagine finding someplace to take you on for free wouldn't be that difficult.

 

[Passion4Sci]

I agree that hours aren't a reflection of long term potential as a pharmacist, but working does teach you all of the little things that you don't learn in school. Dealing with irate customers (replace these with nurses in a hospital setting), insurance issues, learning the computer systems, etc. will all be easier if you've experienced them as a tech beforehand. And you might be absolutely in love with the science, but if those little things drive you crazy then you're going to be miserable. Working is just a good way to make sure pharmacy is for you and to help yourself hit the ground running once you're licensed.

I see your point that not everyone who wants a pharmacy job will be able to get one though. That's the only issue I'd have with a mandatory hours requirement. If a person were willing to volunteer though, I imagine finding someplace to take you on for free wouldn't be that difficult.

It is.

 

[tungsten87]

[/b]

It is.

Yep.. for first year we're required to volunteer for 50 hours in a community pharmacy and it's been much tougher than I thought to find one.

 

[Farmacist2011]

Yep.. for first year we're required to volunteer for 50 hours in a community pharmacy and it's been much tougher than I thought to find one.

Do most schools have a volunteer minimum, where do you go?

 

[R2pharmD2]

It is.

Yep.. for first year we're required to volunteer for 50 hours in a community pharmacy and it's been much tougher than I thought to find one.

Apparently I stand corrected. I've been fortunate in my pharmacy connections so I may not have an accurate picture of how difficult it is to find a tech job (even volunteering) these days. That's interesting that they require you to volunteer though. It would be nice if they could help you out in finding a position.

 

[Passion4Sci]

Apparently I stand corrected. I've been fortunate in my pharmacy connections so I may not have an accurate picture of how difficult it is to find a tech job (even volunteering) these days. That's interesting that they require you to volunteer though. It would be nice if they could help you out in finding a position.

Almost everyone in my class had to have volunteered to get in also, but more as a byproduct than anything else, since UoP required a pharmacist's LoR and getting a job as a technician, at least around here, was every bit as difficult as volunteering.

Too many cooks in the kitchen...

 

[schleima]

So, given we can make 120k a year on 40-45 hrs/week with little to zero responsibility outside of work...I would say we have it pretty well. I know so many people, including my parents, who bust their hump on a daily basis to make an average living. I think those who constantly complain just need to walk a day in someone else's shoes to gain a little respect and perspective.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying being a pharmacist is cake. But stress to compensation ratio is much better than what most people put up with.

You make a GREAT point. It is very rare to have a six figure salaried job that respects your time and doesn't needlessly burden you outside of the workplace. I work at a labor union and my boss makes $125,000 but he's always on call. He hasn't taken more than couple of days to a week off in, well, forever.

 

[beeny]

You make a GREAT point. It is very rare to have a six figure salaried job that respects your time and doesn't needlessly burden you outside of the workplace. I work at a labor union and my boss makes $125,000 but he's always on call. He hasn't taken more than couple of days to a week off in, well, forever.

At the risk of beating a dead horse, I'll add my experience. I've been a retail technician for a while now. It has been a thoroughly depressing experience and I don't even work at a major chain. I agree there are worse jobs but considering the competition, stress and extensive education pharmacist undertake I think the retail experience is degrading and even abusive at times.

Pharmacists are supposed to be professionals. They go to professsional school for four years. What professional stands 12 hours a day without a lunch break? What professional doesn't have an office? What professional is at the disposal any miserable person who chooses to come to their window and complain? What professional has a window?

My 60 year old pharmacist has severe knee pain from standing for 40 years straight and yet she won't sit even briefly because she says people will think she is lazy. As I type, I'm in a doctor's office waiting room and I just saw the NURSE I'm suppose to see today sitting down, talking on her cell phone. She's 10 minutes late.

One of the man problems is that pharmacists are health care professionals being controlled by a commodities business and a very heartless one at that. Another problem is that many (not all) pharmacists are money hungry and spineless, apparently willing to lose all self-respect and take whatever corporate decides to shove down their throat for the sake of a dollar.

I'm not trying to put down the profession. As of now, I'm set to go to pharmacy school in August. However, I am thoroughly disappointed with the state of the profession and if I can't be a pharmacist with dignity and professionalism then I am prepared to change careers.

 

[Farmacist2011]

What professional doesn't have an office?

I have an office. I make less than 30K a year. Am I a professional? If so I would gladly switch places with a pharmacist or I wont have to because I will be one in 2014. 😳

 

[beeny]

.

 

[gambit78]

I was really surprised by that original poster of 3yrs ago yonder who said he hated science but managed to get into pharmacy school. WTH?

Yet he was right about the sticker shock of the reality of pharmacy. My mom, who was a nurse for 40yrs FREAKED out about how I skipped lunch (dinner) at a busy store I worked at. She was insisting I call board of pharmacy, managers, district managers, etc!!!

Even my dentist and doctor take hour breaks. And it didn't mean "I'm burdened with staying another hour here." It was "have a long lunch if I wanted, or run errands, review plans, read up journals" hour for them.

I speak with other professionals, engineers, etc, and they were also shocked about no bathroom breaks, scarfing down lunches/dinners, skipping meals etc. and were bewildered as to why professional graduates would submit to that.

 

[JimmyDean]

They hear about the money and think, "Wow, it's less work than medical school, I still get to be a 'doctor', and it's easy to get into. Why NOT?"

I agree w/ Phathead. 100 hours, minimum, working in a pharmacy before you can even apply to pharmacy school.

Damn. Finally someone makes a good comment on this forum.

 

[owlegrad]

Damn. Finally someone makes a good comment on this forum.

The brightest stars shine for the shortest amount of time. This guy was funny.

 

[1TB4RKSB4CK]

Hmmm... PharmD=Doctor of Pharmacy. I'm sure that's a doctor?