volunteering

[hpoo]

i am a prepharm student and i just started
i am trying to get an volunteering opportunity but neither hospital nor walgreens offer this
does anyone know what should i do to get some volunteer or shadowing experience in order to improve my applivation

 

[pcproduct]

Try to look into independent pharmacies in your area.

 

[Passion4Sci]

I find it really hard to believe that not ANY hospitals in your area are accepting volunteers.

It sounds to me like you're not really committed or dedicated to this.

 

[calisoca]

See if your school has a program that offers pharmacy internships--many do. Or just go around and start asking anyone with a white coat on if you can help out. But make sure you tell them you want a sign-on bonus and full benefits.

 

[sungieality]

I find it really hard to believe that not ANY hospitals in your area are accepting volunteers.

It sounds to me like you're not really committed or dedicated to this.

Well, the OP might have been referring to pharmacy volunteering in a hospital, which actually is pretty scarce nowadays... but as you said, at least volunteering in the hospital even if it isn't pharmacy related allows you to get on the inside.

 

[justjack]

yeah, pharmacy volunteering at a hospital really is no joke. i had to put my name at the bottom of a year long waiting list to volunteer at a local hospital here.

it is tough to get in, but you never know, just put your name out there and hopefully something comes your way.

 

[AKN16]

For the hospital thing, you might want to be a bit more specific. If you say that you want to work in the inpatient pharmacy, that might help your chances a bit. But if you can't find anything at the end of the day, at least try volunteering somewhere that's health care related. It's better to do something, then nothing at all.

 

[Passion4Sci]

Listen - You don't get in at the top floor in the corner office, you know?

Start off volunteering in the gift shop if you have to, just get the orientation done (the big part at almost every single hospital) and your health clearance/background check done and then put some hours in for a few mos. Sooner or later, if you are proficient and reliable, whether or not a "spot" opens up, you will probably get placed where you want to be.

I started off in the TCU at my hospital. I performed so well and I was always reliable, never late, always stayed past my 4 hrs/week if I could and one of the ambulatory care pharmacists chose me to help start the smoking cessation volunteer program and for the past few mos. I've been doing exactly what I wanted, and I have a lot of mobility now between clinical and dispensary, for a full range of opportunities. But had I thumbed my nose at the gift shop and TCU back when I applied for volunteering, I'd STILL be looking for a volunteer position somewhere.

Point being, you can't just grind your teeth on "Well crap, I can't volunteer exactly where I want to so forget it" - That attitude won't get you anywhere in life, either. Why does everyone expect everything to be easy now?

Just my $.02, take it or leave it.

 

[xtsukiyox]

But had I thumbed my nose at the gift shop and TCU back when I applied for volunteering, I'd STILL be looking for a volunteer position somewhere.

I agree.

I approached people with this sort of line: "Are you accepting volunteers for the pharmacy? No? OK, that would be my first choice, but I'm not picky, I'm also hell-on-wheels in a file room." (Maybe not quite like that! ) Alternately, with independent pharmacies: "Do you have any pharmacy tech positions open? No? Well, I don't really need to be paid. What I'm trying to do is get some pharmacy experience before applying for pharmacy school." If nothing else, the second line kept the pharmacists from shutting me down and kept them on the phone.

My prioritization:
#1: Paid pharmacy tech position
2: Unpaid pharmacy volunteer
3: Any volunteer position related to medicine / treatment
4: Any other volunteer position

I sort of ended up with a quarter-step below #2, and I'm thinking about picking up another (non-medical) volunteer position. Good luck. 😀

 

[pavouaxiong]

I agree.

I approached people with this sort of line: "Are you accepting volunteers for the pharmacy? No? OK, that would be my first choice, but I'm not picky, I'm also hell-on-wheels in a file room." (Maybe not quite like that! ) Alternately, with independent pharmacies: "Do you have any pharmacy tech positions open? No? Well, I don't really need to be paid. What I'm trying to do is get some pharmacy experience before applying for pharmacy school." If nothing else, the second line kept the pharmacists from shutting me down and kept them on the phone.

My prioritization:
#1: Paid pharmacy tech position
2: Unpaid pharmacy volunteer
3: Any volunteer position related to medicine / treatment
4: Any other volunteer position

I sort of ended up with a quarter-step below #2, and I'm thinking about picking up another (non-medical) volunteer position. Good luck. 😀

Here's my situation: I asked the pharmacy in the veteran's hospital to see if there were any volunteer positions open. They said "no." A few weeks later, I went back and asked them again. The answer was still the same.

They said they are in need of technicians, but I don't have a license yet. I am going to register for a pharmacy technician program next week and start going to classes in early August. With this in mind, I asked the pharmacist at the hospital, and she said that she could probably squeeze me in with the externship, but I would have to talk to my pharm tech teacher about it.

It seems like they don't really want me. The secretary seems unemotional every time I pass her by. I haven't seen her smile once! She makes it seems like an unhappy place to work at. I do however enjoy volunteering in that hospital with unrelated pharmacy work.

Now, when I do my externship, I'm thinking of doing it at a retail.

Note: I currently volunteer at the veteran's hospital, library and united way. When I do my externship, i'll have to let go of one or two of the places that i volunteer at.

 

[diastole]

If you have any military bases in the area, they might take volunteers through the Red Cross. If you have tried everything and you really are stuck, call up your local pharmacy school and ask if they know of pharmacists who are willing to be shadowed. One of the adcoms who posts here recommended doing this so you might find luck with that approach.