Volunteering

[Vsachakov75]

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Where would it be better to volunteer. At a private retail pharmacy. Or for a non for profit organization such as cvs or hospitals?

 

[30Percent]

CVS is a for-profit business. Volunteer at both the retail and hospital pharmacy to get a better understanding of the field.

 

[AlPacino]

Where would it be better to volunteer. At a private retail pharmacy. Or for a non for profit organization such as cvs or hospitals?

I volunteered at a hospital for the 100 hours requirement. Just go on their website, fill out the application, and wait for their email. Its very simple.

 

[Pojman]

I would recommend to do both.

I have shadowed a retail Pharmacist, and I will be shadowing a hospital Pharmacist next week. The more the better!

Good luck.

 

[xtsukiyox]

If it were me, I would shadow a retail pharmacist (if I couldn't get a part time job) and volunteer at a hospital / non-profit pharmacy. I don't think it makes a lot of sense to volunteer at a for-profit, unless you're that hard up for a job & they'll hire you after training.

 

[deleted437652]

I volunteered at a hospital for the 100 hours requirement. Just go on their website, fill out the application, and wait for their email. Its very simple.

Lucky you then. For me it hasn't been that simple. I have tried many many places, but no where seems to be accepting right now

 

[pharmalang]

Lucky you then. For me it hasn't been that simple. I have tried many many places, but no where seems to be accepting right now

This is so surprising to me, because in my area, there are about 5-6 hospitals within 30 minutes of my University that are always looking for volunteers! I guess I must be fortunate, though. Try going to an independent pharmacy. I don't think they expect students to come in and shadow, so they may be startled but once you explain, they'll probably be willing. I asked one because I happened to walk by it, but the pharmacist told me it was a bad time, but otherwise she wouldn't see a problem with it. The next day I walked into another pharmacy, asked to volunteer and/or shadow, and I started the next day! Good luck! 🙂

 

[iammrprez]

I was just wondering if it was a good idea to include volunteer experience that you did pre-college years. I've volunteered at public libraries ever since I was in 5th grade and also at a medical center up until I started college. I don't know if it is a good idea to include them?

 

[deleted437652]

This is so surprising to me, because in my area, there are about 5-6 hospitals within 30 minutes of my University that are always looking for volunteers! I guess I must be fortunate, though. Try going to an independent pharmacy. I don't think they expect students to come in and shadow, so they may be startled but once you explain, they'll probably be willing. I asked one because I happened to walk by it, but the pharmacist told me it was a bad time, but otherwise she wouldn't see a problem with it. The next day I walked into another pharmacy, asked to volunteer and/or shadow, and I started the next day! Good luck! 🙂

The general story I've gotten from independent pharmacies is that because of some California regulation they don't really have room for volunteers. I looked it up and the part they are talking about says you can't have more than one pharm tech if you only have one pharmacist. I'm not sure where a volunteer can be distinguished from a clerk and a tech, but I'm not in a position to argue with the pharmacist 🙄
In a few months I will be moving, so I will try the independents and hospitals there, but here it just doesn't seem to be happening sadly. Thanks for the warm wishes though!

 

[ExpressMaiL]

Where would it be better to volunteer. At a private retail pharmacy. Or for a non for profit organization such as cvs or hospitals?

Do them all. If you really want to stand out, try to get an internship before you even matriculate. I'm not referring to an intern pharmacist position.

That'll put you on a top ten list, easy.

 

[AlPacino]

Lucky you then. For me it hasn't been that simple. I have tried many many places, but no where seems to be accepting right now

Did you follow these steps
1). Go to the hospital website under volunteer section
2). Fill out volunteer application form
3). Get your email confirmation and wait 1-2 weeks depending on the hospital to set up your appointment.

Thats how it works on the hospitals in my area. Would not hurt to visit the volunteers office to answer any questions.

 

[seaswim]

Did you follow these steps
1). Go to the hospital website under volunteer section
2). Fill out volunteer application form
3). Get your email confirmation and wait 1-2 weeks depending on the hospital to set up your appointment.

Thats how it works on the hospitals in my area. Would not hurt to visit the volunteers office to answer any questions.

Not always that easy. Many hospitals in my area don't allow volunteers in the pharmacy because of liabilities. The hospitals that I found that accepted volunteers were typically smaller, and in the suburbs.

 

[AlPacino]

Not always that easy. Many hospitals in my area don't allow volunteers in the pharmacy because of liabilities. The hospitals that I found that accepted volunteers were typically smaller, and in the suburbs.

I guess its just different here in Florida.

 

[Stig Pharm]

I have just have over a 1000 hours in a clinical pharmacy. The pharmacy technician supervisor and pharmacy staff loved my hard work. They kicked me out because, the pharmacy office admin had a waiting list for volunteering in the clinical pharmacy and wanted to give everybody a fair shot. The list of other hospital volunteers were handling blood with their bare hands, wear shorts and sandles in the hospital and verbally fighting back with hospital personnel. Also, when they in clinical pharmacy doing work, they didn't learn much from the experience. Ultimately, those volunteers got the volunteer coordinator fired, due to a lack of discipline...😛

I say if you're going to volunteer, make sure you learn everything you can! A good start is to ask questions on everything you WANT to know about the pharmacy to the staff. They will answer courteously. Do not be introverted about it!