working as an intern for different companies

[Sarapary]

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I don't know if somebody has already asked this question or not, but I got hired by 2 different companies (both retail) as pharmacy intern (part-time intern) and I am not sure if I have to tell them before start working there. and also if anybody else is working for 2 different pharmacies, how do you manage your hours? I am going to meet with one of the managers this Wednesday so he gives me the schedule and I don't know what to say to him about my preferred schedule since I haven't start working at the other one. Really appreciate your answers.

 

[PumpkinSmasher]

I don't know if somebody has already asked this question or not, but I got hired by 2 different companies (both retail) as pharmacy intern (part-time intern) and I am not sure if I have to tell them before start working there. and also if anybody else is working for 2 different pharmacies, how do you manage your hours? I am going to meet with one of the managers this Wednesday so he gives me the schedule and I don't know what to say to him about my preferred schedule since I haven't start working at the other one. Really appreciate your answers.

It is common for interns to work at multiple locations, best to be honest and upfront, pharmacy is small world.

Let your employer know you will be at another pharmacy and ask for a consistent schedule, so you can schedule what days to work at the other pharmacy. 2-3 8-10hr shifts at company A and 2-3 8-10hr shifts at Company B.

 

[Sarapary]

It is common for interns to work at multiple locations, best to be honest and upfront, pharmacy is small world.

Let your employer know you will be at another pharmacy and ask for a consistent schedule, so you can schedule what days to work at the other pharmacy. 2-3 8-10hr shifts at company A and 2-3 8-10hr shifts at Company B.

Thank you so much, this was really helpful and I feel a lot more confident right now...

 

[rxlynn]

I don't know if somebody has already asked this question or not, but I got hired by 2 different companies (both retail) as pharmacy intern (part-time intern) and I am not sure if I have to tell them before start working there. and also if anybody else is working for 2 different pharmacies, how do you manage your hours? I am going to meet with one of the managers this Wednesday so he gives me the schedule and I don’t know what to say to him about my preferred schedule since I haven’t start working at the other one. Really appreciate your answers.

Depending on who these two companies are, this may be a problem. I know that CVS prohibits working for a direct competitor.

 

[PumpkinSmasher]

Depending on who these two companies are, this may be a problem. I know that CVS prohibits working for a direct competitor.

Of course they do prohibit it, they do not want you to know how horrible the conditions there really are.

 

[Sarapary]

Depending on who these two companies are, this may be a problem. I know that CVS prohibits working for a direct competitor.

Actually one of them was CVS, but since they offered me a part-time position I decided to go with Wal-mart that offered me full-time. So I have to call CVS tomorrow and tell them (which is one the hardest thing in the world for me!)
The other question that I had was, since this is my first paied internship position, what are the intern tasks? i mean what is the difference between a technician and a P2 intern (in a real work day not in theory)? and do you have any recommendations for starting a new job, like how to deal with co-workers and your pharamcy manager?

Thanks

 

[genesis09]

The true difference will depend on the state. Some states do not let you be an intern until P-3 year. In general, the big difference is that an intern can counsel and a tech cannot.

 

[rxlynn]

Actually one of them was CVS, but since they offered me a part-time position I decided to go with Wal-mart that offered me full-time. So I have to call CVS tomorrow and tell them (which is one the hardest thing in the world for me!)
The other question that I had was, since this is my first paied internship position, what are the intern tasks? i mean what is the difference between a technician and a P2 intern (in a real work day not in theory)? and do you have any recommendations for starting a new job, like how to deal with co-workers and your pharamcy manager?

Thanks

Big difference (at least here in GA) is that you can counsel on OTC and Rx, you can take new Rxs over the phone, and you can consult with physicians who might have questions (one of the things I did while I was working yesterday). So, you should get a lot more practice at actually talking to patients, answering questions, etc. than you did as a tech, when you pretty much just had to get the pharmacist for everything.

My basic recommendations for getting along with people - be pleasant, be willing to learn, keep notes or something that will help you not have to ask the same question over and over again, and be willing to pitch in wherever you can. Just because you are an intern doesn't mean you are too good to empty the trash or file the prescriptions.

 

[Pianopooh]

You should go check out your state's pharmacy profession website. It should tell you what you're able to do as an intern. But then again, it depends on what your pharmacist and company would like you to do. When I was doing my internship, the pharmacy didn't really let me take scripts or counsel (all I did was phone calls..). But where I work at, I can take scripts, call MD's, counsel, pretty much everything except signing off the script and ordering narcs.

 

[Sarapary]

thank you for all your answers, they are really helpful and supportive. Although I just finished my P2 year but this is my first paid intern job; today was the second day and I made few simple mistakes (like entering wrong name or DOB, couldn't believe that I actually did those mistakes) and there were many things that I didn't know and had to ask. I was wondering if this has happened to most people or not?