I need some advice, and was hoping you ladies might be able to help me

I am going into my 5th year ( in a 6th year program) and currently intern at a retail chain. Although I like retail, I think its something that I could do while Im still young ( and work lots of OT to pay off my student loans!) but when I get older, I think that I would probably want to go into a less stressful environment ( like hospital, ltc, etc). I have worked in a hospital during my IPPE rotations and LOVED it! But I havent had any luck in finding a hospital tech job

I was thinking that I could work retail for a few years after graduation and then switch to hospital, but it is becoming extremely difficult to get hospital positions without any hospital experience.

Is it too late for me to try to get a hospital tech position/internship? Should I keep trying or should I just stick to retail and try to switch later on?
and do any of you ladies work in a hospital and just pick up extra shifts in retail? Is it still possible to work at a hospital and just get a per diem position in retail?

Any advice is greatly appreciated! TIA!

First of all, it depends which part of the country you are in. I'm in the Midwest and it is really bad right now for job opportunities and most of my friends that graduated from my area this year were forced to relocate to other states. Hospital or community, people were accepting any position they could find.

If you want to do hospital, you better do it upon graduation because it's highly unlikely to find a clinical position once you've been working retail for any significant period of time.
Have you thought about doing a residency? Most hospital positions now require one. If you have any interest in hospital pharmacy, I'd try to get your foot into the door now. In general, it is much easier to switch from hospital to a retail setting than it is to switch from retail to a hospital. As for technician jobs in a hospital, when I was on rotation I didn't see too many techs that were in pharm school, everyone seemed to work in retail where it is much easier to find a tech position. I think your best bet is doing really well on your hospital rotations and getting to know the clinical coordinator and director of pharmacy at these sites, especially if they have a residency program that you are interested in. If they like you, maybe they will hire you without one.

I'm currently working at a major retail chain and I do like it a lot, plus the money is really good. Just like you, I'm not sure if it's something I'd want to do when I was older because it is so fast paced and it drains you very quickly. Lucky for me, my fiance is a pharmacist too and he is supportive of me working part-time or not at all if I decided one day to have kids and be a full time mom. My plan is to work part time when I do start a family but I'm worried because the part time RPh's are the first ones that they lay off when they need to cut hours.

As for your question about working full-time at a hospital and per-diem in retail... that is always an option. I know a few RPh's that do that and seem to be happy with it.

Hope this helps - if you have any questions feel free to pm me...

keep trying to get into hospitals now. what was suggested in my hospital is volunteer in the pharmacy first and then they eventually hired the students.

i don't know anyone who is ft in a hospital and pd in retail... but i've met one who was pt in hospital and pd in retail (or vice versa, i can't remember.)

but, yea, i was told it's harder to get from retail to hospital. the one pharmacist i know that did the switch started overnight in the hospital.

i'm a new pharmacist in a hospital, can't really complain about the money i'm getting and i am rarely ever stressed. i love it. :)

Originally Posted by caramelize126

I need some advice, and was hoping you ladies might be able to help me I am going into my 5th year ( in a 6th year program) and currently intern at a retail chain. Although I like retail, I think its something that I could do while Im still young ( and work lots of OT to pay off my student loans!) but when I get older, I think that I would probably want to go into a less stressful environment ( like hospital, ltc, etc). I have worked in a hospital during my IPPE rotations and LOVED it! But I havent had any luck in finding a hospital tech job I was thinking that I could work retail for a few years after graduation and then switch to hospital, but it is becoming extremely difficult to get hospital positions without any hospital experience. Is it too late for me to try to get a hospital tech position/internship? Should I keep trying or should I just stick to retail and try to switch later on? and do any of you ladies work in a hospital and just pick up extra shifts in retail? Is it still possible to work at a hospital and just get a per diem position in retail? Any advice is greatly appreciated! TIA!

Don't know if this advice is too late. I did a PGY1 and PGY2 and now I'm a clinical pharmacist in a hospital. If you want to do hospital, like the others have mentioned you should get in the door now. ASHP in the future will require every pharmacist who works in a hospital to have a residency (especially the new hires). Its a bit controversial as far as what is expected of those who didn't do a residency but has been working in a hospital for many years.. but since you're still in school you should definitely consider residency. I'm not quite sure on the status of all of that now. I was heavily involved in APHA, ACCP, ASHP on the local and national level, but this year not so much.

If you want to be in hospital, do this first and then retail. The job market isn't what it used to be. There aren't as many jobs and just wayyy too many new pharmacists graduating. I just finished my pgy2, so finding a job in my specialty wasn't that hard but I know it was hard for my friends to get a hospital position without a residency. You'd have to consider relocating if you're considering hospital without a residency..unless like the others have mentioned... you know someone that can get you in the door.

The main key point to take away... is that it's much harder to go from retail to hospital. I don't see it happen too much nowadays because you'd be competing against those who completed a pgy1 or 2. It was more common a long time ago.

As far as working in the hospital full time and having a retail per diem position- This is totally possible. I know TONS of clinical pharmacists who do this. They will pick up a couple shifts a month at a retail pharmacy.

My vote is always for residency! :)

Good luck!

I don't know anything about pharmacy programs but I don't believe it is EVER too late to go for something that you want to do

Originally Posted by ashin121

Don't know if this advice is too late. I did a PGY1 and PGY2 and now I'm a clinical pharmacist in a hospital. If you want to do hospital, like the others have mentioned you should get in the door now. ASHP in the future will require every pharmacist who works in a hospital to have a residency (especially the new hires). Its a bit controversial as far as what is expected of those who didn't do a residency but has been working in a hospital for many years.. but since you're still in school you should definitely consider residency. I'm not quite sure on the status of all of that now. I was heavily involved in APHA, ACCP, ASHP on the local and national level, but this year not so much. If you want to be in hospital, do this first and then retail. The job market isn't what it used to be. There aren't as many jobs and just wayyy too many new pharmacists graduating. I just finished my pgy2, so finding a job in my specialty wasn't that hard but I know it was hard for my friends to get a hospital position without a residency. You'd have to consider relocating if you're considering hospital without a residency..unless like the others have mentioned... you know someone that can get you in the door. The main key point to take away... is that it's much harder to go from retail to hospital. I don't see it happen too much nowadays because you'd be competing against those who completed a pgy1 or 2. It was more common a long time ago. As far as working in the hospital full time and having a retail per diem position- This is totally possible. I know TONS of clinical pharmacists who do this. They will pick up a couple shifts a month at a retail pharmacy. My vote is always for residency! :) Good luck!

Thank for this! I apologize for the late reply, as I am in the middle of finals.

I am *still* trying to get a job in a hospital, but because I am so far in school now ( 5th year) Im not having any luck. Most hospitals are looking for younger ( 3rd-4th) year students. I have been told by multiple pharmacies that it is not worth training me because Ill be leaving soon for rotations anyways So for now, I am keeping the retail job as a backup, just in case I can't get a job anywhere else, but the thought of doing retail for the rest of my life kind of scares me. :

I definitely considering a residency right now! I am hoping that maybe my rotations will better help me decide what area to specialize in. I have also been told that some hospitals will hire you if you make a good impression during rotations. Keeping my fingers crossed!

Originally Posted by caramelize126

Thank for this! I apologize for the late reply, as I am in the middle of finals. I am *still* trying to get a job in a hospital, but because I am so far in school now ( 5th year) Im not having any luck. Most hospitals are looking for younger ( 3rd-4th) year students. I have been told by multiple pharmacies that it is not worth training me because Ill be leaving soon for rotations anyways So for now, I am keeping the retail job as a backup, just in case I can't get a job anywhere else, but the thought of doing retail for the rest of my life kind of scares me. : I definitely considering a residency right now! I am hoping that maybe my rotations will better help me decide what area to specialize in. I have also been told that some hospitals will hire you if you make a good impression during rotations. Keeping my fingers crossed!

Good luck! I don't think it's THAT important that you have a job in a hospital right now if you end up doing a residency. The key thing for residencies is to have inpatient rotation(s) prior to midyear (december). Residencies like to see that you have done inpatient rotations so that you know what it's like... plus it's good to have a letter of reference from that inpatient preceptor. If you don't do a residency that's when a job in the hospital setting might help...but you can try the latter approach that you mentioned --- "I have also been told that some hospitals will hire you if you make a good impression during rotations."

First year is general, so you don't HAVE to know what you want to specialize in. They always ask you what you'd like to specialize in during your residency interviews.. it doesn't hurt to have an idea, but it's not counted against if you don't know. People change all the time and it's really the PGY1 that helps determine what you really like. If they/you know what you want to specialize in early on.. that's great because your residency program director can give you more rotations during your residency that is geared towards that specialty. I thought I wanted critical care/trauma/burn so my PGY1 was heavily in CC, but then i switched to ambulatory care for my PGY2 (which is completely 180).

Good l luck again!