Hospital Pre-reg interviews

[gaby]

hmm... i might just look at pharmacy practice scripts we cover quite a few interactions.

But if you dont know the answer will that mean you fail the interview? In my school of pharmacy students heavily rely on the BNF.

[gaby]

good luck!!!

I have my interview tomorrow.

I hope it goes well, I really want to work in a hospital. If there is more than one interviewer i will probably mess it up by being too nervous. I cant help it.

[Steve G]

As far as I remember, the guidance for the registration exam regarding interactions was that hazardous interactions (black spotted- something like warfarin plus a macrolide) would be in the open book paper, and other interactions would be in the open book paper. So I'd guess that for a hospital pre-reg interview they might ask you about something like warfarin plus aspirin, but nothing too in depth. Remember, a large part of pharmacy is not what you know, but knowing where to find information. So its important to know that the BNF is reasonable for interactions, but Stockley is absolutley ace.

[Emmz]

Originally Posted by N.T

All the info you need to recite like a sheep for medicines management is in the Spoonful of Sugar document. (here: http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/r...-F80954A80F85). This document was from 2001, but basically summarises medicines management happening within UK hospitals. Like a lot of the best laid pharmacy plans, much of this document in reality didn't come into fruition. Don't say that in your interview though - many hospitals like to pretend they have an efficient meds management policy.

Clinical governance - for my interview I just learnt the definition somewhere along the lines of ''Clinical governance consists of a series of processes for improving quality and ensuring that professionals are accountable for their practice. These processes have been identified as continuing professional development, evidence-based practice, audit, dealing with poor performance, managing risk, monitoring clinical care and patient involvement.'' You'll find lots of wordy definitions for clinical governance but the basic principle is just ''be good, make sure your knowledge is up to date.'' It's that simple really.

Basically most hospital pre-reg interviewers are looking more for someone who's going to get on well with the rest of the department. So, just make sure you act nice and have a good basic knowledge of the above and your should be ok.

Thank you that's awesome ^_^ I'm hoping my interview will go ... I got good feedback from my appraisal when I did a placement there this summer.

Gaby, is it a West Mids hospital you got an interview for tomorrow? Unfortunately I think they're all panel interviews but don't worry!! Being interviewed by more than one person isn't too scary. Good luck!!

[Steve G]

The definition of clinical governance I've found easiest to remember is 'doing the right thing to the right patient at the right time'.

I wouldn't have wanted a panel interview, one to one was bad enough! Then again you might be lucky and have one of the nice T/Ps from Aston on the panel. Good luck anyway.

[Emmz]

Thanks for definition Steve.

I'm gonna go read the pdf on meds management now ... is it basically stuff like using patients own meds, one stop dispensing, using patients own meds when dispensing for discharge?

[Steve G]

what the pdf probably doesn't mention is something I came across on my cross sector placement: don't dispense anything written on an FP10 if you can possibly help it.

Use of patients own drugs is obviously a very good way for hospitals to save money, and does actually make life easier as patients are less likely to have medication changed in hospital (i.e. from one PPI to another).

[Emmz]

I've actually seen on the door of one pharmacy in a hospital a sign saying 'If your prescriptions looks like this [big picture of an FP10 form] we cannot dispense it for you. Please take it to a community pharmacy'
Or words to that effect.

Aaaaah I really wish my interview was tomorrow morning ... I have to wait until 4pm

Ooooh and Gaby, if you see this before your interview, I'm not sure about the clinical questions in pre-reg interviews but I've had two interviews for summer placements and the clinical question they asked me for that was along the lines of 'you're on a ward with a pharmacist and see a patient is prescribed x and y ... what do you think each medicine is being used for/what conditions may the patient have and what tests do you think the patient should have done'

[admin]

To Emmz and Gaby

I really wish you both good luck with your interviews. Please let us know how they go!

I once had an interview with three people. When I walked in the room, two were sat in front of me, and one chair was placed about two feet behind me to the right. I took hold of the chair I was meant to sit on and said "are we playing power games with the chairs?". The guy who was going to sit behind me apologised and sat at the front. I hoped that showed them I could be assertive and confident, but not rude, as I said it in a kind of jokey way!

I'm not saying you should be as direct as this, as you are both young and will be obviously nervous.

One of the things that seemed to impress them, was that I put on my application that I felt my experience in retail and hospital pharmacy complimented each other well. They were very keen for me to expand on this, and I went into things I had done in the hospital that I had learned from retail. I talked about when I did a small presentation to a group of mental health nurses, about the facilities that were available to some of their drug abusing patients once they had left the hospital, things like that.

Remember to try to sound keen and willing to learn. Convince them that you can make decisions, take responsibility and so on. Do not be afraid to ask a couple of decent questions - they will expect it. Ask some even if you know the answer! Ask about their aseptic procedures for example, show them you understand the importance of this kind of work. Ask if you can get involved in things, like TPN, cytotoxic drug dispensing, chemotherapy, anything you can think of.

Most important try to stay calm and relaxed. Obviously you will be nervous, so keep a check on your breathing - calm yourself down with some deep breaths before you go in. Greet them with a smile and a nice firm handshake. If they ask you something you don't know the answer to, don't panic. Chances are a lot of other people also didn't know the answer. Just admit you don't know, and explain to them why you think it is so important and necessary to not to attempt to guess the answers on these matters. I have seen many nurses give patients the totally wrong advice on drugs, because they obviously didn't know the answer, so just made it up. Anything you get stuck on try to turn into a positive reply. Let them know you know where to find the answer, and how you would go about doing so. Try to turn any negatives into positives.

Go get em.............

[gaby]

mines at 5.30

i wish it was in the mornign then it would have been over and done with.