New Job - Trainee Dispenser!

[ThisYearsGirl]

Hi all, glad to have found the forum, I suspect it will come in handy to me over the coming months.

I'm 34 and have been working in a suupermarket pharmacy as a customer assistant for about 18 months, but as the training oppertunities were limited (or non existant!) I wanted to go somewhere else. I start work in Boots as a trainee dispenser next week and I'm very excited! They're going to put me through the NVQ2 and hopefully level 3 if I want to.

I've never done an NVQ in my life....what's it all about? Are there any good websites where I can find info about the course I will be doing?

Thanks for reading and hope to see you around and get to know a few faces here

T xx

[tinx25388]

Hi,
I work for Boots, have completed the level two and am over half way though the level three.

The introductory information to the course is very comprehensive, so read it thoroughly and you should be fine.
I also found when I first started in dispensary, it was overwhelming, so I had a notebook for my first few months where I noted down anything important, or anything I kept getting wrong!
My advice would be for level 2, not to rush it- I know some people who have been pressured to get it done, have filled in the books, but not truely understood it- don't be afraid to ask! Colleagues would rather answer questions than have to sort out problems caused by not asking. By the time you have finished level 2, it will be assumed (or in the branches I have worked at anyway!) that you could be left to work with a pharmacist not familar with the branch/computer system etc for a day (or more) successfully.

Be prepared to put in a lot of your own time. At interviews etc they may well promise up to 4 hours/week for training. 3 branches later and I'm still yet to meet anyone who has completed their course during work time.

The main resource books for the course are the BNF, Drug Tariff and Medicines Ethics & Practice. Usually there are old copies kicking about for trainees to take (although Pre-Reg Pharmacists & Summer Placement Students always get priority!) if not they are all available online as well.

Good luck, hope you enjoy it!

[dizzyb23]

Congratulations on your new position. I hope you truly enjoy yourself doing the NVQ 2 and eventually the NVQ 3. This is a great website and there are loads of people on here who will do their best to answer your specific questions.

[qure1234]

Hi I did the NVQ Level 2 in Pharmacy Services it was really fun as we did it as a team at work and sent our modules in together.

My problem is I am applying to boots and other places am am getting nowhere.
I want to focus on locum dispensing and that also is slow procedure.
I did try locum excite but as The guy who was handling my documents has left everything is gone to pot. I have tried and they just say we are dealing with your documents I just getting angry that I was promised locum work but no one bothering with my stuff.

[Raycorey]

Hi, i also have an interview with boots for this position above but my problem is, Am currently working and studying for my NVQ 3 and am not sure if Boots would allow me to continue doing so if offered the job.

Am not sure if that is an advantage for me or disadvantage in that respect, I would love to work for boots as a trainee dispenser while am allowed to continue with my NVQ 3 Pharmacy services at the moment.

Any advice? Because am training to be a Pharmacy technician..

[sparkybw]

Hi, i also have an interview with boots for this position above but my problem is, Am currently working and studying for my NVQ 3 and am not sure if Boots would allow me to continue doing so if offered the job.

Am not sure if that is an advantage for me or disadvantage in that respect, I would love to work for boots as a trainee dispenser while am allowed to continue with my NVQ 3 Pharmacy services at the moment.

Any advice? Because am training to be a Pharmacy technician..

Are you at a hospital training as a PT or just in a local chemist? As it seems like a backward step to go and work as a trainee dispenser when you are already training as a Technician. I've done the dispensers course and most, if not all, of the work for the dispensers job is covered within the PT scheme.

It may be more convenient for you but it probably means less money in your hand.

[Raycorey]

Are you at a hospital training as a PT or just in a local chemist? As it seems like a backward step to go and work as a trainee dispenser when you are already training as a Technician. I've done the dispensers course and most, if not all, of the work for the dispensers job is covered within the PT scheme.

It may be more convenient for you but it probably means less money in your hand.

Thank you so much for your reply, I work with in a community pharmacy and only just started about a month ago, I work 30 hours but 14 hours of that is non-paid for.

4 days a week and 1 day release at my college for the Pharmacy services NVQ level 3, I don't want to feel like am downgrade if I move to boots.

I applied by chance and was suprised to get an email asking me to come for an interview, I really want to be a registered pharmacy technician at the end of my 2 year course but am not entirely sure if I can do the exact samething with boots.

Am really caught in two minds here.

[sparkybw]

Boots will want you to do the Medicine Counter Assistant course and then the dispenser course. I don't think they would allow you to go straight to the NVQ3 - or not in their time anyway. If you can adjust your Boots hours to do it in your own time then you may be able to persuade the pharmacist to supervise you for both sets of training but you will have to pay the course fees for the NVQ3 yourself, I would assume. If your current employer is paying for your course they may also want you to refund them for any costs they have incurred so far.

[Raycorey]

Boots will want you to do the Medicine Counter Assistant course and then the dispenser course. I don't think they would allow you to go straight to the NVQ3 - or not in their time anyway. If you can adjust your Boots hours to do it in your own time then you may be able to persuade the pharmacist to supervise you for both sets of training but you will have to pay the course fees for the NVQ3 yourself, I would assume. If your current employer is paying for your course they may also want you to refund them for any costs they have incurred so far.

Sorry sparky for reply a bit late, was at work and didn't have time to reply, I have already paid for my course for the whole year at my college, Like you said and according to my college and the royal pharmacetical society I have to work under a pharmacist for at least 14 hours a week, Now I don't mind doing any other courses with Boots as long as am allowed to continue with my 1 day a week studies which would then make me a pharmacy technician at the end of the whole course.

Thanks for all the info anyway, I would give Boots a go and ask questions at the interview, I reluctant to go before but am adamant I would attend now and see how it goes, I would update anyone interested about how everything went on Friday.

Thanks everyone especially sparky

[PennyP]

Hi all - how does one get into Boots in the first place? I have tried their website on numerous occasions and keep getting binned although I have retail and medical experience and I am wanting to train as a dispenser. I even went into my local Boots on the Isle of Wight and they just said see website. Not sure what sort of candidate they are looking for - any tips from you guys already with Boots please let me know what I am doing wrong!