Where to do pre-reg?

[aeromint]

Just looking for some advice on where to do pre-reg?

I currently have a few options?

1. A relatively quiet rural pharmacy in terms of front counter and service provision but a huge amount of MDS on the plus side, it is in my hometown, would move back with my parents for the year. No rent, plenty of time to study, good salary.

2. Potentially a bigger, busier, more modern city pharmacy. Will experience a lot more variety in prescriptions, services. On the negative side, rent will be high, lower wages and obviously much reduced by city accomodation rates, pharmacy in bad area, late opening hours.

3. Apply to hospital. Difficult I assume, and I only have minimal experience. Unlikely to get job?

Currently leaning towards option 1 although I am really concerned that I will get a limited experience which will hinder my future and applying for jobs after qualification. Also potentially ability to pass pre-reg exam? Just to mention as well that I have spent every summer and also holiday times working as a HCA/dispenser in pharmacy chains throughout uni so I am not inexperienced and up to speed in what's going on in retail. I know that the option 1 pharmacy is taking a step back from what I am accustomed to in terms of being less busy and less resources.
What would you do if you were in my position?

[shan]

I bet it should be option 1. Forget about any experience, you already have enough from your part time work. And anyway both option 2 and 3 will make you more of a super dispenser than anything else. Option 1 will give you lot of time to read/ go through the prescription you get and ask questions and discuss with your tutor than anywhere else. Once you qualify and get on to the register you will get a placement or at least you can work as a locum or take up as a manager in a rural area for which they pay high salaries as no one takes those positions for some reason

All the best.

Shan

[aeromint]

Thanks for your input. It is a really difficult decision to make. I barely know my potential tutors in any of the placements. It scares me that we will be signed up to work alongside one another for a whole year.. :/

[Nik]

Perhaps coming from a hospital angle as a current pre-reg I might be a tad biased, but I would not rule out hospital pharmacy just because you have no experience. In the vast majority of cases experience of hospital pharmacy is not a pre-requisite for a pre-reg place. It may be more difficult but not impossible and it will add to your previous community work to give a more whole round experience which will look a lot better on your CV. Drop me a PM if you do put a hospital application in.

[aeromint]

Thanks, I might take you up on that!

[Nik]

Happy to help. The very fact that you've listed hospital pharmacy as an option means that there is some desire in you to get that experience

[johnep]

Go for near home, you know it makes sense. I lived at home throuhout my apprenticeship and while at UNI.
johnep

[Nik]

Unless there is a hospital in their home town ? And what's to say the OP's parents won't suddenly charge rent ?

Nice to see you back on here johnep.

[aeromint]

I really like community although I did enjoy my hospital work experience a lot. I'd pretty much be happy in either sector for pre-reg. No position in my hometown hospital and if parents charge rent, I'm outta there