Achievements in experience

[mysteryman]

I've been told to make a list of what things I want to achieve on my summer placement at Boots before starting. Was wondering what sorts of things I should add? Obviously dispensing, clinical and interacting with customers experience. Just wanted to know what else would be useful to add to make the most of my time there? Many thanks

[DavidS]

Originally Posted by mysteryman

I've been told to make a list of what things I want to achieve on my summer placement at Boots before starting. Was wondering what sorts of things I should add? Obviously dispensing, clinical and interacting with customers experience. Just wanted to know what else would be useful to add to make the most of my time there? Many thanks

The pleasure and experience of working for the premier large, vibrant and trendsetting pharmacy company in europe.

That should do it.

Have a look at Boots mission statement as well, it helps if you can align your own aims with those of the company.

[Pharmanaut]

Originally Posted by DavidS

The pleasure and experience of working for the premier large, vibrant and trendsetting pharmacy company in europe.

That should do it.

Have a look at Boots mission statement as well, it helps if you can align your own aims with those of the company.

Which of the Swiss languages was the mission statement written in?

Alliance Boots to move HQ to Switzerland

[Sir_Dispensalot]

Originally Posted by Pharmanaut

Which of the Swiss languages was the mission statement written in?

Alliance Boots to move HQ to Switzerland

Easy! the language the swiss understand the most! Money!

[Pharmanaut]

Originally Posted by Sir_Dispensalot

Easy! the language the swiss understand the most! Money!

It seems that's all that matters these days.
Probably where most of the aid to Africa ends up - in vaults in Zurich.

[Lazy Nite]

Hey Mysteryman….

Is this your first placement with Boots? Well done for getting the placement.

I did a Boots placement in my 2nd and 3rd year; it was hard work, but good. I felt like a headless chicken running around the shop, looking for shampoos, nappies, the lot!!

It’s a good idea to set your objectives before you start, and they will give you a day’s talk at the head office on what to expect. I’ve got some tips:

1. Make sure you go to the induction day at the head office to get the manual, or you will be lost!
2. Make sure you know who your tutor is and make an effort to see them before you start. Your tutor is key, as they will be assessing you every four weeks (over the 2 months) and give you marks out of 5 for competencies.
3. Try to get to know more about the pharmacy team – who does what, and what training they’ve had.
4. Make sure you spend enough time on the counter, MDS and dispensary. You should get more time in the dispensary.
5. Try to get lots of counseling experience – get a senior to observe you.
6. Know your OTC – it was daunting at first, esp if you have no experience. Have a look at the OTC directory or Community pharmacy by P. Rutter.
7. Get some experience of taking in prescriptions, labeling, dispensing, CD’s and sorting out problems.
8. Use the Stockleys interactions, BNF – look up anything your unsure of during quiet times.
9. MDS – make sure you know what not to blister and how to deal with nursing homes.
10. You might be asked to do a presentation – choose a unique topic. When I did mine, everyone chose to do – hay fever, traveler’s diarrhoea, nausea etc.
11. For the Exam, it’s easy – just make sure you know your counseling, OTC, basic law and calculations.
12. Keep in touch with friends doing the placement and enjoy– it does help!

Good luck and I hope this helps….

[mysteryman]

Originally Posted by Lazy Nite

Hey Mysteryman….

Is this your first placement with Boots? Well done for getting the placement.

I did a Boots placement in my 2nd and 3rd year; it was hard work, but good. I felt like a headless chicken running around the shop, looking for shampoos, nappies, the lot!!

It’s a good idea to set your objectives before you start, and they will give you a day’s talk at the head office on what to expect. I’ve got some tips:

1. Make sure you go to the induction day at the head office to get the manual, or you will be lost!
2. Make sure you know who your tutor is and make an effort to see them before you start. Your tutor is key, as they will be assessing you every four weeks (over the 2 months) and give you marks out of 5 for competencies.
3. Try to get to know more about the pharmacy team – who does what, and what training they’ve had.
4. Make sure you spend enough time on the counter, MDS and dispensary. You should get more time in the dispensary.
5. Try to get lots of counseling experience – get a senior to observe you.
6. Know your OTC – it was daunting at first, esp if you have no experience. Have a look at the OTC directory or Community pharmacy by P. Rutter.
7. Get some experience of taking in prescriptions, labeling, dispensing, CD’s and sorting out problems.
8. Use the Stockleys interactions, BNF – look up anything your unsure of during quiet times.
9. MDS – make sure you know what not to blister and how to deal with nursing homes.
10. You might be asked to do a presentation – choose a unique topic. When I did mine, everyone chose to do – hay fever, traveler’s diarrhoea, nausea etc.
11. For the Exam, it’s easy – just make sure you know your counseling, OTC, basic law and calculations.
12. Keep in touch with friends doing the placement and enjoy– it does help!

Good luck and I hope this helps….

Thanks, that was very useful. Do you get told what to do in the shop i.e. work on the healthcare counter help dispensing, or do you get left to your own devices so to speak?

[Lazy Nite]

Hey..

When you first start there, they will give you a brief induction around the department and show you some videos. After that they will put you on the counter, and it’s up to you after that. But try to observe someone at first. Get the healthcare assistant to mentor you in your early days. Ask as many questions – the healthcare assistants, dispensers and pharmacists.

If your tutor is good, he/she will tell you to stay 2 weeks on the counter, 4 weeks in dispensary and they will make sure you get enough time in each. However, I’ve heard and experienced that summer students can get left on the counter for longer, just because they are short staff.

Make sure ur not in that situation and be pushy! Show them what you want to achieve…

Hope that helps…

[mysteryman]

Originally Posted by Lazy Nite

Hey..

When you first start there, they will give you a brief induction around the department and show you some videos. After that they will put you on the counter, and it’s up to you after that. But try to observe someone at first. Get the healthcare assistant to mentor you in your early days. Ask as many questions – the healthcare assistants, dispensers and pharmacists.

If your tutor is good, he/she will tell you to stay 2 weeks on the counter, 4 weeks in dispensary and they will make sure you get enough time in each. However, I’ve heard and experienced that summer students can get left on the counter for longer, just because they are short staff.

Make sure ur not in that situation and be pushy! Show them what you want to achieve…

Hope that helps…

Thanks once again for the advice. I was also told that I would be shown the business side of things as well, but not entirely sure of what this would include? Can anyone explain what sort of things would be in the business part?

[johnep]

Checking the cash and reconciling with the tills is basic. With luck you could be introduced to merchanting and the reason for all those planograms.
johnep