Work Experience - What to expect?

[JayEm]

Hi,

I've arranged a couple weeks' work experience at a community pharmacy (due to start at the end of this month) and was just wondering if anyone could shed some light on the kinda things I'll be doing.

I hope it's not just making the tea...

J

[johnep]

1) Someone should show you how to work the till.
2) Procedure for receiving scripts and giving out completed scripts.
3) What is difference between GSL and P med.

You will be expected to do your share of the various jobs such as sweeping the floor etc.

Always greet customer with Good Morning how can I help you?

First day will be hard.
johnep

[VChan]

You won't be allowed to do a lot, because of the regulations surrounding who can work in a community pharmacy and the training that you need...it all depends on the pharmacist and how much they're happy for you to do. Make sure you don't end up on the till all day though - it'll be boring as you won't be able to sell half the stuff on the P lines, so it'll end up being shampoo etc.

Just make the most of it, and wear comfortable shoes!

[JayEm]

Thanks for the advice.

I think I'll use this thread as a little diary of how I get on over the two weeks; hopefully it won't be too boring.

[JayEm]

Day 1:

It was fairly boring since I'm not allowed to do much; they showed me how to take in a prescription and work the till.

My lower back and feet are absolutely killing me from standing up all day!! Even with comfortable shoes, I don't see how you people manage it long term without being in pain all the time!

The pharmacy wasn't very busy in terms of the number of patients visiting however the staff never stood still, there was always something to do.

I've also learnt my 6 months extemp training at uni is pretty much useless, lol.

[Pharmanaut]

Day 1:

It was fairly boring since I'm not allowed to do much; they showed me how to take in a prescription and work the till.

My lower back and feet are absolutely killing me from standing up all day!! Even with comfortable shoes, I don't see how you people manage it long term without being in pain all the time!

The pharmacy wasn't very busy in terms of the number of patients visiting however the staff never stood still, there was always something to do.

I've also learnt my 6 months extemp training at uni is pretty much useless, lol.

Don't worry, you only feel it when you stand completely still.
As this NEVER happens in community pharmacy you will be assured of a pain free working environment.
Ignore anyone who says that any training at Uni is wasted.
You will need it as some time or another - and when you least expect it.

[JayEm]

Day 2:
- There was a different pharmacist in this time who was a lot more friendlier and allowed me to participate more in the pharmacy. I learnt how their shelf system is arranged and was allowed to dispense a few scripts when it got busy.

- I was also asked to write up the records in the CD register and was warned about how its an instant fail if you make a mistake in your pre-reg exam!

- Did a dosette box - Easy but boring.

Day 3, 4 and 5:
- Regular pharmacist present. Boring days. Nothing to really write about; was on the till most of the time taking in scripts. Erm, had a wrestling match with a plastic bag; I can never open the damn things!!!

- I've discovered some customers smell really bad even from 3 feet away.

Don't worry, you only feel it when you stand completely still.
As this NEVER happens in community pharmacy you will be assured of a pain free working environment.
Ignore anyone who says that any training at Uni is wasted.
You will need it as some time or another - and when you least expect it.

The pain's kinda gone now, I can stand up for 8 hours straight.

The pharmacist I've been working with said that they don't get paid enough for the time that would be spent doing any extemporaneous formulation and so they just don't do it. The only thing they do is pour water into antibiotic bottles or transfer liquids from larger containers. No more making suppositories from scratch. lol

Here's a question for someone: On average, how often do you see a serious black dot interaction on a script where the pharmacist has to intervene? In the 5 days I've been there, all I've seen is the computer come up with a load of contraindications and warnings which the pharmacist just "green flags" and prints the label.

[Ama2007]

how is it like working in the dispensary part?

[JayEm]

how is it like working in the dispensary part?

Trying to find the right drug on the shelf is fun apart from the times when you've been looking for several minutes for a particular item, only to be told its in the fridge or out of stock! That's all I've been allowed to do in the dispensary. There's also the chores like counting the number of prescriptions and items, taking in and shelving stock, shredding confidential data etc.

[Asterix]

JayEM are you in your 3rd year?

Extemp dispensing is a thing of the past tbh, considering the boots pre-reg peppermint case. It is still done in hospitals unless anyone else would like to correct me?