Whos the best for pre-reg training?!!!

[student312]

Hi,
I am a 3rd year pharmacy student and was wondering what is the best place to do the pre-reg training? I was told Boots pay is not good as their pay is low but I have been offered a summer placement from them and need to accept it in order to be in with a chance to do my pre-reg with them. I have not heard good things about Llloyds either....Any advice on where to do pre-reg or any experiences with companies regarding pre-reg??? Thanks!
Sam

[hannahd]

Hi.

I'm currently a 4th yr student at Manchester uni.

I did a summer placement with Boots after my 3rd yr at uni which is how I got offered a pre-reg place. I'd advise you to get some experience in both hospital and community before deciding which is best for you. Pay isn't the most important factor in my opinion.

The Boots placement was an excellent learning experience so I'd definitely accept it as you've got a real chance of getting a pre-reg. place.

As for the pay:
Boots pre-reg: £17.5k
Lloyds pre-reg:£17.5k

Both offer the highest pay for community pharmacy pre-reg. although your pay over the summer placement won't be all that great (~£5.50ph).

Hope that helps.

[ash19feen]

pre-reg

Hi
im a newly qualified pharmacist. I completed my pre-reg in hospital.
However, i feel that although the pre-reg year was a great learning experience especially in terms of clinical training, it would be better to do your pre-reg in community. This is because i felt that the final exam was geared a lot towards community pharmacy OTC stuff. Moreover, at hospital they really make a fuss about writing up competencies and all which wastes a lot of your time which you could have used to study!
hope that helps

[hannahd]

I've heard alot of people say that the pre-reg. exam is geared towards OTC stuff and I guess you may be a little disadvantaged when it comes to that if you've done your pre-reg. in hospital. However, I saw first-hand how the pre-reg. I was working with did not work at the Healthcare Counter at all and just dispensed all the PCS stuff all day, everyday and I didn't want to end up doing that!

I'm just hoping my Healthcare Assistant training (which I completed during my summer placement at Boots) will see me through the OTC stuff on the pre-reg. exam since I've chosen to do my pre-reg. in hospital.

[Jeff]

If it helps some sample papers are available at

http://www.rpsgb.org/acareerinpharma...amination.html

Jeff

[hannahd]

Thanks Jeff.

Are any more papers available elsewhere?

[student312]

hey...thank you all for replying...i think I will go for the Boots placement and see what its like.....has anyone recently undertaken the pre-reg exam?? If so what was it like...I heard they have increased the number of calculation related questions or they are planning to increase them??
Sam

[admin]

hey...thank you all for replying...i think I will go for the Boots placement and see what its like.....has anyone recently undertaken the pre-reg exam?? If so what was it like...I heard they have increased the number of calculation related questions or they are planning to increase them??
Sam

Personally I loved the calculations. I was in the first year to do the pre-reg exam, and I ran out of time on the first open book paper. The 2nd one was all calculations, and I had time to check each one over again. If they increase the calculations I personally think thats better, because if you learn how to do them they are all easy.

Yes I did pass first time, just like my advanced driving test, but that's another story.

[ash19feen]

pre-reg exam

hey...thank you all for replying...i think I will go for the Boots placement and see what its like.....has anyone recently undertaken the pre-reg exam?? If so what was it like...I heard they have increased the number of calculation related questions or they are planning to increase them??
Sam

Hey....I just did my pre-reg exam this year. I must say my personal weak point was the closed book paper which had lots of OTC related questions - but thats coz of lack of experience. I still managed to get through coz of reading the symptoms of pharmacy book but i suppose i would have found it much easier if I had worked in community.
The open book was awesome. Very easy as all the questions were i=right there - not trick questions. As long as you are familiar with where things are in the BNF you'll be fine. You dont have to know the BNF by heart!
The calculations I must say were quite different from the standard ones that they have been setting in the past few years. However, they were still easy to do. As long as youve practiced lots of calculations during your pre-reg year......you are guaranteed to pass them all. Do as many papers as you can.

[hannahd]

Ash19feen: how easy/difficult have you found it to be moving from doing your pre-reg in hospital to community pharmacy?

[ash19feen]

hospital to community

Hey
I must say that initially it was a bit difficult bcoz hospital and comunity are very different. especially coz in community they like using brand names whereas in hospital its strictly generic. But it just took a few days to get used to it. when i started locuming, i insisted on working only in places where i had a dispenser. this way it gave me time to get used to the changes. moreover, when locuming, different pharmacies have different computer systems. so the presence of a dispenser was very helpful

[richtagg]

Hey,

Good thread.

I'm currently doing my prereg place in Hospital and I have to say I feel like I made the right choice. The training is excellent and my clinical knowledge is improving fast.

I'm learning more in-depth about medicines than I would in community and I'm also learning from people other than pharmacists e.g. doctors, nurses, dieticians.

The great thing about hospital too is the social aspect. I've met loads of great people who like socialising.

I'm fairly confident that you can pick up the OTC stuff easily and as long as you practise the registration exam should be fine.#

Where are you doing your prereg Hannah?

[hannahd]

Hi Rich.

I chose to do my pre-reg. in hospital for the variety of experience it offers. I took quite a risk since the only time I've experienced hospital pharmacy is via uni. placements so I'm pretty nervous.

I'm glad to hear you're enjoying your pre-reg. in hospital! Are you planning to stick to it after you complete your pre-reg?