US Pharm.
2006;5(Student suppl):18.
While pharmacy school
graduates are usually focused on taking the NAPLEX following graduation, what
happens after the big test is over and the license is in hand? Some graduates
will begin residencies and have more time to adjust to their new careers.
Others, however, will immediately make the transition from intern to
pharmacist. New pharmacists should address several important issues and ask
certain questions as they enter the profession--but how can they identify
which issues and questions these are? Pharmacists who have made the transition
in recent years can provide new graduates with valuable advice and thus are a
great resource.
The first major issue that
pharmacy graduates will face is where to begin their career. Interns
approaching graduation should ask themselves two important questions: Where
will I be working? and Is it truly where I want to be as a pharmacist? Since,
unfortunately, graduates must often pay back a sizable amount of money in
student loans, this debt can influence whether they will accept a particular
job offer over another. As a result, deciding where to begin a career becomes
primarily about money instead of about where the new pharmacist will be
happiest and able to make the biggest impact. This is one of the reasons some
graduates choose not to complete a residency following graduation. While
salary is, of course, important, sometimes new pharmacists miss out on good
opportunities because they "see dollar signs."
Understanding that roles and
responsibilities will change is another important issue for new pharmacists.
Graduates can go overnight from assisting a pharmacist to becoming a
supervisor. Suddenly, there is no one for them to turn to and ask for advice
when they do not have an answer or must make an important decision. New
pharmacists should seek employment where they can be properly trained or
prepared for their new position. There may be instances when the authority of
the new boss will be tested. The pharmacist must be both fair and steadfast.
New pharmacists should ask themselves how they would handle conflicts that
could arise--before they occur.
A new concern among
pharmacists who work in the community for a retail chain pharmacy is whether
they will have a proper amount of technician support. These pharmacists may
have to adjust to a higher workload due to the chain's reduction in budgeted
hours for technicians in their pharmacies. This problem raises the risk of
medication errors and other mistakes, which can make things very difficult for
a new pharmacist trying to make the transition from being an intern. Before
accepting a job, graduates should ask potential employers whether the proper
amount of support help will be provided in the pharmacy.
Making the transition from
intern to pharmacist can be as smooth or as tough as one chooses to make it.
New graduates should do their homework before going to work. They should ask
themselves what they need to be a successful pharmacist in their new
pharmacy, not what they want. And again, the best resource is the
pharmacists who have already made the transition and can tell you what they
wish they had known when they started out.
To comment on this article, contact editor@uspharmacist.com.
