Reflections of a 4th yr pharm student--pls read if you're considering pharm

[Survivor39]

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Well doen to both lala2 and danz90!

@ lala2: now you don't have to live in Dubbo (pretty boring unless it's the cherry season) and you can enjoy life in Manly! yay! You must be so excited!

[kenhung123]

Hey guys, I asked a few people already and they told me that this pretty much applies to a lot of courses. Half the stuff you learn isn't required in the profession. I guess its just like high school you learn how to draw graphs, write essays and learn how forces work but never will we use that. Just my thoughts.

[Survivor39]

Originally Posted by kenhung123

I guess its just like high school you learn how to draw graphs, write essays and learn how forces work but never will we use that.

I still need to draw graphs and write essays. These are transferrable skills that will get you through different jobs!

Don't get confused between transferrable skills and discipline-specific skills!

[lala2]

Originally Posted by Survivor39

Well doen to both lala2 and danz90!

@ lala2: now you don't have to live in Dubbo (pretty boring unless it's the cherry season) and you can enjoy life in Manly! yay! You must be so excited!

Haha thanks Yeah, I'm pretty excited. Will probably live at home for the first month or so until everything settles. What about you? Are you off to the States soon? (am I right that's where you're going?)

[Survivor39]

I'm in England at the moment. (refer to my signature)

[lala2]

haha my bad. How's it going?

[meilz92]

hi
im considering doing pharmacy next year (if i can get the ATAR required :S)

ive been working as a pharmacy assistant for 18 months now, and most of the time its not too bad... so ive seen pharmacists in action, their work seems pretty simple. People always come in and ask to speak to a pharmacist regarding minor ailments/how to treat them and other information on medicines... doesnt seem that bad. Ive also noticed that they have pretty long hours though (9am-9pm is the longest shift at my pharmacy) and also may be required to work weekends.

What is the typical wage of a pharmacist per hour? I know that the ones who own the pharmacy get quite a bit... what about the other regular pharmacists?

also, how many hours per week are you usually on campus (ie. for lectures and tutes) for a B Pharm at USYD? ive heard that its quite a bit more than other degrees, is this right? Its making me confused as to whether i should do it or not, or whether i should just do a BSc and become a highschool teacher!!

please let me know, thanks

[spdr20]

Originally Posted by meilz92

hi
im considering doing pharmacy next year (if i can get the ATAR required :S)

ive been working as a pharmacy assistant for 18 months now, and most of the time its not too bad... so ive seen pharmacists in action, their work seems pretty simple. People always come in and ask to speak to a pharmacist regarding minor ailments/how to treat them and other information on medicines... doesnt seem that bad. Ive also noticed that they have pretty long hours though (9am-9pm is the longest shift at my pharmacy) and also may be required to work weekends.

What is the typical wage of a pharmacist per hour? I know that the ones who own the pharmacy get quite a bit... what about the other regular pharmacists?

also, how many hours per week are you usually on campus (ie. for lectures and tutes) for a B Pharm at USYD? ive heard that its quite a bit more than other degrees, is this right? Its making me confused as to whether i should do it or not, or whether i should just do a BSc and become a highschool teacher!!

please let me know, thanks

Well you can work out the typical wage of a hospital pharmacist through the health website

Pharmacist - NSW Department of Health

Cant help you with anything else, as I dont do pharm
Good luck anyway..worse coems to worse, jsut do a science degree, do your honours in it, then do an MPharm degree. Your a pharmacist and you got the opportunity to work in academia down the track.

[lala2]

Originally Posted by meilz92

hi
im considering doing pharmacy next year (if i can get the ATAR required :S)

ive been working as a pharmacy assistant for 18 months now, and most of the time its not too bad... so ive seen pharmacists in action, their work seems pretty simple. People always come in and ask to speak to a pharmacist regarding minor ailments/how to treat them and other information on medicines... doesnt seem that bad.

That's what I'm trying to get at. You learn all this stuff only to use about 5% of it. I'm sitting at home right now trying to memorise about a million contraindications, side effects and doses. Sorry, but what are the chances I'll encounter a customer who has, for example, hypopituitarism? (where about a million different, unrelated drugs are needed).

I'll also admit that I, as a person, don't suit community. I'm not very talkative (I'm a good listener, but actually opening my mouth is another thing), I'm shit at bullshitting (most of the stuff we sell is placebo, i.e. euphemism for quack, and people can see right through me), I'm very bad at expressing myself concisely, I'm very bad at handling difficult customers, I'm very unobservant so most people think I'm ignoring them when I actually don't notice them, etc, etc etc.

I have nothing against correcting my own errors (like trying to be more observant) but I don't know, hospital exhausts me far less than community. Not to mention, the perks of hospital:

- You get to interact with other healthcare professionals.
- You actually use more of your knowledge
- Monday-Friday 9-5pm. Maybe occasional Saturdays, but never met a hospital pharmacy which goes past Saturday noon.
- You actually get to counsel patients properly--> now this seems like a bit of a huh? but I did pharmacy to help people. I think in hospital you get to help them more fully. Actually counselling them thoroughly. Where in a community pharmacy do you get time to ramble on about warfarin for 30 minutes? (yes, I did mention I'm bad at expressing myself concisely).
- And, if you get annoying customers--well, they're usually too sick to show their tempers or stupidity.

Ive also noticed that they have pretty long hours though (9am-9pm is the longest shift at my pharmacy) and also may be required to work weekends.

I have nothing against long work hours though. You want the money, you gotta work hard.

What is the typical wage of a pharmacist per hour? I know that the ones who own the pharmacy get quite a bit... what about the other regular pharmacists?

Depends on your experience. I've actually lost my community pharmacy pay schedule sheet--not on purpose, mind you, but thinking about it, I'm glad I did--hopefully will never need to have one again. As a guide, I'm paid $19/hr as a 4th year student (casual). I know that Harrison's grads get paid $16/hr (or thereabouts, whatever the award is), i.e. they're considered fulltime.

It goes up exponentially from there. In fact, I think they overtake hospital once you're a registered pharmacist. As a hospital grad, I get paid $26/hr (ho ho money here I come!) but once registered, it only goes up by a bit I imagine (maybe something like $30/hr?) So yeah, you can imagine the $$$$ as a registered pharmacist. But honestly, I would never go back to community, not even for the money.

also, how many hours per week are you usually on campus (ie. for lectures and tutes) for a B Pharm at USYD? ive heard that its quite a bit more than other degrees, is this right? Its making me confused as to whether i should do it or not, or whether i should just do a BSc and become a highschool teacher!!

please let me know, thanks

It'd be about the same as a science degree. Definitely less than vet though. It's about 25-30hrs/week, but decreases as you progress through the degree. I think I only had about 18 hrs of classes this year (both semesters).

Don't let the hours put you off. It's only for 4 years. Everyone gets through it, even me, so yeah.

Oh, and I hope I don't sound like I'm trying to bash community. One man's trash is another man's treasure. There's a place for both hospital and community (and industry, and academia too) but I found it personally didn't suit me, and just trying to give the other side of what pharmacy is. Too often I find it's presented through rose coloured glasses--people are just like, it's stable, it's $, it's respected. True that, but a lot of people, like myself, went in thinking just that, and just as many have walked out disillusioned.

Sobering note on job prospects: I know of at least six, most capable students still looking for jobs. Three of them are honours students. So it's not like the "dumb" ones aren't getting jobs. EDIT: I realise I've written an essay, so I've bullet pointed it:

- Well spoken Aussie student didn't get hospital, and still looking for community (strong work history, has worked at a very respectable pharmacy for at least 3-4 years) --> yes I was shocked.
- Korean international student--"I knew I had no chance in Sydney" --> applied for the place he got rural placement at (it's near Young, so it's not even near Sydney). Fortunately for him, he got it.
- Asian local student (so not an international student problem)--lives in Bankstown, has applied for places as far as Avalon (and still looking). If it isn't already far enough, he doesn't have a driver's licence, so I'd like to see how he's gonna handle the commute if he gets it.
- Another Asian local student--lives in Pennant Hills, has applied for places as far as Mascot. Only has variable access to a car, so again, would like to see how he commutes if he gets it.

Oh, and don't get me started on the application process for Harrison's--let's just say the Broadway position still remaining is the biggest thing since Ben-Hur. They've been interviewing for it since late July, and still haven't filled it (that's how picky they can afford to be). On top of that (and this is common to all Harrison's pharmacies not just Broadway)--you have a minimum of 3 interviews, potentially 4.

- One with the central HR lady over the phone
- One with the central HR lady in person (and it's not some niggly 30 minute interview--mine took a good hour, and trust me, that lady's paid to be a bitch, most horrible interview ever)
- One with the manager of the store you're applying for (part of this "interview" includes a work trial where they just leave you there--without any directions!--and try and see how you interact with the other staff)
- One with any senior pharmacists who weren't there at your interview, as a confirmatory thing.

Not saying anything against Harrison's, but this shows how picky they can afford to be. My friend who's still looking had her first interview for Broadway in early August, and only had her third interview 2 weeks ago. You can make your own judgements on whether you think that's a fair process for a graduate position.

I just count myself so lucky to a) get a hospital position, and b) one in Sydney. I was honestly so prepared to leave, as you might be able to tell from where I've been applying. QLD apparently seems to have better job prospects (overall), and VIC in terms of hospital. I went on their website and there's 31 hospitals offering 89 graduate positions compared to NSW with maybe about the same number of hospitals offering not more than 50 I'm pretty sure.

[spdr20]

hey lala, you ever considered doing research? if you arent an awsome people person but you love the science, research seems ideal. I know of a lot of pharm grads who pursue the research side, which is still quite interesting. It jsut seems like you got a lot of hate towards the course lol
Besides, I think most jobs entail a lot of boring repetetive work. And I could think of far worse jobs out there

[lala2]

I'd like to try research at some point, I think as part of my hospital training I need to do some sort of research project, so that'll give me a bit more of an idea. The course itself isn't too bad, just the career depresses me (as a community pharmacist, that is).

Haha you're right, I should probably keep in perspective. There are a lot worse jobs out there. I guess that's the point of a job--to do stuff you wouldn't otherwise do if you weren't getting paid. What about you? I couldn't help but sneak a look at your profile (yeah, inner stalker )--are you still in the medical science industry?

[spdr20]

Yeah hospital research would involve a lot of clinical trials, which could add a bit more itneret to your job
haha yeah, community pharmacy would be boring, but then again, you could always mix and match (work, teach, research). I geuss it comes down to what you want to do with your job and life.
And me, well Ive taken a year off after my honours. Currently working in a hospital as a research/resp scientist. So far so good, though I dont think I will be staying here for too long (thinking of doing phd or dent or med....too many options in my head!), though the money is quite good for a hospital job (im pretty lucky i got this job haha).And yeah, you are a bit of a stalker hahah, nah we are on a forum, so we might as well know who the other person is to some extent!
So where do you do your pharmacy at? and you got yourself a job lined up yet?
I think getting a job comes down to the interview and what youve done in the past. I know I got employed here not only because of my uni work and research stuff, but its because Ive done a lot of paid employment to get myself through uni, which sort of shows tyhat your flexible and able to work with anyone. But my 2cents in it anyway. I just find a lot of people think getting a job is like going to uni, get your marks and your in. But often its not the case.

[sunjet]

Become an academic? My parents are both pharmacists who became academics and it has opened up a lot of travel/additional research and entirely different job prospects for them..

To be honest I don't see the appeal in retail pharmacy (is that community pharmacy?) - although our good family friend owns a big chain and is very wealthy..

[lala2]

^^Yeah, retail pharmacy = community pharmacy. That'd be cool--are your parents entirely academics or do they work in hospital or community as well? What do you mean by different job prospects?

[sunjet]

Well my mum is in private sector now but does a lot of her work in hospitals.. and my dad is still an academic. Umm it just seems they have had some fairly varied roles throughout their career.