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Shiela82 · 09-12-2006, 09:02 PM

Hi All,
I was hoping to start a thread on your working experiences as an intern.
I started working for a retail chain in CA (can't say the name) in October 2005 on an H1B and am now preparing for the NAPLEX.
I had some pretty tough experiences as an intern.
Firstly my boss didn't seem to like me from the get go.
He kept giving me more busy work type jobs like working at the delivery window for weeks on end. As I was working in a large city the delivery window was crazy busy and he wanted everything done like superfast. It was not using my skills as a pharmacist to say the least.
I also felt some level of animosity from the techs who were obviously good at the grunt type work that he demanded having worked there for several years and that also put me in a bad light.
He then complained that I was not fast enough and continuously created problems for me and I was forced to take up another intern position in another state.
Now I do understand that you have to put in your time and do grunt type work for a while but I think using me as a minimum wage worker is a awaste of my skills.

I am sure some of you have similar experiences to share good(like an awesome boss) or bad.
And no names of stores please -unless its a good experience. I'm not interested in bashing retail chains here.

So finally, what was your intern experience like?
What duties were you expected to do?
Did your internship experience help you in preparing for the NAPLEX?

Please do share even if this is slightly off topic.
Also anyone who needs any help with regard to getting an ATT for the FPGEC or with H1B info do PM me.

Thanks.

leoplex · 09-13-2006, 04:13 AM

Hello there, I understand what you've gone through. I was also put in a very busy pharmacy as an intern when I started but my boss was very supportive. There were lots of techs in there too and they were all very good at what they were doing. very fast and efficient and some of the techs were so nasty.. and me being so new to this kind of job and not knowing the stuff around was difficult for me initially but soon I did learn. . I had to do all kinds of jobs ....from drop offs, drive-thru, ringing up and all kind of cashier jobs.... dr. calls, filling, .....its all part of the business. we have to realise that pharmacy in a retail practice is not just a profession but also a business and customer service is an integral part of it and we as pharmacists are at its core.

Shiela82 · 09-13-2006, 08:04 AM

Hey Leo thanks for replying and for the advice.
You know I think of myself as fairly smart,capable and academically successful but I was made to look kinda dumb out there.
And hey I do think pharmacy is a service business and I want to make customers happy but I also expect help and support in doing what is consider I'm totally capable of.
I know that it was an experience that I had to go thru and I hope to learn from it.
I've heard that there's a book on a Pharmacist's Working Life at Amazon wonder if you or anyone else read it.
Its great that you have a good boss. I've promised myself that I'll always be good to my interns

if I make it through this!!

I also made a list of my activities and a list of bullet points to help me thru them-desperate times call for desperate measures.Wonder if anyone else out there did anything like this?
Good luck to you in your quest and anyone else out there who has anything else to add please reply-it going to help everyone else.
Thanks again for writing Leoplex.

Pharmjay · 09-13-2006, 03:26 PM

dear sheila82 & leoplex,
i think this thread is a brilliant idea!!

i am due to start my internship (when i get all the paperwork sorted) but i already have queries e.g how long does the 1500 internship in CA actually take (in terms of months..)?is there a stuctured workbook/ handout e.t.c for interns that guides you through the internship or is it up to the preceptor/ pharmacy manager & yourself to organise that side of things?
Pharmjay

leoplex · 09-13-2006, 04:03 PM

Hello all,
I dont think theres any such written document for interns guidance. you will learn everything at your own pace with time... believe me you will know it all and be confident after your internship experience that you can run a place as a pharmacist. I guess in most places it depends on the pharmacy manager (who also is you preceptor) as to what jobs or responsibilites are for an intern.

I first worked for a few months in a slow pharmacy as an intern..let me tell you - that was no experience at all cause over there I was merely a cashier and a pill counter.. cause in that kind of an environment the pharmacist has just one help....and the jobs have to be divided so all you end up doing is the cashiers job. But when I changed jobs ....it was a whole different scenario... what we did the whole day they did as many prescriptions in jjust 2hours. I had lots of responsibilites in a busy pharmacy as an intern....i did almost everything except the final check.

Sheila, dont get disheartened by some other co workers in the pharmacy. ofcourse theres going to be a difference between someone who just started and someone who's doing the exact same thing everyday since years. I had some terrible tech experience too. You will learn with time how to deal with them and its essential cause when you are a pharmacist they are your best friends (help). work hard and have patience and you will be just fine... dont stress yourself out.

naplex_74 · 09-13-2006, 04:21 PM

Hi friends,
This is an excellent thread.Its going to help us all.I'm also from CA looking for an intern position.I'll join u guys soon!!!

thuy · 09-14-2006, 03:03 AM

Hello,
If you want to start internship in a slow retail store ( San Jose, CA)
pls email me at megthanhthuy@sbcglobal.net
My store manager needs one.
Do you have intern license in CA now?

Shiela82 · 09-14-2006, 03:14 AM

Thanks to everyone for replying.

I think it would be of great help to others if we compiled a list of qualities and a body of knowledge that would help interns during their intership.

It does really help to know that you're not the only one in a tough situation.

ramalla76 · 09-14-2006, 02:28 PM

hi...

this is not an easy country, specially when it comes to dealing with lots of people in the work place . i,ve seen alot through my work , when i first started i worked as a technicain , even though i graduated with honor 5 yrs earlier as a foreign graduate. you come across technicians with terrible attitudes , who sometimes hate themselves, lets put it this way : my pharmacy manager was lacking managerial skills , and i wasnt treated as i should be. so i put an action plan , i learned every single detail of a technician job , from insurances to inventory , you name it ......
when i became confident , i transferred to another pharmacy , where then i had my intern license , things were getting better . i got my graduate intern title , then finally a pharmacist .
for me it was a hard lengthy process , but i have to admit i learned alot.

my advice , be patient and learn from whoever you can learn from , you'll get there

peace

TestMajik · 09-14-2006, 03:41 PM

hi all .
great thread. i hope this thread will continue for long.
we all go thr crap ...just hang on in there ....and remind ur self its only for a few months then u'll be out of it....

ok my question...i am in texas , did a transfer from okhlahoma phcy for an antidepressant.we had to exchange info on pharmacist lic. no. does any one know why? its the first time i did a tranfer with exchange of lic no..

09-12-2006, 09:02 PM	#1 (permalink)
Shiela82 Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 17	Working Experiences as a Pharmacist Intern Hi All, I was hoping to start a thread on your working experiences as an intern. I started working for a retail chain in CA (can't say the name) in October 2005 on an H1B and am now preparing for the NAPLEX. I had some pretty tough experiences as an intern. Firstly my boss didn't seem to like me from the get go. He kept giving me more busy work type jobs like working at the delivery window for weeks on end. As I was working in a large city the delivery window was crazy busy and he wanted everything done like superfast. It was not using my skills as a pharmacist to say the least. I also felt some level of animosity from the techs who were obviously good at the grunt type work that he demanded having worked there for several years and that also put me in a bad light. He then complained that I was not fast enough and continuously created problems for me and I was forced to take up another intern position in another state. Now I do understand that you have to put in your time and do grunt type work for a while but I think using me as a minimum wage worker is a awaste of my skills. I am sure some of you have similar experiences to share good(like an awesome boss) or bad. And no names of stores please -unless its a good experience. I'm not interested in bashing retail chains here. So finally, what was your intern experience like? What duties were you expected to do? Did your internship experience help you in preparing for the NAPLEX? Please do share even if this is slightly off topic. Also anyone who needs any help with regard to getting an ATT for the FPGEC or with H1B info do PM me. Thanks.

09-13-2006, 08:04 AM	#3 (permalink)
Shiela82 Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 17	You're Right Hey Leo thanks for replying and for the advice. You know I think of myself as fairly smart,capable and academically successful but I was made to look kinda dumb out there. And hey I do think pharmacy is a service business and I want to make customers happy but I also expect help and support in doing what is consider I'm totally capable of. I know that it was an experience that I had to go thru and I hope to learn from it. I've heard that there's a book on a Pharmacist's Working Life at Amazon wonder if you or anyone else read it. Its great that you have a good boss. I've promised myself that I'll always be good to my interns if I make it through this!! I also made a list of my activities and a list of bullet points to help me thru them-desperate times call for desperate measures.Wonder if anyone else out there did anything like this? Good luck to you in your quest and anyone else out there who has anything else to add please reply-it going to help everyone else. Thanks again for writing Leoplex. Last edited by knok : 05-27-2008 at 05:37 PM. Reason: thru

09-14-2006, 03:14 AM	#8 (permalink)
Shiela82 Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 17	Thanks Everyone Thanks to everyone for replying. I think it would be of great help to others if we compiled a list of qualities and a body of knowledge that would help interns during their intership. It does really help to know that you're not the only one in a tough situation.

09-14-2006, 02:28 PM	#9 (permalink)
ramalla76 Eager! Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 49	experience hi... this is not an easy country, specially when it comes to dealing with lots of people in the work place . i,ve seen alot through my work , when i first started i worked as a technicain , even though i graduated with honor 5 yrs earlier as a foreign graduate. you come across technicians with terrible attitudes , who sometimes hate themselves, lets put it this way : my pharmacy manager was lacking managerial skills , and i wasnt treated as i should be. so i put an action plan , i learned every single detail of a technician job , from insurances to inventory , you name it ...... when i became confident , i transferred to another pharmacy , where then i had my intern license , things were getting better . i got my graduate intern title , then finally a pharmacist . for me it was a hard lengthy process , but i have to admit i learned alot. my advice , be patient and learn from whoever you can learn from , you'll get there peace

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09-13-2006, 04:13 AM	#2 (permalink)
leoplex Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 8	Hello there, I understand what you've gone through. I was also put in a very busy pharmacy as an intern when I started but my boss was very supportive. There were lots of techs in there too and they were all very good at what they were doing. very fast and efficient and some of the techs were so nasty.. and me being so new to this kind of job and not knowing the stuff around was difficult for me initially but soon I did learn. . I had to do all kinds of jobs ....from drop offs, drive-thru, ringing up and all kind of cashier jobs.... dr. calls, filling, .....its all part of the business. we have to realise that pharmacy in a retail practice is not just a profession but also a business and customer service is an integral part of it and we as pharmacists are at its core.

09-13-2006, 03:26 PM	#4 (permalink)
Pharmjay Eager! Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 98	dear sheila82 & leoplex, i think this thread is a brilliant idea!! i am due to start my internship (when i get all the paperwork sorted) but i already have queries e.g how long does the 1500 internship in CA actually take (in terms of months..)?is there a stuctured workbook/ handout e.t.c for interns that guides you through the internship or is it up to the preceptor/ pharmacy manager & yourself to organise that side of things? Pharmjay

09-13-2006, 04:03 PM	#5 (permalink)
leoplex Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 8	Hello all, I dont think theres any such written document for interns guidance. you will learn everything at your own pace with time... believe me you will know it all and be confident after your internship experience that you can run a place as a pharmacist. I guess in most places it depends on the pharmacy manager (who also is you preceptor) as to what jobs or responsibilites are for an intern. I first worked for a few months in a slow pharmacy as an intern..let me tell you - that was no experience at all cause over there I was merely a cashier and a pill counter.. cause in that kind of an environment the pharmacist has just one help....and the jobs have to be divided so all you end up doing is the cashiers job. But when I changed jobs ....it was a whole different scenario... what we did the whole day they did as many prescriptions in jjust 2hours. I had lots of responsibilites in a busy pharmacy as an intern....i did almost everything except the final check. Sheila, dont get disheartened by some other co workers in the pharmacy. ofcourse theres going to be a difference between someone who just started and someone who's doing the exact same thing everyday since years. I had some terrible tech experience too. You will learn with time how to deal with them and its essential cause when you are a pharmacist they are your best friends (help). work hard and have patience and you will be just fine... dont stress yourself out.

09-13-2006, 04:21 PM	#6 (permalink)
naplex_74 Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 18	Hi friends, This is an excellent thread.Its going to help us all.I'm also from CA looking for an intern position.I'll join u guys soon!!!

09-14-2006, 03:03 AM	#7 (permalink)
thuy Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 2	Hello, If you want to start internship in a slow retail store ( San Jose, CA) pls email me at megthanhthuy@sbcglobal.net My store manager needs one. Do you have intern license in CA now?

09-14-2006, 03:41 PM	#10 (permalink)
TestMajik Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 19	hi all . great thread. i hope this thread will continue for long. we all go thr crap ...just hang on in there ....and remind ur self its only for a few months then u'll be out of it.... ok my question...i am in texas , did a transfer from okhlahoma phcy for an antidepressant.we had to exchange info on pharmacist lic. no. does any one know why? its the first time i did a tranfer with exchange of lic no..

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