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kgba9231 · 05-12-2008, 05:26 AM

Hello fulfilling destiny,

first of all, it's no bother at all...the best place to work here in Cincinnati (personally speaking) is the Cincy children's hospital (Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center) but there are a whole lot of hospitals out here, so you need to find out the zip code or area that you want to come over to and then google for local hospitals in that area of the state. Apart from Cincinnati children's (which is the 5th best paediatric facility in the US) try the Cleveland clinic (which is world renowned) up in the north of the state in Cleveland, Ohio. Now, Cleveland is pretty much a bleak place to be but the Cleveland clinic has a very good research base and produces excellent work consistently.

Other than these two facilities there are zillions of other hospitals, varying in size and greatness, throughout the state...just google away...

Dear Osman:

thanks for your invite...I'm currently organising my locums for the month of September, so that might be a great time to catch up. I still have a tiny little flat in Russell Square in London and my parents live close by.

There is a chap called Steven Curtis who is also a British Pharmacist trying to get through this maze of visas and other requirements out there somewhere, and has an excellent website (I think it is called pharmacyexam.co.uk) but am not a 100%...try googling him. He is also part of yahoo groups for pharmacists, where you might also find him. He relates his personal endeavours in getting through these struggles as well as give great advice on what loopholes to avoid etc, so check him out.

As for recruiters, I don't have any experience of them, but I wonder why you would need them, especially since there is such a huge shortage of pharmacists in most states here. Hospitals are a great place to work and you get a different kind of exposure than in retail, but to pass the NAPLEX and to expand your knowledge, I wouldn't discount the retail experience at all, in fact it has enhanced my grasp of the US healthcare system immensely. Plus, although hospitals are catching up to match the retail sector numerically, there is still a good 5 to 10K difference, so check this out too before you make a decision. It might not sound a lot but sometimes it could make a whole lot of a difference! But in any case, if you have hospital experience in the UK (or perhaps anywhere for that matter), you fall into those 'highly sought after' categories and shouldn't have any difficulties getting in, however the visa situation might be the dealbreaker here. I will ask around and keep you posted on any news I get about this soon, but until then good luck in your search and best wishes to all of you out there...

Shani

Osman_MPharmS · 05-12-2008, 10:05 AM

Thanks for the information. It is early days to be sorting out locum work for September yet? I use to do emergency locums and didn't book anything more than two weeks a head of schedule. That’s nice to see you still have contact and a place in London, I don't know what to do whether to sell my place in England and move out for good.

I do have hospital experience and would love to get a job with a hospital in the USA since I know how much if a different environment it is compared to retail. Some Hospitals have outpatients or a retail pharmacy in them so you can get the best of both worlds and if I get that it would be great.

What’s your working week like 40 hours and how many weeks holiday do you get?

I am currently working as a PCT pharmacist in England and working a 37.5 hour week and 5 week holiday. Jut that I know things are different in the USA. My Ideal location to move out us California the bay area where I have visited many times and I know it is very nice to live; it can be a nightmare with a 12 hour flight.

I have tried to contact hospitals and retail direct but no luck directly, I have spoke to a few over the phone and they want me to come straight out but the only thing that is hindering is the H1B. So once I get that I will be there in a flash.

Regards

kgba9231 · 05-14-2008, 06:28 AM

Hello Osman,

I'm an independent locum, so I organise my work all by myself with contacts I've already established back home. This is the reason I have to start so early. I do use locum agencies some, but have more than enough contacts that I'm lucky not to need to resort to them too often.

I used to work in a PCT in south London for a time there and you guys have it soooooo very easy out there! It might be a 'culture' shock for you when you come over here though and find out that the mimimum full-time work week starts at 40hrs, with no set hours as both hospitals (always) and retail (not all stores) need to be manned 24 hours!

I myself as an intern am doing on average of 80hrs/week - but of course this is my choice as I have a real aversion to being an 'intern' having been a pharmacist, and want to finish my hours as fast as I possibly can! I started in mid-March and am on course to finish up my hours by late July and am hoping to sit the NAPLEX late August. This is where this land of opportunity becomes so attractive as my state, Ohio, has no limits on the max number of hours an intern can do per week (some other states do, so choose carefully) and I can pretty much work any hours during the day and night I want as they are so desparate for help out here. I don't have a 'life' right now but it suits me well as there isn't much to do out here anyways! Until my goals are met, I don't mind either and it beats watching cable on my own in the nights and feeling so very lonesome and longing for home, when I can go into work and meet up with friendly faces and exchange some banter with colleagues (the pace gets somewhat easier at night time than during the day in some places) and I get to clock up my hours! These are also times when most my colleagues are also less pressed for time and are able to teach and show me things too. It's not for everyone, but it works for me for now.

As for vacation time, I've been able to negotiate upto 6 weeks off (unfortunately though, not all of it at any one time) and in retail I can take off 2 weeks max (but I will choose to 'float' - this is what they call locums here - so I can pretty much take off anytime I want).

One last thing I wanted to mention is that in hospital the trend is moving towards getting the PharmDs to do 'clinical' (de-centralised) jobs and all the RPhs to do the 'staffing' (centralised) positions. So, if you still want to keep on the clinical side of things as in the UK, you must either find a hospital pharmacy which does not have a separation between centralised and de-centralised pharmacists or go in for some training or getting a non-traditional PharmD. It's very rarely that you can mix the two but I do know of places, at least here in Ohio, that do it like in the UK and everyone gets to do both.

Well this is it for now....good luck with all your visa efforts and keep us posted on how you get on.

Best wishes and kind regards

Osman_MPharmS · 05-15-2008, 09:42 PM

Currently what books are you using to study for the NAPLEX and MPJE , do you have any sugestions?

I am just going through Manan Shroff and I feel like I have forgotten everyting so I am just recapping, also using appleton and lange review of pharmacy to help.

Are you given help through your hospital etc?

Osman_MPharmS · 05-25-2008, 07:33 PM

Do you have any hospital contacts for me? Do you have any contacts in California???

PharmCW · 05-25-2008, 10:39 PM

Hi Shani,

I'm also located in OH. I'm in Columbus. I passed the FPGEE already but still struggle with the iBT. I'm so eager to find a job now because the finacial reason. Do you know if it's possible for me to find an intern possition in either retails or hospitals? I have a green card so no sponsorship is needed for me. Could you please give me some advices please ? Thanks in advance.

Osman_MPharmS · 05-30-2008, 09:03 AM

Whats it like to live in OH since i see there are alot of hospitals in that state

Osman_MPharmS · 05-30-2008, 09:21 AM

Anyone out there had any luck for next years placements.

madaboutfpgee · 06-02-2008, 11:46 AM

Hey Osman,

Did you check out Steven Curtis' website and his blogs. There is a hell of a lot of info there...

usa1

Osman_MPharmS · 06-02-2008, 12:39 PM

Hey thansk for the information it's the first time I have seen it and think it is real good espcially his blog. Where are you from?

05-12-2008, 10:05 AM	#12 (permalink)
Osman_MPharmS Within my grasp! Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 202	Thanks for the information. It is early days to be sorting out locum work for September yet? I use to do emergency locums and didn't book anything more than two weeks a head of schedule. That’s nice to see you still have contact and a place in London, I don't know what to do whether to sell my place in England and move out for good. I do have hospital experience and would love to get a job with a hospital in the USA since I know how much if a different environment it is compared to retail. Some Hospitals have outpatients or a retail pharmacy in them so you can get the best of both worlds and if I get that it would be great. What’s your working week like 40 hours and how many weeks holiday do you get? I am currently working as a PCT pharmacist in England and working a 37.5 hour week and 5 week holiday. Jut that I know things are different in the USA. My Ideal location to move out us California the bay area where I have visited many times and I know it is very nice to live; it can be a nightmare with a 12 hour flight. I have tried to contact hospitals and retail direct but no luck directly, I have spoke to a few over the phone and they want me to come straight out but the only thing that is hindering is the H1B. So once I get that I will be there in a flash. Regards _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ Looking for an INTERNSHIP A wise man learns by the mistakes of others, A fool learns from his own mistakes!

05-15-2008, 09:42 PM	#14 (permalink)
Osman_MPharmS Within my grasp! Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 202	Currently what books are you using to study for the NAPLEX and MPJE , do you have any sugestions? I am just going through Manan Shroff and I feel like I have forgotten everyting so I am just recapping, also using appleton and lange review of pharmacy to help. Are you given help through your hospital etc? _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ Looking for an INTERNSHIP A wise man learns by the mistakes of others, A fool learns from his own mistakes!

05-25-2008, 07:33 PM	#15 (permalink)
Osman_MPharmS Within my grasp! Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 202	Do you have any hospital contacts for me? Do you have any contacts in California??? _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ Looking for an INTERNSHIP A wise man learns by the mistakes of others, A fool learns from his own mistakes!

05-30-2008, 09:03 AM	#17 (permalink)
Osman_MPharmS Within my grasp! Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 202	Whats it like to live in OH since i see there are alot of hospitals in that state _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ Looking for an INTERNSHIP A wise man learns by the mistakes of others, A fool learns from his own mistakes!

05-30-2008, 09:21 AM	#18 (permalink)
Osman_MPharmS Within my grasp! Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 202	Anyone out there had any luck for next years placements. _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ Looking for an INTERNSHIP A wise man learns by the mistakes of others, A fool learns from his own mistakes!

05-12-2008, 05:26 AM	#11 (permalink)
kgba9231 Eager! Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 29	Hello fulfilling destiny, first of all, it's no bother at all...the best place to work here in Cincinnati (personally speaking) is the Cincy children's hospital (Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center) but there are a whole lot of hospitals out here, so you need to find out the zip code or area that you want to come over to and then google for local hospitals in that area of the state. Apart from Cincinnati children's (which is the 5th best paediatric facility in the US) try the Cleveland clinic (which is world renowned) up in the north of the state in Cleveland, Ohio. Now, Cleveland is pretty much a bleak place to be but the Cleveland clinic has a very good research base and produces excellent work consistently. Other than these two facilities there are zillions of other hospitals, varying in size and greatness, throughout the state...just google away... Dear Osman: thanks for your invite...I'm currently organising my locums for the month of September, so that might be a great time to catch up. I still have a tiny little flat in Russell Square in London and my parents live close by. There is a chap called Steven Curtis who is also a British Pharmacist trying to get through this maze of visas and other requirements out there somewhere, and has an excellent website (I think it is called pharmacyexam.co.uk) but am not a 100%...try googling him. He is also part of yahoo groups for pharmacists, where you might also find him. He relates his personal endeavours in getting through these struggles as well as give great advice on what loopholes to avoid etc, so check him out. As for recruiters, I don't have any experience of them, but I wonder why you would need them, especially since there is such a huge shortage of pharmacists in most states here. Hospitals are a great place to work and you get a different kind of exposure than in retail, but to pass the NAPLEX and to expand your knowledge, I wouldn't discount the retail experience at all, in fact it has enhanced my grasp of the US healthcare system immensely. Plus, although hospitals are catching up to match the retail sector numerically, there is still a good 5 to 10K difference, so check this out too before you make a decision. It might not sound a lot but sometimes it could make a whole lot of a difference! But in any case, if you have hospital experience in the UK (or perhaps anywhere for that matter), you fall into those 'highly sought after' categories and shouldn't have any difficulties getting in, however the visa situation might be the dealbreaker here. I will ask around and keep you posted on any news I get about this soon, but until then good luck in your search and best wishes to all of you out there... Shani

05-14-2008, 06:28 AM	#13 (permalink)
kgba9231 Eager! Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 29	Hello Osman, I'm an independent locum, so I organise my work all by myself with contacts I've already established back home. This is the reason I have to start so early. I do use locum agencies some, but have more than enough contacts that I'm lucky not to need to resort to them too often. I used to work in a PCT in south London for a time there and you guys have it soooooo very easy out there! It might be a 'culture' shock for you when you come over here though and find out that the mimimum full-time work week starts at 40hrs, with no set hours as both hospitals (always) and retail (not all stores) need to be manned 24 hours! I myself as an intern am doing on average of 80hrs/week - but of course this is my choice as I have a real aversion to being an 'intern' having been a pharmacist, and want to finish my hours as fast as I possibly can! I started in mid-March and am on course to finish up my hours by late July and am hoping to sit the NAPLEX late August. This is where this land of opportunity becomes so attractive as my state, Ohio, has no limits on the max number of hours an intern can do per week (some other states do, so choose carefully) and I can pretty much work any hours during the day and night I want as they are so desparate for help out here. I don't have a 'life' right now but it suits me well as there isn't much to do out here anyways! Until my goals are met, I don't mind either and it beats watching cable on my own in the nights and feeling so very lonesome and longing for home, when I can go into work and meet up with friendly faces and exchange some banter with colleagues (the pace gets somewhat easier at night time than during the day in some places) and I get to clock up my hours! These are also times when most my colleagues are also less pressed for time and are able to teach and show me things too. It's not for everyone, but it works for me for now. As for vacation time, I've been able to negotiate upto 6 weeks off (unfortunately though, not all of it at any one time) and in retail I can take off 2 weeks max (but I will choose to 'float' - this is what they call locums here - so I can pretty much take off anytime I want). One last thing I wanted to mention is that in hospital the trend is moving towards getting the PharmDs to do 'clinical' (de-centralised) jobs and all the RPhs to do the 'staffing' (centralised) positions. So, if you still want to keep on the clinical side of things as in the UK, you must either find a hospital pharmacy which does not have a separation between centralised and de-centralised pharmacists or go in for some training or getting a non-traditional PharmD. It's very rarely that you can mix the two but I do know of places, at least here in Ohio, that do it like in the UK and everyone gets to do both. Well this is it for now....good luck with all your visa efforts and keep us posted on how you get on. Best wishes and kind regards

05-25-2008, 10:39 PM	#16 (permalink)
PharmCW Eager! Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 56	Hi Shani, I'm also located in OH. I'm in Columbus. I passed the FPGEE already but still struggle with the iBT. I'm so eager to find a job now because the finacial reason. Do you know if it's possible for me to find an intern possition in either retails or hospitals? I have a green card so no sponsorship is needed for me. Could you please give me some advices please ? Thanks in advance.

06-02-2008, 11:46 AM	#19 (permalink)
madaboutfpgee Eager! Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 44	Hey Osman, Did you check out Steven Curtis' website and his blogs. There is a hell of a lot of info there... usa1

06-02-2008, 12:39 PM	#20 (permalink)
Osman_MPharmS Within my grasp! Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 202	Hey thansk for the information it's the first time I have seen it and think it is real good espcially his blog. Where are you from? _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ Looking for an INTERNSHIP A wise man learns by the mistakes of others, A fool learns from his own mistakes!

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