Appetizers

Starting with some basics.

Fun Starters

Getting to know the human side.

Main Course

A quick deep dive into the day-to-day job.

Tell us about yourself and your job.

I am a newly licensed pharmacist in the state of Kansas currently completing a PGY-1 residency at Wesley Medical Center. As a pharmacist, I make sure all medications that are prescribed to patients are safe and effective. I collaborate with a large variety of health care professionals to ensure patients get the best care possible.

As a resident, I rotate to different areas of the hospital each month and work with different health care professionals, patient populations, and disease states.

How did you end up in your field? What do you like about it?

When I was younger, I always got sick and had frequent visits to the doctor’s office. Afterward, I would always find myself waiting in front of the pharmacy for my medications. My parents were not familiar with how insurance worked and the pharmacy technicians and pharmacists would always be the ones trying their best to explain this to my parents. They also did a great job counseling my patients on how I should take the medication and were always very patient.

I knew I wanted to be a pharmacist at a very young age to give back to the community. When I was accepted into pharmacy school, I learned that the field of pharmacy had so many different options. I love learning about different medications and how they are used to treat different disease states and why they work the way that they do. I also love making sure that each medication is safe and effective for patients.

What does a typical morning look like on the job?

A typical morning for me during my current internal medicine rotation starts off with me looking to see if there are any pharmacy consults on my floor. Providers will consult the pharmacy if they need help with dosing certain medications or total parenteral nutritions (TPNs). They also consult a pharmacy if they think a patient needs in-depth education on certain medications such as warfarin, which is a type of blood thinner.

I will then look at patients that I am responsible for on my floor. I look to see why they are here and their disease state, current condition, vital signs, labs, and most importantly their medications. I make sure their medications are safe and effective. If I have questions or concerns I will message the doctor or nurse or save my recommendations until rounds begin in the afternoon.

Cool, then what does a typical afternoon look like?

In the afternoon, I meet up with my pharmacist preceptor and we discuss the different patients on our floor. We make sure our recommendations line up and address any issues that have come up. This is a learning opportunity for the residents like myself because our preceptors can ask us questions to challenge us to ensure we have looked deeply into our patients and their disease states.

We will then attend rounds and make recommendations to the different providers. After rounds, we tie up any loose ends and have topic discussions on other disease states or conditions that are common in the inpatient setting. I will then go back to my office and work on other projects.

What types of projects and meetings are you involved in?

My work consists of monitoring patients on my floor and their medications. I have a research project that is considered a longitudinal project that I work on after my main responsibilities of the day are over. I also am responsible for responding to the pager once a week.

As pharmacy residents, we respond to level 1 traumas and code blues. We also have a variety of different meetings to attend such as staff meetings and pharmacy and therapeutics committee meetings.

Who do you collaborate with within meetings and projects?

During meetings, we collaborate with pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and physicians. Different discussions on drug shortages or pharmacy operations are common. We also talk about medication safety and different pharmacist interventions.

Dessert

Now for some juicy insights in the tea room.

What's the most challenging thing about your job?

The most challenging part about being a pharmacy resident is the large array of responsibilities and projects that you take part in. This is a major shift right after completing a pharmacy program.

Time management is very crucial so that you do not fall behind.

What are some characteristics that can help someone succeed in your role?

Some of the characteristics that would help someone succeed in my role include having a strong work ethic, a resilient mindset, and being self-motivated. You will work long hours and encounter obstacles along the way.

It is always important to get back up and try your best. You have a full year of learning to take advantage of. It is a great time to grow in your abilities as a pharmacist.

Any advice on how to stand out and get hired for those just starting off?

It is important to be involved as a pharmacy student. I believe you should take on leadership positions in the different pharmacy organizations in your program. It is important to also take on different projects during your fourth-year clinical rotations.

Always make it a point to stand out as a student in a positive manner. I believe it is also a benefit to take on a research project as a student because it will be required when you are a resident.

What's something that surprised you about your job?

The amount of impact I can make on my patients' lives. I love being able to connect with my patients and make a difference. I do this on a day-to-day basis by making sure their medications are safe and effective while they are in the hospital.

I also love educating my patients on different medications when they are ready to discharge from the hospital.

What do you see your next step being?

I plan to continue my learning by applying to a PGY-2 program. I hope to specialize in emergency medicine or neurocritical care.

Afterward, I plan on becoming board certified in my specialty area and becoming a preceptor for future students and residents.

Any last thoughts, advice, or recommendations for someone who wants to do what you do?

Don't be afraid to reach out with questions or join different organizations. Shadow different pharmacists in different areas of pharmacy to find what interests you.

I used to be a pharmacy technician and pharmacy intern at a local Walmart Pharmacy and never expected to be a PGY-1 pharmacy resident at my local hospital. There are so many options out there, don't be afraid to keep searching.

Drinks

Chat more over coffee or tea?