Transitioning Out of Retail Pharmacy to a Hospital Pharmacy
My transition to the hospital didn't go quite as planned. I originally applied to a Medication History Specialist position and unfortunately I did not get that position but was offered a position in the Inpatient Pharmacy two weeks later. I didn't know much about Inpatient Pharmacy but I knew that this would be a great opportunity for me. I didn't focus too much on why I wasn't offered the original position that I applied for but started to focus on what this opportunity could do for me and my career in Pharmacy. I am amazed at all of the opportunities that hospitals currently offer for technicians. Pharmacy Technician roles have evolved over the years and will continue to evolve in years to come. This is a very exciting time to be in the Pharmacy Technician field. Enjoy the ride!
Below I have listed a few tips that helped me with my transition to a new setting. I hope that you will find them useful as well.
Talk to your fellow co-workers. A lot of times they have went through the retail to hospital transition too and can offer you some pointers. Also, your co-workers have been in your shoes before. They were once new too!
Be prepared to learn. Learn as much as you can. Remember, most skills that you develop are transferrable from one position to another.
You have mastered working in a retail pharmacy. Do not limit yourself. You can do anything that you put your mind to.
Ask questions if you do not understand something. It is better to ask than to walk around unsure.
Do not get discouraged. Learning something new can be intimidating, frustrating and challenging. But, the reward is much greater!