Pre-registration application help...

cazcaz_2

Hi people,

I know this isn't technically money saving, but it will hopefully be money earning potential later in life!

Does anyone have any suggestions/ advice for applying for a pharmacy (or other healthcare) pre-registration post? I am third year pharmacy student, and am currently completing application forms and would like any advice that people are willing to offer. I have got a Boots placement sorted for this summer, but am more interested in hospital pharmacy.

Any help would be welcome!!!
thanks :-)

moneysaving_pharmacist

Do you have any experience of hospital pharmacy? That would probably help an application. Also bear in mind that it will be more competitive to get into some hospitals than others.

Having said that, it doesn't really matter where you do your pre-reg. It is quite possible to do pre-reg in community and then move to hospital, and vice-versa. Just look at the job adverts in the last few PJs. I take it you are aware that starting salary is considerably lower in hospital than community once you qualify. A band 6 hospital pharmacist (i.e. newly qualified) will be on around £25k, whereas you can easily get £35-40k in community. And you can do clinical diplomas etc, in community.

Have you looked at http://www.pharmacy-forum.co.uk/index.php at all? You may get some more advice there.

CookieMon

moneysaving_pharmacist wrote: »

Having said that, it doesn't really matter where you do your pre-reg. .

Indeed very true - I did my all my placements in community then got a pre-reg in hospital, then moved back as a community locum straight after. Although my lack of hospital pharmacy experience did obviously not count against me at the application stage, it is looked upon favourably. One tip my tutors gave me was perhaps to ring the local hospitals and ask about the opportunity to volunteer for a week or two in the pharmacy department to see the ins and outs.

I wasn't able to get a volunteer placement unfortunately, but as I say it didn't count against me. As long as you do your research re hospital pharmacy, and why you would want to do that then your pretty set. Be prepared at interview stage to possibly have to perform some test/quiz on your clinical skills etc as some of friends had to do that.

I'm newly qualified, so it wasn't that long ago all this was going on so if you want to ask anything feel free!!!

cazcaz_2

Thanks guys!

I have arranged a placement with Boots this summer (starting in a couple of weeks), but my heart really is in hospital. I am doing 2 hospital placements this summer (one paid and one voluntary), which I'm really looking forwards to.


I did wonder about the ease of moving from community to hospital and vice versa. As for community, I am pretty sure that I'll get offered a place with Boots and morrisons have called me for interview... I like keeping my options open.

Thanks moneysavingpharmacist for the link... I'm going to have a look through the forum now.