Hello! I have a dilemma and would like some output.

[druggiecupcakes]

I am new here so not sure how this works, but here goes nothing!

I am a current P2 student, I was working a medium volume CVS inside of Target where it was pretty chill. I was doing 8-10 hours a week and that was so manageable for me. I decided that I wanted to seek a challenge so I applied to an outpatient Kaiser job and I ended up getting the job. I accepted the offer...fast forward 2 months later to my first day I am getting serious anxiety and feeling so overwhelmed about the job and the hours of commitment and not having enough studying time throughout the days and my grades taking a hit. I am not a night owl and I have to do these closing shifts requiring me to stay til 9:30 pm and it just really makes me stressed out. I don't know what to do ... I really just want to go back to my CVS store right now but keeping my future in mind (I do want to pursue a residency) I am not sure if that's the best case.

So...I guess my question is what would you do if you were in my shoes? Thank you in advance.

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[JustFillIt]

I am new here so not sure how this works, but here goes nothing!

I am a current P2 student, I was working a medium volume CVS inside of Target where it was pretty chill. I was doing 8-10 hours a week and that was so manageable for me. I decided that I wanted to seek a challenge so I applied to an outpatient Kaiser job and I ended up getting the job. I accepted the offer...fast forward 2 months later to my first day I am getting serious anxiety and feeling so overwhelmed about the job and the hours of commitment and not having enough studying time throughout the days and my grades taking a hit. I am not a night owl and I have to do these closing shifts requiring me to stay til 9:30 pm and it just really makes me stressed out. I don't know what to do ... I really just want to go back to my CVS store right now but keeping my future in mind (I do want to pursue a residency) I am not sure if that's the best case.

So...I guess my question is what would you do if you were in my shoes? Thank you in advance.

Well - Druggiecupcakes - if you finish the next 3 years of school you may as well just get used to the feeling. No reason to run from it now, it’s only going to get a whole lot worse.

Not sure if you knew this but I hear the bus driver/lunchlady combo takes in some serious dough these days.

 

[grizzlesgrizzlies]

I am not a night owl and I have to do these closing shifts requiring me to stay til 9:30 pm and it just really makes me stressed out. I don't know what to do ... I really just want to go back to my CVS store right now but keeping my future in mind (I do want to pursue a residency) I am not sure if that's the best case.

So...I guess my question is what would you do if you were in my shoes? Thank you in advance.

If you plan to pursue a residency I'm assuming you intend to work in the hospital setting. I hope you realize that hospital pharmacy is shift work which involves working evenings and overnights. The pharmacists that work in the hospital setting that have a cushy 9-5 schedule are either management or clinical specialists which are in the small minority.

 

[PharmtoCS]

I would honestly just drop out of pharmacy school. Landing a residency, and a hospital job afterwards is a long shot for most graduates. Save yourself the time and money and go for computer science, engineering, the trades, etc. where you work banker hours and get paid as much as pharmacy if not better without the $200k+ student loans and 4 additional years of schooling.

The best time to drop out was before starting pharmacy school. The next best time to drop out is now.

 

[metformin800]

Drop out of pharmacy schools and save yourself from pain we all are going through. I wish I would have dropped out when thought came in my mind. Too late. Pharmacy is dead end career.

 

[RN2RPh]

Keep your Kaiser job and try your best at school. In case you dont get residency, Kaiser outpatient job is a very good gig for RPh (and it is also very hard to get). There is no such thing is an easy job with good pay. You gotta pay your due somehow

 

[M0df]

Change is good for you. You will adapt. Comfort level and cvs do not go together. It is an illusion. A temporary feeling. It feels so good but fleeting.

 

[mentos]

Did you not know that pharmacists work evenings, nights, weekends and holidays? The new ones are stuck with the crappy shifts. Only the old timers get the nice first shift schedule.

 

[druggiecupcakes]

Did you not know that pharmacists work evenings, nights, weekends and holidays? The new ones are stuck with the crappy shifts. Only the old timers get the nice first shift schedule.

Yeah, I am aware of that but right now as a student I just feel like I would like something less late of a shift it's rough having class at 8 then after class working til 9:30

 

[druggiecupcakes]

Drop out of pharmacy schools and save yourself from pain we all are going through. I wish I would have dropped out when thought came in my mind. Too late. Pharmacy is dead end career.

What would you have done instead of pharmacy school?

 

[grizzlesgrizzlies]

What would you have done instead of pharmacy school?

Accounting, CS, Finance, Cybersecurity, etc.

I feel like I'm wasting my time since you already have your mind made up. Go ahead and work evenings/weekends/holidays and miss family events for the next 10-15 years while paying off your student loans till your head turn gray. Not my problem

 

[RN2RPh]

Yeah, I am aware of that but right now as a student I just feel like I would like something less late of a shift it's rough having class at 8 then after class working til 9:30

Talk to your manager and ask if they could adjust your work schedule. They know that you are in school and pharmacy school is not easy. Most managers are willing to accommodate reasonable requests (especially if you are a good worker).

 

[JustFillIt]

What would you have done instead of pharmacy school?

I don’t regret going to pharmacy school - I learned some pretty cool things and met some lifelong friends that I golf with every couple weeks.

For the above reason I would not exactly “take it back”. However, I think a better decision would have been to look around and take advantage of the opportunities that are right in front of you. I think I would have pursued business ownership and growing a business if I could redo my career choices.

I wash garbage cans with my kids as a side job. The demand is through the damn roof for this service. I am literally teaching and encouraging my children to run with this business as a primary option as an adult.

 

[metformin800]

What would you have done instead of pharmacy school?

Computer science, statistic, accounting, finance. I am considering doing one of degrees at the moment.

 

[mentos]

I don’t regret going to pharmacy school - I learned some pretty cool things and met some lifelong friends that I golf with every couple weeks.

For the above reason I would not exactly “take it back”. However, I think a better decision would have been to look around and take advantage of the opportunities that are right in front of you. I think I would have pursued business ownership and growing a business if I could redo my career choices.

I wash garbage cans with my kids as a side job. The demand is through the damn roof for this service. I am literally teaching and encouraging my children to run with this business as a primary option as an adult.

Hey for some reason I can't PM you. How many PSI is your pressure washer? Would an electric one do? I hate gas machines. Really wish Ego made a pressure washer.

Do you scrub the cans at all or just put in dish soap and spray? Does anyone ever complain about the dirty water in the street?

How often do you wash one person's cans? Do they text you as needed or is it like a biweekly thing?

 

[pinkpharmd]

If you proceed with pharmacy school, I would recommend work less with CVS (whatever the minimal amount is) and start building relationships with Kaiser pharmacists/leadership for job connections in the future.

 

[druggiecupcakes]

Talk to your manager and ask if they could adjust your work schedule. They know that you are in school and pharmacy school is not easy. Most managers are willing to accommodate reasonable requests (especially if you are a good worker).

I think I might try that! Thing is I am already doing the minimal hours, praying she lets me lower it a teeny bit more