It's Volunteer Time

After deciding to look into a career in pharmacy, I did a few job shadows and researched a bit about what it would be like to work there. I had a feeling there was another way I could get involved, and after talking to a few friends I found it. I decided to volunteer at St. Luke's Hospital in the pharmacy. I applied online, and waited patiently for a reply. The woman called, I went through the interview process, and they asked when and what I wanted to do. I told them that I would like to talk to patients, but I knew what I had to do. I needed to get into the St. Luke's Pharmacy and check out whats going on down in the basement, where it is located. I agreed to volunteering on Thursday evenings.

As I went into St. Luke's like a nervous young adult walking down the long hallways and riding the elevators, I almost felt important like I was a part of the hospital. I went to the lower level and checked in. We got my badge, uniform, and signed some forms. The woman showed me around the lower level and we went into the pharmacy. Everyone was very nice there, they greeted me and showed me the different tasks I could be doing every Thursday when I'm there. I got a tour of the pharmacy, as I thought of every pharmacy I went to, this one was very different from all the rest. They run their machines different, they have a lot more job descriptions for people who work there, and they have very different procedures. As a volunteer, I'm not allowed to touch any of the drugs or do anything with them. After 5:30 after most people leave, I did get some time to do sort of a short job shadow. Chris Flesner is a pharmacist at St. Luke's Hospital, Kennedy senior Emily Flesner's mom, and she has helped me out a lot through this process. Any questions about the career or how she got there I can always ask.

Every Thursday it's the same process. I go in and see who is responsible for telling me what they need done, I sort prescription slips, fill the medicine robot, input privacy notices, and file paperwork. As I do these tasks, I always have my eyes on the pharmacist. Being inside the pharmacy, even though I do small office type jobs, I get the opportunity to watch the job of a pharmacist and ask questions if they have time. I have learned a lot from all the women that work there. I've watched them fill prescriptions, answer phone questions, ship out medication, and solve problems that come up with orders.

St. Luke's had given me a new look into pharmacy. Retail pharmacy, compounding pharmacy, and hospital outpatient pharmacy are all very different. I am very fortunate to have the opportunity to experience all of these places. I have learned a lot from all the people I have met, all the questions that have been answered, and all the different jobs I have been able to see. Even volunteering every week at St. Luke's in the pharmacy, I still think being a retail pharmacist is the thing for me. It is the job shadow I liked the most, and I can image myself working there for my career.