Pharmacy assistant Review

I was working as part of an NHS hospital pharmacy team. Day to day duties involve completing ward rounds in which you check medication stock as well as communicating directly with patients so as to see if their treatment is producing unexpected side effects etc. There is a need for communication with doctors and other professionals/calculations so as to prevent unwanted drug intertacions. Packaging and dispensing medications, as well as managing the pharmacy "shop" were other duties.

I definitely developed generic "people skills" when communicating with patients. Many of the tasks (e.g putting together injections or other treatments) I was only able to watch and not carry out myself. However, I was taught about them in detail. I also enhanced my team working skills because there was a need for liasing with multiple different staff members and a collective approach was required to get the stocks ordered/huge amount of inpatient medication dispensed on time.

I really enjoyed my work experience. Largely because it was really opening and not at all what I was expecting. There was far more patient contact than I was anticipating which was fantastic. The staff were really helpful and friendly, and even able to offer advice on potential degree programmes. They were honest about what they felt were the good, but also negative, things about the job. No two patients are the same and so I also really enjoyed the variation that came with the work.

I felt really valued. Patients were asked if they were happy for me to enter their rooms and I was treated with complete respect. All Professionals were kind towards me and made me feel like my input was of value. Wherever I could be of use/learn something, they let me try. Whether that was reading medication lists aloud to them or running forms from one place to another. I was constantly encouraged for things I was doing well/felt comfortable enough to ask questions that allowed me to do this more.

My work experience was organised very last minute and so didn't have much structure. However, that was also due to the nature of the work. Because no two days ate the same, even the employed staff don't know what their days will hold and so planning in advance is not possible. They had to see what the day brought and then organise where to place me accordingly. I was assigned a specific individual as a mentor to meet but aside from that, there was little in the way of definitive structure.

Even as a work experience student I felt fully supported. There was email support beforehand with the man organising my placement, and I was at that stage assigned a named mentor. I was able to ask them lots of questions/time was set aside purely for that. They offered me an old textbook and also have me lots of useful UCAS advice at the time. I was able to contact them following the experience with any further questions etc so couldn't have asked for any more support!

My employer and training provider were effectively the same and so my answer above applies. But I'm short, I was fully supported. Both by the contact organising the experience and the named professional to whom I was assigned. They acted as a mentor and as well as shadowing them I was able to ask them questions about their work/university degree etc. They gave me lots of resources and helpful tips throughout. I was also told I could contact them for further support afterwards.

I was a work experience student and so this question does not apply to me because I wasn't receiving a salary. However, the salaries within the team did vary based on what their specific role is. For example, the salary of a pharmaceutical lab technician would have been very different to that of the lead pharmacist whom I was shadowing. My salary with my current qualifications would likely be low. However the "package" offered in terms of support etc would make up for the lower pay/costs.

Again, I was only a temporary placement student. However, I know that there were lots of opportunities outside of work for full time employees. They were discussing the training programmes that each of them were due to attend, and socially the team was very active. They had a pharmacy sports team and were prepping for a bowling trip as a unit. There were chances to therefore progress professionally and move up the team ladder, but also to get to know your team in a relaxed way.

Yes

Because work experience with the NHS involves working with vulnerable people, it is well thought out. You are respected and not expected to see or do anything with which you don't feel comfortable. Every day is very different which means you are constantly learning without even realising. You take initiative but there is a huge emphasis on team work which makes the experience more enjoyable. Since you are helping people who are unwell, even if in a very small or indirect way, you also feel that your work even as a work experience student, is very rewarding and valued.

I found it easier to contact an individual person. Some hopsitsls require you to have a contact working there, however if you reach out (usually via email I found was most successful) to the lead of the department in which you are interested, they are likely to respond to you. Even if to point you in the direction of someone else. Some NHS organisations will have specific work experience secretaries/leads who are responsible for assigning students to placements. If that is the case, contact them rather than individual staff members. I'd also make sure your vaccinations are up to date since that keeps your options far more open in terms of departments in which you'll be allowed to assist.