Rotations…man this is where all of that knowledge you’ve been cramming in for the last few months actually comes to use. For those who don’t know what rotations are, rotations are an internship of sort for pharmacy students where you work at a pharmacy to learn and experience the different types of pharmacies out there for a certain number of hours. Each school and each state requirements are different so unfortunately, I don’t have exact numbers for each program, but all states have something similar. But rotations are a perfect time to explore what your Doctor of Pharmacy degree can allow you to do.
Me personally, I’ve completed an introductory retail pharmacy rotation and an introductory hospital rotation so far and will be entering my last year of pharmacy school come May, which is composed of entirely rotations. My school requires fourth year pharmacy students to complete 9 pharmacy rotations so basically one rotation a month with three off months.
Regardless of whether you’re about to start your advanced or introductory rotations, rotations are a great way to network, gain valuable information, and potentially be offered a job later on. Since I’ve already completed my introductory rotations, I wanted to give you my advice on how you can make the most of your rotation and leave a lasting impression on your preceptor.
Communication
I highly recommend you communicate with your preceptor two weeks before the start of your rotation so that way you can get an idea of your schedule, plus it’s just courteous to do so. Just understand that your work schedule is not a priority, your rotation is, but if something does come up, let your preceptor know in advance. For an example, I got an opportunity to represent my college at a conference during the month of my rotation so by letting my preceptor know beforehand, I was able to still go and obtain the required hours to complete the rotation.
This is also the time to see what communication route works best for your preceptor. Some preceptors prefer text while others only want to talk through email. Just ask what’s the best way to address them and to contact them, then go from there!
Arrive early and at attention
Go ahead and plan now to be there at least 10-15 minutes early on your first day of rotation. It just looks good on your part and being on time is going to set the mood for the rest of the rotation. If something does happen, let your preceptor know as soon as possible through whatever means of communication that was set during your first email conversation.
Another tip is to actually be present at your rotation because this is a time for you to learn and ask any questions from your preceptor. You can’t do that if you’re hungover from the night before or are off in la-la land daydreaming about what you want to do after work. Grab you some coffee and a good breakfast before you go in so that you’re prepared to kick booty at rotation!
Dress professionally (a no-brainer but you’d be surprised!)
Now some rotations will allow you to wear scrubs on rotations with your white coat, but don’t assume anything unless you’ve been told directly what the dress code is for students on rotation. It’s your preceptor’s decision on what your dress code is, which you can ask during your initial email communication with your preceptor. If you are uncertain or weren’t told what to wear, assume that you have to dress professionally with your white coat on. On your first day, you can then ask what the dress code is for the month. It could be scrubs or professional dress.
Be personal
One of my old managers at the pharmacy I work at told me that you have to treat each rotation as if it’s a month-long interview. Best advice I’ve been given so far! Rotations are the perfect time to grow and network with fellow professionals in your field. Pharmacy is such a small community that you have no idea who your preceptor or the other staff members may know and could be connected with. They might know someone who is going to offer you a job a few years down the road. So, treat everyone with respect and make sure you’re memorable during your rotation. Of course, memorable for good reasons!
Ask questions and be open to learning
Literally, rotations were built so that pharmacy students can get real-life experiences in different types of pharmacies so use this opportunity to your advantage. Ask questions, ask questions, and continue to ask questions! Your preceptor just wants to see you grow over the course of your rotation so don’t worry about asking any dumb questions (there are none). I still remember my first rotation experience, which was at a locally-owned compounding pharmacy where I got to experience a totally new side of retail pharmacy. Best experience I’ve had so far and it honestly shaped what I wanted to pursue later on!
Look for opportunities or projects to spear head
One of the best things that you can try to do is to find something that needs improvement and actually make it better. It can be as simple as adding a label maker in the compounding system to scan each of the ingredients to adjusting the work flow to improve the speed of the pharmacy. It can be as simple or as difficult as you want but do something that makes you memorable and leaves a lasting impression on your preceptor.
Go above and beyond
Be a shining star at your rotation! Your rotation time is the place to really take the knowledge that you already have and expand on it. It’s going to help you be a better pharmacist in the future and build character throughout your experience.
Regardless of whether you know what you want to do in pharmacy, each rotation is such a great opportunity to network and you can always learn something from each rotation site. Take the opportunity and really utilize the experience! I’ve had amazing preceptors so far that have shaped what I want to do with my pharmacy degree once I graduate, for which I can’t be more thankful. I hope this post help you as you prepare to start your rotations or plan for them this summer, or whatever month your pharmacy program does them in. What are some tips that you wish you would’ve been given about killing it on your first rotation?
You may also like: 5 Lessons I Learned in My Third Year of Pharmacy School, 5 Tips to Stay Motivated While in Pharmacy School, and What to Do if You Fail a Class in Pharmacy School
