Future PharmD Student

Adventures of a 39 yr old Pharmacy Student (P3). Pharmacy student blog about classes, experiences, IPPEs and beyond. Class of 2019!

[futurepharmdstudent]

I Passed the NAPLEX

WHOO CHILE!!! I found out this week I passed the NAPLEX exam. 

I started studying 8 weeks ago. I was really lucky that I didn’t have to work and study at the same time, I took advantage of that. I went on a cruise for a week and got very sick for one week. I luckily found a study group and we studied every day.  I used the RXPREP book, online quizzes and videos to study. The videos will save your life. The book is easy to read it just a large amount of information. I didn’t read the entire 84 chapter book. I had about 20 chapter left and due to time started reviewing instead of adding more information. 

What I did

I read the chapters and made (online) cue cards and laminated charts. The charts were handy because I could grab a chart and read it on the fly.

Know the math and biostats. RXPREP estimates that math makes up 33% of the exam. I did math every day so I could become quick and efficient 

Due to time I started just pulling out important information. For example, I did not read the entire oncology chapter. I only did the Chemo man, lifetime dosing limitations and how to calculate BSA. 

In RXPREP Know all about compounding, ID, HTN, Diabetes, Vaccines and Drug references, math and biostats. 

First-line treatments for diseases what to do if they are allergic to that treatment

Lasty have a stradegy for test-taking. My goal was to not run out of time. I kept an eye on the time. I did every math problem more than once to make sure I got those easy points. If I didn’t know the answer I guessed and moved on.

it was the best feeling of my life to pack away my naplex study materials after I found out I passed. 

When I left the exam I thought I failed. Everyone feels that way. However, I did very well. Good Luck to you!!! How was your NAPLEX experience 

[futurepharmdstudent]

After 8 years I graduated from Pharmacy School!!!!

Everyone that graduated has a different reason and journey that got them to this moment.

For me this journey was long and it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life. I was a non-traditional student. I was told over and over by bosses and teachers that I was never going to complete this journey. That there was no way I was going to become a doctor. However, I was never asking any of those naysayers permission. I was going to finish no matter what. I had to take 1 or 2 classes at a time in undergrad because I had to work at the same time.  When I was blessed enough to get into pharmacy school, I made a promise to myself that I was not going miss class and I was not going to fail any classes. I was recognized for my near perfect attendance and I never failed or retook any classes while in pharmacy school, my reality was I couldn’t afford to fail.  My graduation weekend was the best day of my life. I cried, cheered and celebrated with friends and family. I've never been more proud than when I crossed the stage to accept my doctorate diploma. 

Thanks for reading my blog all these years. From undergrad to now. It is a cool reminder of all that I survived and went through!. I will continue to update and post.

Love always 

Future  Dr. Pharmd 

[futurepharmdstudent]

Me Celebrating my last Rotation

I have 15 more days and my pharmacy journey will come to an end. I am so happy. 15 more days. 

[futurepharmdstudent]

Me and my preceptor

My last rotation was so bad!!! My preceptor and I were like oil and water. No, oil and vinegar. We did not get along. I knew the rotation was going to suck on the second day. I hated every minute of every day and I am so happy that its over. 

[futurepharmdstudent]

Don’t worry my stomach is made Ford Tough

They always caution me before extremely critical patients. I am cool as a cumber during most high stress situations. Rotations are just epic. I have seen some of the most amazing critical patients. I love the hospital setting. I just don’t think that I want to be in school any longer then I have to. 

[futurepharmdstudent]

Me on my one hour 5 am drive to my rotation

I don't drink coffee but by Thursday I was dying and falling asleep at the computer. This rotation is amazing and it is the only reason I don’t dread driving all that way. P4 life!!!

[futurepharmdstudent]

Don’t tell anyone I’m nice.  I have to keep up my reputation - Dr. S

This preceptor is known to be strict. She’s the preceptor that gave us 250 pages to read then gave us another 50 pages (if you’ve been reading my blog a while you'll know what I”m talking about). I was mortified that I had her rotation, I had been dreading it. It was a great rotation and she is only strict if you don’t do what you're supposed to. She was great and really nice. 

[futurepharmdstudent]

When your preceptor is the Devil

I am really happy I only have 5 days left. I was really lucky that I had two wonderful rotations before this one.  The actual rotation itself is not bad. I love interacting with the patients, dosing meds and interacting with doctors. My preceptor just makes this really hard.

[futurepharmdstudent]

Finished out of my second rotation today!!

2 out of 10 done. I am loving rotation life. Being a P4 is amazing! Now, I know that there are some hell rotations that I’m heading into but right now I’ve had the best rotations. It’s good to see that I know stuff. I don't know everything but I know enough. On to the next one 

[futurepharmdstudent]

My dog prefers the brand name of that drug -

Yes, this is something I was actually told that the DOG prefers the brand name. The better questions is why is a dog on an antidepressant??? 

[futurepharmdstudent]

When a patient yells at me

I have never in my life raised my voice to a retail person. Yet, if patients have to wait or their medications aren’t ready the yelling begins. Who raised these people. I am so unbothered by it as well. Once they are finished yelling I usually start smiling which pisses them off even more. 

[futurepharmdstudent]

My feet after standing for 10 hours straight in the pharmacy

Yikes. I already have bad parts. I”m dying right now. Compression socks, Danskos, and a doctor’s note are my friends

[futurepharmdstudent]

Heading into my second rotation today

today I start my second rotation. I loved my first one and I was really sad to leave. #2 or 10. Lets get it!!

[futurepharmdstudent]

My Two week evaluation of  my APPE Rotations

if your new APPE rotations are done in your last year of pharmacy school. Every school is different. You practice at different sites required by the pharmacy board. 

1. Wow. rotations are harder and more fulfilling than I thought. I have a long 1-hour drive. then I’m there for 10 hours, then I have a long drive back. I’m not complaining. Its just takes some getting used to

2. my Fitbit is on fire. Before I started pharmacy school I was extremely active. I worked out 10 times a week. I went from that to zero working out. I did start teaching an aerobics class during my P2 year, which helped me become active again but only for a few days a week. On an average day at school, I’d hit about 4,000 steps. I’m doing 10,000 steps easy, 12 flights of stairs and 4 miles a day. The first week on rotation,  my body was killing me. Last week was a little better. 

5.  I don’t have to study!! I’m extremely excited about that. All of a sudden I have all this free time on the weekend that I haven’t had in three years. I’ve gotten so used to saying, “sorry, I can’t go I have to study”. Now I can actually go and enjoy myself. 

6. I know more than I think I do. I’ve been asked pharmacy law questions, what this medication is used for medications, I’ve done fine answering those questions.

7. I miss my classmates. I’m surprised by that. it’s quite a shock to go from seeing 70 people all the time to being by yourself. I got the short end of the stick on my rotations. 

[futurepharmdstudent]

What I learned in my last didactic year

1. That not all of your classmates will make it to the end. We lost people to accidents and to academic failure along the way. My class lost a total of 11 people and gained 3 people from other classes. 

2.  Just when you think it can't get any worse, it can. This last semester was some of the most mind-numbing work I've ever done. I wrote more patient cases and transition of care notes than I thought was possible 

3.  That some professors are straight up bitches. Now, this isn't a personal attack. its tricky exam questions, telling us something is not important than asking essay questions, and my favorite creating exam questions on topics we never learned. 

4. School can make you not care, I started to not give a damn about anything.  You know me, I care about everything. I hand everything in on time and it was important to me not to get poor grades. Through this entire semester, I had no F's to give. It was due to pure exhaustions. I just had given so much of myself and I was done. 

5. That I've really grown and so have my classmates. During the first year, everyone usually spent time across color lines. In the end, everyone was just hanging out together. White, Blacks, Africans and Arabs all together laughing and carrying each other through. 

6. Some classmates will never stop complaining about grades or points. No matter how I tried to get out of these conversations, we were sucked back in. If you see yourself in this post, please know that no one cares and also it doesn't matter. 

7.  You'll make lifelong friends. I've made the best lifelong friends. I've been a working adult for over a decade. Making sane adult friends is HARD!! I have a wonderful group of friends that are lifelong. I love them to death! 

8. The mighty will fall. Its so important to be gracious, polite and considerate if you get good grades or excel. Why? because life is a shit show and you never know what's going to happen. One day you're on top and the next day you can't even get out of bed to make it to class. It's hard for people to want to help if you shited on them before.

[futurepharmdstudent]

My first APPE hospital rotations start today!!

If you have been reading this blog from my undergrad years like this post!!! If you are just starting your rotations like this post!!! If you are just starting your journey like this post. Also, email me I always like to hear from you guys. 

I’m am scared for this new journey.

[futurepharmdstudent]

When professors try to add me on facebook

Since I’m now in my last year, many of them are trying to add me on facebook and give me their numbers. I’m not adding any professors until my ass is fully out the door.