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  • 1.  Making the Clinical Transition from Student to Resident

    Posted 10-25-2024 10:30 AM

    The transition from student to practitioner is more than just graduating pharmacy school, passing boards, or finding a job. It also includes the mental preparation involved in becoming an independent thinker, developing a sense of decisiveness, learning when it's okay to say, "I don't know", and knowing how to continue to grow and learn in practice.

    1.       Becoming an independent thinker: Challenge yourself to problem solve new and unique issues. Think through various perspectives when evaluating these problems, and learn how to express your own opinion, but with the evidence to back yourself up. Pushing yourself early in your career while still allowing room for outreach to your safety net and resources when needed is key for the transition from student to practitioner.

    2.       Develop a sense of decisiveness: You are now the decision maker. As a new practitioner, there is a lot more responsibility than as a student. The recommendations you make are yours, so develop confidence in your decisions.  You will have resources and people to bounce ideas off of, but it is important develop confidence in your decision because ultimately the responsibility is on you.

    3.       It is okay to say "I don't know": The best practitioners are the ones who are not afraid to admit that they do not know something. What sets them apart from a student is that a practitioner must rely on themselves and their resources to find the answer. While you should know how to independently find answers to your questions, it is also important to develop relationships with practitioners around you who have experience, as they can also be a great resource. Finding a balance in using both the experts around you and asking for help, but also taking the initiative to learn on your own makes for a strong practitioner.

    4.       Continue to study and learn: Even though you have finished school, you are never done learning. Pharmacy is constantly evolving and there is always room to grow as a practitioner. While this includes staying up to date with novel drugs and devices, this also includes reinforcing baseline knowledge.  

    Becoming a practitioner is challenging and can be uncomfortable. Knowing how to push yourself to be independent, yet also using the resources and experts around you creates the perfect balance to allow yourself to gain confidence and continue to grow throughout your career. 

    Hannah Funk

    PGY1 Community-Based Pharmacy Resident

    Tria Health

    APhA NPN Communications Member



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    Hannah Funk
    Olathe KS
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  • 2.  RE: Making the Clinical Transition from Student to Resident

    Posted 10-31-2024 08:22 AM

    I totally agree with these points! Becoming an independent thinker is so, so critical. In pharmacy school, we develop a strong foundation, but as practitioners, we’re challenged to apply that knowledge in real, sometimes unpredictable, scenarios. I remember back to how rigid and specific our OSCE's were to prep us for "real life" practice, but now thinking back most of the situations I have with patients are so drastically different than what we learned then.

    I really like your comment on being able to say "I don't know". As a resident especially, I feel preceptors are usually hyperaware of the fact that while we are fully licensed practitioners, we don't yet have the judgement that a more experienced pharmacist would have. The more you're able to say "I don't know", the sooner you're able to fill the gaps in your knowledge to become that much better at caring for your patients.

    Thanks for the post, Hannah!



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    PGY2 Health-System Pharmacy Administration and Leadership (HSPAL) Resident
    Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist
    Winston-Salem, NC
    zkrauss@wakehealth.edu
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  • 3.  RE: Making the Clinical Transition from Student to Resident

    Posted 11-06-2024 06:06 PM

    Thank you for posting Hannah, and great points Zach! Here are some of my thoughts as well:

    Transitioning to practitioner means you are now trusted to make the call. Embrace this responsibility with confidence, knowing that you have prepared for this moment. Remember, your decisions impact real lives, so trust your training, but don't hesitate to seek counsel when needed. A good practitioner isn't afraid to make decisions but knows the value of sound input from trusted colleagues. Over time, this balance of confidence and humility will define your practice.
     
    Also, learning doesn't end with a diploma; it's a career-long journey. Staying updated on the latest advances in therapies and guidelines ensures you're providing the best care possible. But true growth also comes from reinforcing your foundational knowledge. Approach each day with the curiosity that brought you into pharmacy-an openness to learn, unlearn, and relearn as the field evolves. This commitment to lifelong learning will set you apart as a practitioner who's always growing and adapting.


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    Sarder Sadid, PharmD
    Associate Manager of Clinical Initiatives
    National Community Oncology Dispensing Association (NCODA)
    East Syracuse, NY
    (315) 527-8590
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    Original Message


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