The Happy PharmD Blog
We Get Pharmacists Jobs They Love
She Quit Her Job to Create Her Dream Career
When Krista first talked with us at The Happy PharmD, she had a very negative outlook on her career in pharmacy. I hated going to work. I felt like I was in a rut that I was never going to get out of. I was miserable. She thought she would likely be doing the same...
The Happy PharmD Q1 2020 Review
You know, I imagined 2020 going a lot differently… Despite COVID-19, the world moves on, as does The Happy PharmD! We continue to help pharmacists transition into work they love and help many find better employers. I’m thrilled by what we accomplished, so let’s jump...
Overcoming Impostor Syndrome to Decrease Pharmacist Burnout
I recently read an article on the Becker’s Hospital Review about how overcoming impostor syndrome decreases physician burnout. After reading, I thought it would be interesting to discuss the factors that are influencing burnout in the world of pharmacy. Not long ago,...
Starting a Business in Natural Family Planning
A Pharmacist Who Recommends a Non-medication Approach: Starting a Business in Natural Family Planning When Emily came to us for coaching, she felt stuck in her current position. She was looking for practical advice about how to get started with a side hustle and how...
When You’re Stuck in a Pharmacy Job
Quote at the top: I’ve reached the height of my career. Is this what I’m going to be doing for the next 30 years?We usually don’t become aware of something until it happens to us. When my wife was pregnant with our first child nine years ago, I remember walking into...
Creating an Effective Pharmacy Team – It’s More Than Putting A Bunch of People Together
I was reading a major pharmacy journal. The article was talking about forming a team. The author was discussing which would be better: having an outstanding individual or having an outstanding team. The author and his article favored the team. Do I agree? For the...
Should You Leave Pharmacy?
Quiz: Should You Leave Pharmacy? Pharmacy is in tough times right now. Many people are wondering, How do I get out? They may say, "I don't know what I want to do, but it's certainly not this.” When our coaches begin working with a client, we often start with this...
Stop Networking and Do This Instead
It feels like everyone is talking about the importance of networking; it’s really become one of the ‘hot topics’ and even a selling point of conferences (in all industries, not just pharmacy). With some pundits estimating that 70% of jobs aren’t even listed and are...
Why Do Pharmacists Feel Like Impostors?
Imposter syndrome. I hear about it all the time. It runs rampant in pharmacy, in particular. Why is it though, that after all pharmacists have done—both academically and professionally—to prepare for a career in pharmacy, they feel like a fraud? Imagine this: It’s...
Pharmacy’s Mass Exodus: Why So Many Pharmacists Want to Leave the Profession
No one joins the profession of pharmacy thinking, I can't wait to make my company more money! Yippee! No one joins pharmacy thinking, Oh boy! I can't wait to be yelled at by a boss because I am not meeting a certain metric! At the heart of every pharmacist is a desire...
Five Day-to-Day Times That Inspired Quotes and Made Common Events Anything But
A Creative Solution for Pharmacy’s Job Crisis
Why Certified Pharmacy Technicians Provide an Essential Service and Should Be Properly Compensated
S1E1: An Introduction to the Happy PharmD
I’m Alex Barker, I practiced pharmacy at a Veteran Affairs Hospital for 5 years. All the while, I built businesses on the side, unrelated to my day job or pharmacy, so a few pharmacists reach out to me, saying things like, “I want to start something too.” This all...
Relocating and Navigating the Pharmacy Job Market Into a New Pharmacy Niche
Nana found out about The Happy PharmD after reading Indispensable and seeing our work on social media. After reading through the book, she decided to move forward to find a different and more fulfilling career. She was working at a community pharmacy and part-time at...
Creating a Side Hustle in Nutrition
When Jess Goff started working with us at The Happy PharmD, she was feeling desperate to get out of her pharmacy job. She felt unsatisfied by the work she was doing but wasn’t sure how to approach a career change. “I wasn’t sure how to make a change in an intelligent...
My Valuable Philosophies – How They Developed at the Most Unexpected Times and Influenced My Career
I did possess certain values when I first started working. Values such as a strong work ethic and extreme loyalty were very important. Yet, many of my philosophies resulted when I least expected them. I’d like to share some as follows. My Dad’s Story Back in...
Why Fixing Yourself Doesn’t Work in Pharmacy
Pharmacists have demanding work environments. Many on their feet for 10 to 12 hours a day. Those hours are hard on the body and leave little time and energy to rest. People tend to assert self-care as a cure-all for exhaustion. Defined as “any activity we do...
TrueLearn Review: What Should You Use to Study for the NAPLEX?
What should you use to study the NAPLEX? Unless you have unyielding confidence or haven't spoken to any of your classmates, you're probably aware that NAPLEX passing rates have been pretty abysmal in recent years. When I studied for the NAPLEX back in 2012, I made...
How to Be an Indispensable Pharmacist: How to Create Pharmacy Job Security During the Coming Recession
4 Steps to Secure a Career During Pharmacy School
How My Common Interviews are Anything but Routine and Why I Always Expect the Unexpected
2019 Q3 Review – What Holds Me Back
Reflections of a No. 2 Pharmacy Manager Achieving Second Place Through Good Decision Making
I never rented a car from Avis. I’ve rented from other companies, like Hertz or Enterprise when I’ve gone on vacation. But never from Avis. I’ve heard of Avis, though. Actually, I’ve heard of most of the major car rental companies: Avis, Hertz, Enterprise,...
8 Reasons Why Pharmacist Moms Are Miserable
Recently, I posted on the Pharmacist Moms Facebook group this question: What do you feel is the most challenging thing about balancing work and life? The answers and attention this conversation drew up were all at once fascinating, heart-breaking, inspiring, and...
This Pharmacist Mom of Triplets Created Her Own Non-Retail Pharmacy Job
Rachel Prescott felt like she'd been hit by a bus every night after her shift. At the time, she was a pharmacy manager working 95 hours every two weeks in a high-volume store with regular turnover. The self-proclaimed "fixer" exhausted every possible effort to make...
How to Improve Your Pharmacist Resume in 60 Seconds
A pertinent thought came to mind the other day. I reflected on a recent hire I made for my own company. The applicant's resume was excellent enough. My eyes scanned the well-designed PDF for an estimated twenty-two seconds. What's funny is I did this subconsciously. I...
Empowering Your Team to Apply Six Sigma Principles That Analyze Data and Improve Processes
The Happy PharmD Summit: How to Get Past the Pharmacy Career Struggle
The Fatal Pharmacy Resume Error So Many Pharmacists Commit
2019 Q2 Review – A Life Goal
Four Ways to Conquer Job Stress Which Eliminate the Aggravation that Causes Daily Exasperation
Five Key Points to Remember Before or After Losing Your Job
The rumors were flying in my hospital. The pharmacy was going to be outsourced. That meant an outside company would be running the pharmacy. We would still be housed in the hospital, but an outside company would be in-charge. This was not the first time one of my...
Side Hustles: The Secret Path to Creative Fulfillment
Should You Hire a Pharmacist Resume Writer?
The Abused and Discouraged Use of Sick Call and How it Wreaks Havoc in Today’s World
The Great Pharmacy Job Migration
Is This Why Pharmacists Have No Job Security?
The Secret of Overcoming Pharmacy Job Rejection
Your Approach to Hiring is All Wrong
Your approach to hiring is all wrong -- neither your gut nor peer advice will get you the caliber people you need. Most owners trust their gut to determine how to locate and hire the best possible candidates for any job opening. Others seek advice from more...
Four Ways to Retain Good Pharmacy Employees After the People Have Been Hired
Graphic Pharmacy – Awards and Celebrations
Graphic Pharmacy – Graduation
Using Externship Instead of Standard Hiring Practices to Determine the Best Candidate for the Pharmacy Job
Graphic Pharmacy – Rotation Advice
One of the most important lessons I learned in becoming a pharmacist was not taught in school; it was rubbed in my face at the beginning of my rotation year. What is your advice to your younger self before they start rotations?
Graphic Pharmacy – When Pharmacists Do Cancer Talk
https://flic.kr/p/24JjbGt Let's just say when pharmacists talk about cancer, we tend to focus a bit more on the drug side effects than the cancer itself, no matter how trivial it is.And in reality, that is usually how we find some crucial information from patients...
Oh! The Pills You Will Fill!
Oh the pills you will fill, on your pharmacy stoo After completing 7 years at your pharmacy school It may take even longer, it could take a whopping 8 years! And you may graduate someday in debt, right up to your ears. It may feel as bleak as a father seated in 3rd...
A Review of Indispensable; Reflecting Back on How Its Innovative Tools Enhanced my Pharmacy Career
By Daniel Shifrin, R.P., M.S. I started my career as a pharmacist in 1979. I had my license and had just graduated from pharmacy school. I had no restrictions as to when I wanted to work. I was available to work days, evenings, and even nights. Weekends and...
The Happy PharmD 2019 Q1 Report
How To Transition Out of Retail Pharmacy
Invest in Yourself: Take the Leap into Coaching Today
How this Pharmacist Created a Successful Medical Writing Business While Working Retail
Consider These Options Before Quitting Pharmacy
Quitting CVS – How this Pharmacist Transitioned into a Happier Pharmacy Job
John, previously a pharmacy manager at CVS Health, knew he wanted something more out of his career but efforts to challenge himself by taking on additional responsibilities had yielded little result. He was looking for a change but didn’t know where to go or how to...
The Problem In Pharmacy That Nobody Is Talking About… And Why I Wrote A BOOK About It!
How One Pharmacist Moved Into Hospital Pharmacy with No Prior Experience
Graphic pharmacy – Evidence-based Medicine
https://flic.kr/p/RnoahT Evidence-based practice is the core of modern pharmacy, and it has been droned and droned on students throughout pharmacy school. Regardless, there are some instances where the practice is... not really evidence-based at all.
The Best Primer to Learn Pharmacy Entrepreneurship
Finding A Pharmacy Dream Job is Possible!
Burnout rates for pharmacists are high in both hospital and community settings. Pharmacists everywhere seem stressed and unhappy with the unrealistic demands and working conditions of their positions. So what can we do about it? What are the steps in a pharmacy career...
Six Methods That Motivate Your Pharmacy Staff and Increase Departmental Morale
By Daniel Shifrin, R.P., M.S. In 2003, ABC came up with a game show called, “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?” It was a simple concept; answer 15 multiple choice questions on a wide array of topics, with each correct answer bringing the contestant closer and closer to...
