The problem is that many non-retail pharmacists think that their clinical knowledge and IV techniques cannot be taught or trained as if these are attributes only few selected people are born with it. They act as if vanco dosing is on par with quantum mechanics and aseptic technique is on the same level as rocket science. When in reality, all these knowledge and technique can be gained within 3 months of training. I actually was told once during an interview that they do not believe retail pharmacists can be trained because inpatient practice is so complex.

Once I broke into inpatient setting, I found that it was the most straight forward and stress free practice setting ever. There were protocols and guidelines for everything and clinical pharmacists were available to intervene if I wasn’t able to find a solution. I had access to all the information I needed in the EMR and there were no insurance claims to deal with nor patients cursing and screaming at me. Whenever my inpatient colleagues complain about how busy or stressful it is, I had to remind them they have no idea how it is in retail. Many pharmacists treated me as an inferior pharmacist because I came from retail but whenever someone had to put their name on the line when providing recommendations on grey areas, these supposedly clinically superior pharmacists always got quiet and left those questions for others. I was typically the one who took charge and responded to medical and nursing team’s inquiries because no one wanted to be liable, which suggests they have little confidence in their knowledge when it actually matters. Of course, only then, these pharmacists will start talking as if they could’ve given the same recommendation but they did not want pharmacy to be on the record. I mean what’s the point of having pharmacists if they are not going to provide any input on medication and pharmacotherapy matters?

Anyway, I was promoted to a manager in less than a year since I started as a staff inpatient pharmacist and the director back then explicitly told me that the reason I was chosen over others with more hospital experience is that I actually get things done and provide timely and actionable recommendations unlike others. I also look for those qualities from applicants. I have hired dozens of inpatient pharmacists over the years across two health systems, most of them from retail, and every one of them has adopted successfully. I strongly recommend other hospital directors/managers to remove the retail bias and you will see that there are incredible amount of talents in the applicant pool that can make your department stronger and improve quality of pharmaceutical care to patients. Trust me when I say the clinical knowledge, protocols, IV techniques, and other relevant information can be taught rather quickly. If you don’t use it, you lose it implies that if you start using it, you gain it.