Anonymous Answer

As a relatively recent graduate, I have the solid clinical knowledge to become a successful inpatient pharmacist. During pharmacy school, I successfully completed 6 courses in pharmacotherapy and 2 courses about dose optimization. These two types of courses helped me develop a number of skills, including understanding the influence of dosage forms, dosing regimens, and dose levels. I gained an understanding of the relationship between drug concentration, effect, and side effects. I also learned about designing optimized dosing regimens for patient care, utilizing drug monitoring techniques and computer technology, and applying the principles for pharmacokinetic decision-making to improve patient care. I also used clinical reasoning to workup the patient and make evidence-based therapy decisions to solve patient problems. I am able to write a SOAP note that accurately and concisely summarizes the patient's workup. I also learned to communicate with patients and other health professionals during the development and implementation of the care plan.

I also successfully completed 3 required APPE rotations of general hospital practice and general medicine 1 and 2. These rotations gave me the opportunity to participate in patient care and interprofessional care team rounds. I also participate in therapeutic drug monitoring activities by applying pharmacokinetic dosing principles to drugs such as antibiotics and recommending dose adjustments for renal and hepatic impairment. I was also able to prepare formal SOAP notes and complete a few written drug information responses using appropriate institutional documentation.

Although I am not currently working in an inpatient setting, I have completed a critical care pharmacy review course that was offered by ASHP which was about 25 hours of credit. This course refreshed my memory on topics such as pneumonia, sepsis, acute coronary syndrome, hyperglycemic emergency and community-acquired pneumonia, oncologic emergencies, GI bleeding, and acid-base disorders, infectious diseases in critical care patients, toxicology, and more. I also obtained pharmacogenomics certifications through RXGenomix.

Generally speaking, if there is anything that I may have forgotten, it won't take me long to remember and become comfortable with it. I also plan to review and refresh my memory with some basic hospital knowledge prior to starting this position, such as antibiotic coverage, anticoagulation basis such as bridging, IV anticoagulants and reversal agents, and insulin dosing. I also plan to review medications such as vasopressors and inotropes, tPAs, vasodilators & IV antihypertensives.