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Pharmacist Mock Interview

Stephanie Baumhover, PharmD, BCPS, drew on her 20 years experience hiring pharmacists in writing these 35 interview questions with advice and answer examples.

Pharmacist was updated by on February 15th, 2024. Learn more here.

Question 29 of 35

Describe a time when you feel you made a difference in a patient's care.

"A patient was in the aisle looking for something for -----. I noticed them in the aisle for quite a while and went to the floor to ask if they needed help. They were confused on ----- and needed some suggestions for ----. While cautioning them about drug interactions I noticed they were also taking -----. On further discussion I discovered they were actually experiencing a drug interaction side effect. I called their two physicians and made alternate recommendations. The patient avoided adding another unnecessary medication, felt better, and saved money. They thanked me so much and it was one of my best days at work last year!"

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How to Answer: Describe a time when you feel you made a difference in a patient's care.

Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Pharmacist job interview.

  • 29. Describe a time when you feel you made a difference in a patient's care.

      How to Answer

      This is a great question to let you shine. You want to deliver this answer with some level of excitement and passion for your job. There is really no downside to this question, the employer wants to see how much enjoyment you get out of work and learn a little more about your personality and dedication. This question is designed to let you tell the employer something that is not on your resume, and something that you are proud of. Everyone should have one of these examples in their pocket. This can also be from pharmacy school if you are a recent graduate. If you have been in practice for a while, try to pull something within the last year.

      Written by Stephanie Baumhover on February 8th, 2024

      Answer Example

      "A patient was in the aisle looking for something for -----. I noticed them in the aisle for quite a while and went to the floor to ask if they needed help. They were confused on ----- and needed some suggestions for ----. While cautioning them about drug interactions I noticed they were also taking -----. On further discussion I discovered they were actually experiencing a drug interaction side effect. I called their two physicians and made alternate recommendations. The patient avoided adding another unnecessary medication, felt better, and saved money. They thanked me so much and it was one of my best days at work last year!"

      Written by Stephanie Baumhover on February 7th, 2024

      Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

      Anonymous Answer

      "I received a phone call from a patient who would run out of her inhaler over the weekend and as it was a Friday. She panicked and was in distress as she thought the GP was not going to issue a prescription until the following week. I reassured her and told her I would try my best to get her prescription by the end of the day. I sent an email request to them. I called the GP surgery explaining the situation. A few hours later I received the prescription and I called the patient who was relieved and thankful."

      Stephanie's Feedback

      This is a great example of how you went the extra mile to care for a patient. I suggest including a conclusion sentence to wrap up your thoughts and tie your response back to the question (Example: "Any time I have the opportunity to make a difference in a patient's care, I will always go the extra mile to do so."
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