Abstract
Objectives. To describe pharmacy students’ work experience for pay; examine student attitudes towards work; examine student perceptions of how pharmacist preceptors feel about their jobs; and determine how pharmacy student work environment influences career aspirations and whether or not gender or academic pathway have any influences.
 Methods. An electronic survey was administered to third-year doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) students at a Midwestern school of pharmacy over five consecutive years.
 Results. Four hundred eighty nine students (response rate = 61.0%) completed the electronic survey instrument. Over 90% reported working in a pharmacy by the time their advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs) began. Of these respondents, 67.4% reported working in a community pharmacy while 23.0% reported working in hospital inpatient pharmacy. Students working for independent pharmacies were most likely to feel that this type of practice site would offer an optimal work schedule and work environment for their career.
 Conclusions. Most students are working in community pharmacy practice. Having a fulfilling career and a desirable work schedule was the variable most strongly associated with optimal career choice.
 Conflict of Interest
 We declare no conflicts of interest or financial interests that the authors or members of their immediate families have in any product or service discussed in the manuscript, including grants (pending or received), employment, gifts, stock holdings or options, honoraria, consultancies, expert testimony, patents and royalties.
 
 
 Type: Original Research
Highlights
There have been few studies on pharmacy student work experiences, attitudes, and perceptions
Information collected on student work experience and attitudes was part of a larger study that included an assessment of student professionalism, pharmacist participation in decision-making and the extent of control they have over their work
The analytic set is defined as those respondents who had pharmacy work experience and were asked to provide their opinions and attitudes about those experiences
Summary
There have been few studies on pharmacy student work experiences, attitudes, and perceptions. One study conducted in 2001 with students from eight pharmacy programs found that nearly 100% pharmacy students had worked in a pharmacy for pay prior to their advanced pharmacy practice experiences.[1] This study concluded that work schedule and career fulfillment had the most influence on choice of favorable careers. Previous studies have described characteristics of pharmacists work environments, as well as practice characteristics.[3,4] In one study, the most positive aspects of the work environment were motivation to work at the pharmacy and job satisfaction.[3] In another study, practicing in community pharmacy setting had the strongest influence on time spent dispensing and time spent in patient care activities.[4]
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