Comparison of job expectations fulfillment of BS and entry-level PharmD graduates in hospital and community practice.

Job expectations are an important link between work and subsequent employee mental and physical well-being. Schools and colleges play an important role in the development of job expectations. This role gives them the responsibility of not only technically training students but also instilling in them realistic job previews and career expectations. Failure to do so places the graduate in a state of conflict between the reality of work in his/her chosen career and his/her preconceived expectations regarding the work. This state represents a potential source of job-related stress. BS and entry level PharmD training programs represent two approaches to pharmaceutical education in a practice environment which remains essentially the same for graduates of both programs. As such, there is the potential for a mismatch of job expectations resulting from one or both of the degree types. The present study investigated the following research questions: (i) to what extent are job expectations being fulfilled for pharmacists in hospital and community pharmacy; and (ii) in community and hospital practice, does the fulfillment of job expectations of BS and entry level PharmD graduates differ? Questionnaires were mailed to randomly selected 1980 to 1986 graduates of seven schools or colleges of pharmacy to elicit responses regarding fulfillment of job expectations in their present community or hospital pharmacy positions. The response rate was 48 percent. The subsequent data revealed that pharmacists generally felt that their job expectations were being fulfilled. No differences in overall fulfillment of job expectations were found between BS and entry level PharmD graduates in either community or hospital pharmacy practice.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)