With just a few weeks until the assessment, hear from Ayoub as he updates us on his trainee pharmacist foundation year!
“Before starting, I expected the year to be intense and overwhelming at times.
I knew there would be a steep learning curve, but I underestimated how much of the challenge would come from adjusting to full time work alongside portfolio tasks, exam revision and job applications. The reality has been both more challenging and more rewarding than I expected. There have definitely been moments of self-doubt, especially early on, but the year has shown me how much growth happens when you are pushed outside your comfort zone.
At the start of the year, I often second guessed clinical decisions, even when I had done the right checks.
Over time, repeated exposure to clinical scenarios and discussing my reasoning with experienced pharmacists and the wider multidisciplinary team has helped me trust my judgement more. This year has also given me much more clarity about my future. My hospital rotations have confirmed how much I enjoy the clinical environment and reinforced my long-term interest in hospital pharmacy. During my time in both A&E and ITU, seeing the role pharmacists play in caring for acutely and critically unwell patients really stood out to me. Being involved in complex clinical discussions and seeing the level of pharmaceutical input in these settings reminded me how impactful our role can be and reinforced why I chose this profession.
I think one of the biggest unspoken worries is the fear of not progressing “fast enough”.
It’s easy to compare yourself to other trainees, especially when everyone has had different experiences. Sometimes it can feel like everyone else is more confident or knows more than you. What I have learned is that confidence develops differently for everyone. Some weeks everything clicks, and other weeks it feels like you have gone backwards. That is completely normal. Supportive supervisors and approachable colleagues have made the biggest difference. Having pharmacists who were willing to talk through their reasoning, encourage questions and create an environment where it felt safe to make mistakes and learn from them has been invaluable. Peer support has also been incredibly important. Simply talking to other trainees and realising they were experiencing similar challenges made difficult moments feel much less isolating.
What has helped most is staying consistent and reminding myself that this whole year has been preparing me for this.
With just a few weeks until the assessment, hear from Ayoub as he updates us on his trainee pharmacist foundation year!
I’ve realised that looking after your wellbeing is part of preparing effectively.
Although balancing placement responsibilities, preparing for the assessment and managing wellbeing is challenging, I’ve been trying to stay structured by setting realistic revision goals rather than overwhelming myself. Like many trainees at this stage, I’ve had to prioritise revision while still protecting time to rest. At times I have felt confident about the assessment, especially when I can see knowledge from my rotations translating into revision. At other times, the sheer breadth of content feels daunting. Managing revision alongside placement responsibilities can also be mentally demanding, especially after a busy day. What has helped most is staying consistent and reminding myself that this whole year has been preparing me for this.
I try to focus on consistency rather than perfection.
On days when motivation is low, I remind myself that even a small amount of focused revision is better than none. Talking things through with peers also helps – hearing that others feel the same way often puts things into perspective. One of the strengths I’m bringing into the assessment is the clinical reasoning I’ve developed through practice. This year has taught me how to approach problems systematically, interpret information critically and think through decisions logically. I also think resilience is a key strength to bring into the assessment. If I could give one key tip for assessment preparation to other trainees, it would be to stay consistent and do not let comparison distract you. Everyone revises differently, so focus on what works for you and build a routine you can realistically maintain.
The foundation year moves so quickly that you are always focused on the next task.
I’m looking forward to having the mental space to properly reflect on the year – taking a step back, appreciating how far I have come and looking ahead to the next stage of my career as a qualified pharmacist.”
Sign up to our free Wellbeing Learning Platform to access a range of online workshops to help you get mentally prepared!
Pharmacist and charity ambassador, Rhys, shares his top tips for preparing for the assessment and looking after your wellbeing as a trainee and newly qualified pharmacist.
Vivien Yu shares how she picked herself up after failing the trainee assessment.
Sean Brannen shares his journey from preparing for the assessment, through to becoming a responsible pharmacist.
