Intern Insights: Exploring the Drivers of Job Satisfaction Among Student Pharmacists

ABSTRACT

Objectives: To explore the impact of task alignment and internship structure on pharmacy intern satisfaction at the University of Arizona.

Study Design: A cross-sectional REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture) survey was conducted among PharmD students.

Methods: Data were analyzed to identify trends in job satisfaction related to task frequency, mentorship, compensation, and perceived role alignment. We measured multiple items using Likert scales and performed a descriptive analysis of the responses.

Results: Interns who engaged in pharmacist-level tasks (eg, counseling, vaccination) vs technician-level duties reported greater satisfaction, especially when supported by mentorship and fair compensation.

Conclusion: These findings support restructuring internships to align more closely with real-world pharmacy practice.

Introduction

Pharmacy internships serve as a critical conduit for transitioning students from theoretical didactic education to the complexities of real-world clinical practice. However, many pharmacy students report a mismatch between their assigned duties—often primarily technical or distributive tasks—and the actual scope of a pharmacist’s role.¹ This misalignment not only diminishes job satisfaction but also hinders clinical preparedness and the process of professional identity formation.^2-4

This study aimed to evaluate the experiences of pharmacy interns across various settings and examine how task engagement, compensation, and mentorship influence overall job satisfaction. By identifying key drivers of intern satisfaction, the findings can help inform the development of structured mentorship and more clinically focused internship programs that better prepare and engage the future pharmacy workforce.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was distributed to students enrolled in the Doctor of Pharmacy program at the University of Arizona (UA) using REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture). The inclusion criteria were current enrollment at UA and active employment as a pharmacy intern, with respondents younger than 18 years excluded. The survey assessed demographic data, internship characteristics, task frequency, and satisfaction levels using Likert scales. Responses were analyzed descriptively, with key findings summarized in tables.

Results

A total of 133 pharmacy interns completed the survey. Most respondents were in the age bracket of 18 to 24 years (50.0%) and identified as female (87.1%) and White (56.1%). Diverse ethnic and educational backgrounds were represented (Table 1).

Commonly reported tasks included prescription filling (85.3%) and inventory management (62.4%). Although fewer interns frequently counseled patients (39.8%) or administered vaccines (34.7%), those who performed these clinical tasks tended to report higher satisfaction. Notably, interns with access to mentorship (48.0%) reported higher satisfaction levels (78.2%) than those without such support (Table 2). The full survey appears below.

Discussion

Our findings suggest that pharmacy interns experience higher job satisfaction when involved in pharmacist-level tasks, such as patient counseling, vaccine administration, and clinical decision-making. This aligns with data from prior literature, which emphasizes that meaningful engagement in professional roles fosters confidence, career preparedness, and professional identity.^2-4 Even limited access to mentorship and developmental feedback was associated with greater perceived preparedness, reinforcing the importance of preceptor support.⁵ In our sample, 39.8% of interns reported frequently engaging in patient counseling and 34.7% in vaccine administration; these groups reported satisfaction rates of 72.6% and 74.1%, respectively, substantially higher than those mainly performing inventory management (53.2%) or prescription filling (59.8%).

Although most participants in our study worked in community pharmacy settings, those with exposure to hospital or clinical environments reported slightly higher satisfaction, particularly when involved in pharmacist-specific activities. Many participants also noted that their intern responsibilities did not align with the skill sets emphasized in pharmacy school. Despite having more than 1 year of work experience, many interns still reported feeling unprepared for pharmacist roles, citing limited clinical exposure and mentorship. Their dissatisfaction with compensation further suggests these positions offered fewer opportunities for clinical skill development. Furthermore, only 48.0% of our respondents reported having access to mentorship, yet 78.2% of those with mentorship reported satisfaction, emphasizing the positive impact of structured support. These structural gaps appear to hinder both professional growth and job satisfaction.

Well-designed internship programs can mitigate these issues. Nisly et al advocate for longitudinal, competency-based models that progressively integrate students into clinical workflows, offer structured mentorship, and promote professional development.³ Our data support this approach: Interns who were encouraged to provide vaccines or participate in patient counseling reported significantly higher levels of satisfaction.

Limitations

This study was limited by its single-institution sample, which may affect generalizability to other pharmacy schools or regions. Also, because this study was a self-reported survey, the data are subject to recall and response biases. However, the high response rate and consistent trends strengthen the validity of our conclusions.

Conclusion

Pharmacy intern satisfaction is strongly influenced by participation in pharmacist-level responsibilities such as patient counseling and vaccine administration, as well as access to mentorship and structured clinical engagement. Our data demonstrate that interns who frequently performed these tasks reported significantly higher satisfaction than those who primarily engaged in technician-level duties. Additionally, access to mentorship was associated with a notable increase in perceived preparedness and satisfaction, underscoring the value of supportive preceptor relationships.

To enhance student development and align internship experiences with evolving pharmacy practice standards, educational institutions and employers must collaborate to restructure internships as longitudinal, competency-based experiences. Prioritizing pharmacist-level responsibilities, fostering mentorship, and offering adequate compensation are critical to building interns’ confidence, professional identity, and career readiness for modern pharmacy practice. Implementing these improvements will help bridge the gap between academic training and real-world expectations, ultimately strengthening the future pharmacy workforce. Future studies should investigate how structured, progressive internship models impact career outcomes, including residency placement and early-career satisfaction.

REFERENCES

1. Nisly S, Brennan L. Pharmacy internships: we can do better. Innov Pharm. 2018;9(4):10.24926/iip.v9i4.1395. doi:10.24926/iip.v9i4.1395

2. Nassar E, Kassouf S, Hajj A, et al. A pilot assessment of the career and job satisfaction of the pharmaceutical workforce in Lebanon. J Pharm Policy Pract. 2022;15(1):93. doi:10.1186/s40545-022-00498-w

3. Nisly SA, Brennan LF, Verbosky L, Raymond A, Tryon J. Creating a pharmacy internship: a toolbox for success. Innov Pharm. 2018;9(4):10.24926/iip.v9i4.1394. doi:10.24926/iip.v9i4.1394

4. Noble C, Coombes I, Nissen L, Shaw PN, Clavarino A. Making the transition from pharmacy student to pharmacist: Australian interns’ perceptions of professional identity formation. Int J Pharm Pract. 2015;23(4):292-304. doi:10.1111/ijpp.12155

5. Thabit AK, Alghamdi DI, Alaqi RO, Alsufyani MA, Bagalagel AA. Factors influencing future career interests of pharmacy interns in Saudi Arabia: a survey from 25 colleges of pharmacy. BMC Med Educ. 2023;23(1):35. doi:10.1186/s12909-023-04022-9

Study title: UA Pharmacy Interns’ Insights: Exploring Job Satisfaction and Factors Affecting Student Pharmacists

Intern Satisfaction Survey

Personal Information

1. Age:

• 18-24
• 25-34
• 35 and older

2. Ethnicity/Race:

• White
• Black / African American
• Asian
• Hispanic / Latino
• Other

3. Gender:

• Male
• Female
• Nonbinary
• Prefer not to say
• Other

4. Education Level

• Associate degree
• Bachelor’s degree
• Other

Internship Experience

1. Do you have any past pharmacy technician experiences prior to pharmacy school?
   • Yes ☐ If yes, what setting and for how long?
   • No
2. Please select the setting of your pharmacy practice. If you are employed in more than one setting, select all that apply:
   • Community pharmacy
   • Compounding
   • Hospital
   • Other (please specify)
3. Duration of internship:
   • Less than 3 months
   • 3 to 6 months
   • 6 to 12 months
   • More than 1 year
4. Full-time/Part-time status:
   • Full-time
   • Part-time
   • As needed
5. How many hours of work do you average a month?
   • Less than 10
   • 10 hours or more
   • 30 hours or more
   • 50 or more

Please indicate how often you perform the following tasks during your internship by marking the appropriate option. If a task is not applicable to your role, select Not Applicable. Never, Rarely, Sometimes, Often, Always, Not Applicable

Stocking medications, Preparing prescriptions, Counseling patients, Managing therapy regimens, Administrative tasks, Inventory management, Data entry, Administering vaccines, Preparing sterile compounds, Preparing nonsterile compounds, Delivering medications, Filling prescriptions, Transferring prescriptions in and out, Taking phoned-in prescriptions, and Preparing intravenous medications

Satisfaction Factors

1. I feel supported by my supervisor in my professional development and daily work tasks.
   • Strongly disagree
   • Disagree
   • Neutral
   • Agree
   • Strongly agree
2. My employer offers sufficient opportunities for training and professional growth.
   • Strongly disagree
   • Disagree
   • Neutral
   • Agree
   • Strongly agree

3. I regularly receive constructive feedback and recognition for my work.

• Strongly disagree
• Disagree
• Neutral
• Agree
• Strongly agree

4. My workplace environment and culture make me feel satisfied and happy with my job.

• Strongly disagree
• Disagree
• Neutral
• Agree
• Strongly agree

5. I have a good balance between my work, school, and personal life.

• Strongly disagree
• Disagree
• Neutral
• Agree
• Strongly agree

6. Overall satisfaction with the internship:

• Very unsatisfied
• Unsatisfied
• Neutral
• Satisfied
• Very satisfied

7. Overall satisfaction with internship salary:

• Very unsatisfied
• Unsatisfied
• Neutral
• Satisfied
• Very satisfied

8. Likelihood of recommending internship to others:

• Very unlikely
• Unlikely
• Neutral
• Likely
• Very likely

9. Are you gaining experience relevant to a pharmacist’s role as an intern?

• Yes, I’m hands-on with pharmacist duties and learning
• Somewhat, but with a focus on technical tasks
• Not really; my role is mostly technical with little pharmacist-related exposure

Open-Ended Questions (Optional)

1. What aspects of the internship did you find most beneficial? [Open space for response]
2. What improvements would you suggest for the internship program? [Open space for response]