Brunnen Pharmacy's internship program bridges skills gap and launches careers
Bad Pyrmont's Brunnen Pharmacy Welcomes Interns—With Lasting Success
The Brunnen Pharmacy in Bad Pyrmont is happy to take on interns—and the results speak for themselves. For the third time, the team has received glowing feedback after the fact. "Our last intern will begin her pharmacy technician (PTA) training in September," says branch manager Jasmin Friese with pride. Another former intern will soon return as a PTA trainee for her practical placement. "We're hoping she'll stay on with us afterward—we'd love to hire her."
One 10th-grade student completed a mandatory three-week internship at the pharmacy last year and recently reached out to the team. "She enjoyed her time with us so much that she's starting her PTA training in Bückeburg this September," Friese shares.
Third Intern Chooses Pharmacy Career
This student isn't the first to leave such a positive impression, according to Friese. "She's actually the third intern who, thanks to her experience here, has gone on to pursue training in the field."
The first of these interns will soon begin her six-month PTA practical training at Brunnen Pharmacy. "We're hoping she'll want to stay on with us permanently—we'd be thrilled to bring her on board," Friese emphasizes. "We also had a year-long intern from a vocational school in Hameln. She's starting her training too, though in Paderborn this time."
Hands-On Experience for Interns
Friese welcomes interns whenever staffing levels allow—an essential prerequisite. "It's not always easy, and it only works if we have enough personnel. We want to give interns real engagement, not just have them shadowing or sitting around."
The internship follows a structured approach: "We start in the pharmacy assistant (PKA) section with inventory management. Then we move into the lab for testing and compounding. Later, under supervision, interns help with prescription processing." This way, they're fully integrated into daily operations and get to explore different aspects of the profession.
Supporting Trainees
The team remains a resource for all former interns. "If they have questions or struggle with a topic, we're always happy to help," Friese notes. Finding qualified staff is increasingly difficult, she acknowledges. "It's wonderful when someone chooses a pharmacy career, especially in today's climate. We want to encourage that however we can." This includes PTA mentorship programs, which the Lower Saxony Pharmacists' Association (LAV Niedersachsen) has supported since mid-2025.
For pharmacy teams, interns represent a valuable opportunity to recruit new talent. "Good people are harder and harder to find—we see that ourselves," Friese observes. Internships offer a unique chance to get to know potential team members over an extended period and assess whether they're a good fit. "You don't end up with a pig in a poke."
