Becoming A Pharmacist Tips

I can remember my dad telling me when he worked at the refinery that he didn’t get to go anywhere.  The environment was the same day after day after day.

Well, then I got into retail pharmacy.  Let me tell you something – I don’t know of any other field that has such a monotonous environment.

Think about it: you work in a large box for 8, 10 or 12 hours a day.  The only time you leave is for lunch (if you get a lunch) or, if you quit.

This isn’t something I see discussed at all.  But it’s a huge factor.  If you have to see something different everyday then retail pharmacy is not for you.

Insurance problems/phone

Of course, while this is going on in most retail setting the phone will be ringing.  Usually quite often.  It could be nurses or doctors calling in prescriptions.  It could be patients, salesmen or anyone else.
Also, the vast majority of patients who present with prescriptions have some type of insurance coverage.

Insurances are the scourge of pharmacy

They only have a certain number of drugs they’ll cover.  Doctors and patients usually never know which ones they are.

So, the patient usually finds out at the pharmacy when their insurance rejects payment on the prescription.

It’s then up to you to either send the patients back to the doctor or call the doctor yourself and switch the drug.

We already discussed earlier how busy doctors are.  Let me tell you, it ain’t easy to get a hold of them.  And when you do, they generally aren’t happy to hear nuisance calls about how insurance companies are dictating how they prescribe.

Pros:  better than average pay, if you decide to work for an independent (pharmacy is owned by someone other than a chain) you may get weekends off, good environment if you are an ADD-type personality

Cons:  can be very stressful and busy, you have to deal with two of the most stressful component in pharmacy today – rude and impatient customers and insurance companies, on your feet a lot – repetitive motions can lead to problems also.  Small work environment.

Why retail then?

At this point you might be asking yourself, “Geez, it sounds like retail sucks.  Why don’t you get out of it?”

That’s a fair question.

First of all, keep in mind one of the reasons you might be reading this book:  I’ve worked in a lot of different environments.  They all have downsides.  Retail isn’t any different.

But you have to look at your individual situation.  For me, I’ve stayed in my particular retail environment because of:

1. My schedule
2. My pay
3. Good coworkers

The combination of these three points overrides my dislike for some of the more distasteful aspects of retail pharmacy.

You might be different.

Retail Techs Make A Difference

I can remember helping my dad – who was a pipe-fitter at the time – when I was a kid.

In the late spring we’d go outside to hook our pump up to our well so we could water our yard.  It involved fittings, wrenches and working together.

At the time he told me something that always stuck with me about good help.

When he was working on the job he said the best pipe-fitter helpers are always thinking one step ahead of the pipe-fitter.

A good helper knows that the next step is to tighten up the union and they’ll need to have a 24 inch pipe wrench to do it.  Before the pipe-fitter grabs his wrench their helper is ready to go.

The job goes faster, smoother and with less headaches.

Good and Bad technicians

The same thing happens with your technician(s).

A good technician will think one step ahead of you.  You won’t need to tell them to do every little step along the way.
A bad technican will drive you crazy in an environment that is already crazy.

Like I said earlier, a good technician is worth her weight in gold.  A bad technician will make your life hell.
This is particularly true in the retail environment.