http://www.pharmacyweek.com/discussions/thread.asp?board_id=2&conference_id=18&post_id=20291&thread_id=4831&filter=Unread#pid20291

http://www.pharmacyweek.com/discussions/thread.asp?board_id=2&conference_id=18&post_id=20291&thread_id=4831&filter=Unread#pid20291

AMEN!!! This article is completely true!! (I worked as a pharmacy clerk for 3 years and have been accepted to pharm school for this fall, but this article could have described the pharmacy I worked in!)

http://www.pharmacyweek.com/discussions/thread.asp?board_id=2&conference_id=18&post_id=20291&thread_id=4831&filter=Unread#pid20291

this is depressing

I went through that whole forum a few years back or so and it is sad to say it was pathetic then and remains so to this day.Talk about trolls... I am sure some of the same low lifes who were banned at this site are currently posting flamatory material 24/7.

I went through that whole forum a few years back or so and it is sad to say it was pathetic then and remains so to this day.Talk about trolls... I am sure some of the same low lifes who were banned at this site are currently posting flamatory material 24/7.

I don't see anything really trolly about that forum (well at least not from the page I just read). I think that is what reality is like now.. alot of people try to avoid hospital pharmacy just so they can pay off their student loans more quickly going thru the retail route. After a few years of working in one of those big chains, people will eventually realize that the hours are nice, and the pay is very good, and they'll just stay there until they retire.

Sad but true. It sucks that these guys will never be able to show their full potential ever again.

This is one of the advantages that we career changers have. We have experienced things like this already and probably aren't going to be as shocked by it all when we get out. After years of dealing with people in the retail/service/public industries I know that the "official" job description is only the starting off point when it comes to what is expected of you. My friend who's been in retail pharmacy for about 15 years as his only career still hasn't seemed to grasp that.

This is one of the advantages that we career changers have. We have experienced things like this already and probably aren't going to be as shocked by it all when we get out. After years of dealing with people in the retail/service/public industries I know that the "official" job description is only the starting off point when it comes to what is expected of you. My friend who's been in retail pharmacy for about 15 years as his only career still hasn't seemed to grasp that.


Couldn't agree more. Every job makes you do a lot of bs, just some more than others. I worked in a pharmacy, and let me tell you, that bs is better than most bs. (imo)

And they still get paid $100,000 a year to bag Doritos?! Nuts.

No one is forced to go into retail. You have a choice--get paid more money to use less of your education or get paid less more to use more of your education. It's up to you what's more important.

That being said, you can find ways to use your education in retail. While you're ringing up your patients you have an opportunity to talk to them, to counsel them, and to use the knowledge you've learned. There are also plenty of volunteer opportunities for pharmacists if you are unfulfilled by the lack of clinical skills and knowledge used in retail.

All the more reason why I want to go into clinical pharmacy. I honestly don't care if I make less, for me it's more satisfying and that is what's important!

All the more reason why I want to go into clinical pharmacy. I honestly don't care if I make less, for me it's more satisfying and that is what's important!

i also belive that clinical is a way to go. even though i haven't completely blacked out retail but i am leaning toward clinical route everday. like i posted before regarding recent PA law change, there are more things pharmacist can do in insitutional setting than retail. dont get me wrong retail pharmacy serves tremendous aspect of pt's medication safety and drug therapy.

All the more reason why I want to go into clinical pharmacy. I honestly don't care if I make less, for me it's more satisfying and that is what's important!

More money means more trips to Napa. That's way more important.

I personally enjoy retail. Different things appeal to different people.

I don't see anything really trolly about that forum (well at least not from the page I just read). I think that is what reality is like now.. alot of people try to avoid hospital pharmacy just so they can pay off their student loans more quickly going thru the retail route. After a few years of working in one of those big chains, people will eventually realize that the hours are nice, and the pay is very good, and they'll just stay there until they retire.

Sad but true. It sucks that these guys will never be able to show their full potential ever again.

Hospitals are actually not very bad in their pay and are becoming increasingly competitive with the retail stores. There might still be 2-5 dollar difference. But in a hospital you will get to do a lot of stuff you were taught and you don't really need a residency to be a clinical staff pharmacist. You do need one to be a specialist however. It is not as bleak as it looks. You dont' have to go to retail if you don't want to go there. Hospital is an option. But hosptial too comes with its own drawbacks. But in my HO pharmacy is still a very good profession and very well paid at that. I think pharmacy is much better compared to nursing, or even PA, PT, speech pathology school. Pharmacy school gives a doctorate, excellent pay and ability to do clinical work. I don't really think that it's that bad. If you seek a specific work environment you will find it. Maybe not right away, but eventually u will.

I just quit a job where I made $5.55/hr to bag Doritos... so if I can get paid $85,000/year to bag Doritos, I won't complain ;) I don't plan on going into retail pharmacy, however. If life allows so, I want a PhD and I want to teach/research or maybe just research if I can get a CDC/NIH job. Otherwise, I want to do clinical and specialize in compounding. Who wouldn't want to make lollipops all day? :D Besides, I love cooking... who wants some cake with antibiotic frosting? Children will beg to take their medication ;)

I just quit a job where I made $5.55/hr to bag Doritos... so if I can get paid $85,000/year to bag Doritos, I won't complain ;) I don't plan on going into retail pharmacy, however. If life allows so, I want a PhD and I want to teach/research or maybe just research if I can get a CDC/NIH job. Otherwise, I want to do clinical and specialize in compounding. Who wouldn't want to make lollipops all day? :D Besides, I love cooking... who wants some cake with antibiotic frosting? Children will beg to take their medication ;)

WVURxGal,

I also have a strong interest in compounding but couldn't find much on the internet about how to specialize in the field. Are their certain schools or programs that I could attend before or after my PharmD?

Thanks!

WVURxGal,

I also have a strong interest in compounding but couldn't find much on the internet about how to specialize in the field. Are their certain schools or programs that I could attend before or after my PharmD?

Thanks!

Check out PCCA, and join NCPA. Do some compounding rotations through school, or see if a compounding pharmacy will hire you as an intern.

http://www.pccarx.com/default.asp

You can also join a studnet club through PCCA. :thumbup:

What's wrong with this? I always take my small item purchases to the pharmacist. The pharmacist scans the items and I move on my way! Excuse me sir(PhD), where is the sock isle? And at the big chains, if they give you an attitude, you contact the general manager and they get a butt chewing or even fired if it happens enough.

WVURxGal,

I also have a strong interest in compounding but couldn't find much on the internet about how to specialize in the field. Are their certain schools or programs that I could attend before or after my PharmD?

Thanks!

What JD said ;)

Don't you think compounding would be fun? I don't think I'd want to do just compounding, however... I'd like to specialize in it and work in a children's hospital if there's on in whatever area I settle in. Otherwise, a smaller hospital (which is where I'll probably wind up, since I'll most likely live in a smallish town) would be fine, and we'd have an awesome outpatient compliance rate ;)

What's wrong with this? I always take my small item purchases to the pharmacist. The pharmacist scans the items and I move on my way! Excuse me sir(PhD), where is the sock isle? And at the big chains, if they give you an attitude, you contact the general manager and they get a butt chewing or even fired if it happens enough.

:rolleyes: Yeah, I'm sure they would be fired becuase they didn't do their job (which, of course, it showing you to the "Sock aisle", and not anything to do with the safety of peoples' medications). :thumbup:

What JD said ;)

Don't you think compounding would be fun? I don't think I'd want to do just compounding, however... I'd like to specialize in it and work in a children's hospital if there's on in whatever area I settle in. Otherwise, a smaller hospital (which is where I'll probably wind up, since I'll most likely live in a smallish town) would be fine, and we'd have an awesome outpatient compliance rate ;)


Thanks for the advice about compounding! There is a compounding pharmacy near me- maybe I can shadow a pharmacist there or volunteer (I'm still pre-pharm). Also, does anybody know of any schools that have a particular strength in compounding classes?

I think I would love the problem solving involoved in compounding and also the creatvity in making specialized medications. Thanks again!

Thanks for the advice about compounding! There is a compounding pharmacy near me- maybe I can shadow a pharmacist there or volunteer (I'm still pre-pharm). Also, does anybody know of any schools that have a particular strength in compounding classes?

I think I would love the problem solving involoved in compounding and also the creatvity in making specialized medications. Thanks again!
while you are in pharm school i recommend going to PCCAs class... I don't know much about it but i know if you have a large enough group interested they will bring the class to you..

that's pretty much how you become strong in compounding from my understanding


and to whomever it was that thinks I will be fired for not being really nice about finding the sock isle: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

most pharmacies will not let you check stuff out in the pharmacy unless you have a rx to pick up

I went through that whole forum a few years back or so and it is sad to say it was pathetic then and remains so to this day.Talk about trolls... I am sure some of the same low lifes who were banned at this site are currently posting flamatory material 24/7.


I'm not a troll. I happened to find that article from pharmacyweek.com, which has a forum that entices experienced pharmacists to share their thoughts in the pharmacy field. some can be scary and reality-shock. I posted the link to see what you guys thoughts are on this particular subject.

I'm not a troll. I happened to find that article from pharmacyweek.com, which has a forum that entices experienced pharmacists to share their thoughts in the pharmacy field. some can be scary and reality-shock. I posted the link to see what you guys thoughts are on this particular subject.

Read his statement again. I don't get the "you are a troll" connotation from it. ;)

Yeah you're not a troll. Funny how every post you put on here is about how pharmacy sucks though:


Forum: Pharmacy Students 02-15-2005, 01:16 PM
Replies: 23 New pharmacists getting a dose of reality
Views: 729 Posted By xml2
New pharmacists getting a dose of reality


Replies: 8 pharm assembly line
Views: 191 Posted By xml2
pharm assembly line


Replies: 4 Practice is neither interesting nor exciting
Views: 367 Posted By xml2

From what I see most of the posters at pharmacyweek are disgruntled ex-pharmacists with an ax to grind.

:rolleyes: Yeah, I'm sure they would be fired becuase they didn't do their job (which, of course, it showing you to the "Sock aisle", and not anything to do with the safety of peoples' medications). :thumbup:

Not sure about the discounters like Target and Wal-Mart, but the grocery stores are actually like this. ...know of a former Safeway pharmacist here in AZ who was fired because he refused to counsel a customer (er, excuse me... patient) until she got done with her cell-phone conversation. Customer gave him attitude, he threw it back at her, she complained to the manager... and now he works for WAG. ...also, a classmate used to work as a tech for Safeway, and they pretty much make it clear that your job is to kiss ass and do whatever a customer asks of you, even if it has nothing to do with the pharmacy.

Not sure about the discounters like Target and Wal-Mart, but the grocery stores are actually like this. ...know of a former Safeway pharmacist here in AZ who was fired because he refused to counsel a customer (er, excuse me... patient) until she got done with her cell-phone conversation. Customer gave him attitude, he threw it back at her, she complained to the manager... and now he works for WAG. ...also, a classmate used to work as a tech for Safeway, and they pretty much make it clear that your job is to kiss ass and do whatever a customer asks of you, even if it has nothing to do with the pharmacy.
and its like you said..... the rph now works somewhere else.....

i believe once they dictated to me how to practice i would say "see ya!"

I think before you brand them disgruntled and even if they are, you should consider if what they say is the truth. For the most part retail is nothing more than an assembly line. With 3rd party making up about 80% of the scripts and their reimbursements down toi AWP-17%+$1 you need a lot of volume to pay for a pharmacist. You won't do much clinical practice in a 200 or more a day shift. You will also kiss the customers you know what or get in trouble or fired. You are pretty much relegated to a fast food type work environmnet complete with drive up. Grocery stores are not very good either. You'll have a store manager, who may not have any college degree telling you what to do. Which includes running the cash register, staying over to count the till down etc etc etc. Yeah you're not a troll. Funny how every post you put on here is about how pharmacy sucks though:


Forum: Pharmacy Students 02-15-2005, 01:16 PM
Replies: 23 New pharmacists getting a dose of reality
Views: 729 Posted By xml2
New pharmacists getting a dose of reality


Replies: 8 pharm assembly line
Views: 191 Posted By xml2
pharm assembly line


Replies: 4 Practice is neither interesting nor exciting
Views: 367 Posted By xml2

From what I see most of the posters at pharmacyweek are disgruntled ex-pharmacists with an ax to grind.

Well I'm not sure you have the choices you say. There are only a small number of jobs in true clinical positions. Many apply for a clinical job, but very few get them. So you could be forced into jobs you don't like. I suggest you call a headhunter who works with pharmacists and ask them if they find most pharmacists happy with their work environmnet. Money isn't everything. As you get older the conditions mean way more than the money.

No one is forced to go into retail. You have a choice--get paid more money to use less of your education or get paid less more to use more of your education. It's up to you what's more important.

That being said, you can find ways to use your education in retail. While you're ringing up your patients you have an opportunity to talk to them, to counsel them, and to use the knowledge you've learned. There are also plenty of volunteer opportunities for pharmacists if you are unfulfilled by the lack of clinical skills and knowledge used in retail.

SlaveRPH: Welcome to the forum, hope to hear more from your perspective. By any chance, were you a regular poster at pharmacyweek.com? There used to be someone over there who went by the handle Slaver.

SlaveRPH: Welcome to the forum, hope to hear more from your perspective. By any chance, were you a regular poster at pharmacyweek.com? There used to be someone over there who went by the handle Slaver.

Like I said before, I read through that entire forum and a majority of those losers are disgruntled and do nothing but flame the pharmacist profession. For what reason, I dont know but it seems a few of them are in this thread.

Is what they said about pharmacy not true? Do you want the truth or more of the colleges spin about all the clinical stuff. Why would they tell you the truth. Then they have a difficult time selling the 6 and 7 year program. Like I said before, I read through that entire forum and a majority of those losers are disgruntled and do nothing but flame the pharmacist profession. For what reason, I dont know but it seems a few of them are in this thread.

Is what they said about pharmacy not true? Do you want the truth or more of the colleges spin about all the clinical stuff. Why would they tell you the truth. Then they have a difficult time selling the 6 and 7 year program.



Slaver! You've finally made it here. Of course remember this is a closely moderated forum so you better tread lightly. And this forum is for pharmacy students; you're preaching to the converted. It's the other forum that has the young impressionable minds.

Is what they said about pharmacy not true? Do you want the truth or more of the colleges spin about all the clinical stuff. Why would they tell you the truth. Then they have a difficult time selling the 6 and 7 year program.




They really do shove that clinical stuff down your throat at school and you're completely right.... Not many people get those jobs.

If you want to work hospital you will end up in a staff position who occasionally rotates to clinical (and that's just for the residency trained)

I'm looking forward to not using my brain. I enjoy working retail and I'll enjoy it even more when I'm being paid over 100K a year to bag groceries with their meds. It doesn't bother me at all.

SlaveRPH: Welcome to the forum, hope to hear more from your perspective. By any chance, were you a regular poster at pharmacyweek.com? There used to be someone over there who went by the handle Slaver.

Yes it's the same person
Before you welcome him so openly consider a few things:
1. When you graduate, you will become a "Pharmdummy" to Slaver
2. He believes that there is nothing pharmacists can do that can't be done by computers--in other words any skills you may have helping patients is worthless in his view
3. Hope you are white and male. If not slaver has a less than evolved outlook on you
4. He is no longer in pharmacy, and hasn't been in years by his own admission

Don't believe it? Head over to www.delphiforums.com and look at the Pharmacist's Rant--check out some of his posts (under the handle Yesunionize) there. There of plenty of trolls on this site in other boards who flame pharmacy--do we really need another one?
I agree with J Lucas

I was just being polite was all...just in case it wasn't Slaver ;)

Please don't think I subscribe to his viewpoints simply because I "welcomed" him.

Interesting they feel their posts are worth while but someone who disagrees with them is a trol or is not smart enough because they don't actively practice. I used the term pharmdummy when pharmd's belittled my BS degree. Its sad that within pharmacy there are those who feel they are superior just because they went 6 or 7 years and I went 5 years to school. what they should look at is what did they get for the extra year. If you go to the bureau of labor and statistics you wil see most jobs in pharmacy have little to nothing to do with all the clinical training. I post so the truth will be out there to counter act the less than truthful way some schools portray pharmacy to the students. As far as me. well I wish pharmacy would become a professional environmnet in every area. The only way I see that is if pharmacists uniuonize and speak with one voice. If they are not united and willing to strike then they have no union. The suprise I got when I left pharmacy was how people had no idea how pharmacists were treated. Many could not belive we did not get lunch breaks. And the treatment we got if we so much as left the case for a potty break. I helped unionize some pharmacists 30 years ago. The key is if they won't stay together they have no union. Right now is the time to get decent conditions. Once the shortage is gone, and right now there is only a 2 percent vacancy rate, you will have less leverage to make it a profession. I even took legal action to help get decent conditions all to no avail. I don't hate pharmacist sor pharmacy. I'm just very sad at what it has become.

Pfft, if you think you are above occasionally helping a customer :scared: (gasp!) find an item, get your ego checked. I personally love helping people out with finding the right item, even if it's not a medication, if I can help them find the right gift (I've worked combo gift/pharmacies) then great. It all helps build more rapport, which to me what it's about. I love retail (with 8 years of retail and 1.5 of hospital under my belt, I think I have some room to talk) and I know I won't always be doing "pharmacist things" and that's fine with me. Having a PharmD degree makes you eligible for a license, it certainly doesn't make you a good pharmacist.

bump

bump

Why did you bump this? It was only a couple of posts down the page... :confused:

LMAO... Slaver...what are you doing here.. isn't Pharmacist's Rant and Pharmacyweek enough?

I think before you brand them disgruntled and even if they are, you should consider if what they say is the truth. For the most part retail is nothing more than an assembly line. With 3rd party making up about 80% of the scripts and their reimbursements down toi AWP-17%+$1 you need a lot of volume to pay for a pharmacist. You won't do much clinical practice in a 200 or more a day shift. You will also kiss the customers you know what or get in trouble or fired. You are pretty much relegated to a fast food type work environmnet complete with drive up. Grocery stores are not very good either. You'll have a store manager, who may not have any college degree telling you what to do. Which includes running the cash register, staying over to count the till down etc etc etc.

You'll find Slaverph to be an interesting fella... his claim to fame is how he left pharmacy and went on to invent and patented some chemical...now he dabbles in real-estate and politics..which he just lost an election. His trolling on pharmacy forums is quite famous.. He is actually the reason why Pharmacyweek decided to use some censorship.. along with his many numerous previous aliases and degradation of pharmacists and pharmacy, he has an archaic archie bunkerish attitude towards minorities and women..

But nothing can top his fake death...when he couldn't take the heat on the Pharmacist's Rant Forum.. This was 2 and 1/2 years ago.. after this little fiasco, he reincarated as "UnionYes" then "YesUnionize"

Enjoy...

"Hello,
My name is Jean, my husband Charles or you know him as Slave RPh
passed away earlier today. He had given me a note with instructions on how to do this. So I hope it works. I promised him I would post his note. I don't know a lot about computers and don't do the internet much at all. He asked me to delete all his notes. If I have missed any please erase them for me.

His note says

Well friends if you read this I've cashed in my chips. I have enjoyed the interactions and venting my feelings on pharmacy. Each of you are responsible for what you leave your children and future pharmacists. If you like pharmacy or hate it, as professionals you owe it to the next group to do all you can to make it better. I posted what I posted to make people think about pharmacy and what it could be. I knew it when it was a profession and a small business like the farmer. However, corporations have destroyed it like they are the rest of the country. And unlike the farmer, no one cares if the independent pharmacy goes out of business. Well pharmacy's future is in your hands now. I did everything I could to fight corporations and help pharmacists get decent work conditions. You might have wondered how I knew so much about pharmacy. Well to tell the truth I was a pharmacist for a short time. After more than 20 years I was back in a case. It was scary at first, but I would just read inserts to get answers to questions. I was surprised to get hired after being out so long. I remember the first Benzaclin I sent out came back because I didn't know it needed to be reconstituted. My return was sort of an experiment. I was surprised how easy I got back alone filling prescriptions. The thought that came to mind was, my god, an idiot or a nurse etc can do this. No one had a clue how incompetant I was. If I can do this the powers to be in pharmacy know it. It won't be long before they try to minimize pharmacists to nothing. An this insurance stuff is rediculous. Well I get the last word so best of luck to all of you."

That is the end of his note. I read a few of his notes while I was erasing them. Actually my daughter helped me. She is much smarter on this than me. I want to tell all of you, I assume your his friends, that he was deep down a good man a good husband and a good father. He really tried to get things done for his profession. He actually cried when he went to work for the first time in many years at how bad things were in pharmacy. I told him to quit but he wouldn't. He would call and fax doctors about how difficult their prescriptions were to read. Information was left off or something was not legal it went on and on. We would get calls at home from them regarding faxes he had sent to them. I told him not to give out our home number but he said it was him doing this and he didn't want the other pharmacists to get into any problems at work. I would hear him sometimes get very terse with some. I told him that we need to be able to see doctors and not to make all of them mad. One day he came home real upset about some hospital prescritions. He told me how he had called the hospital emergency room and told them they were writing illegal prescriptions and he was going to turn them in. The next day we get a call from the hopital director. He met with the director and was so happy that they were going to change their prescriptions. Well I didn't mean to write so much. I just wanted you all to know he was a good man and I promised him I would post his letter. I hope this works. My daughter says to hit the post button so here we go"

I was a director of pharmacy for a hospital in Sacramento CA. There was a director of pharmacy and staff pharmacist position in Napa... it would have been a sweet deal.. but you can only drink so much wine..

More money means more trips to Napa. That's way more important.

All the more reason why I want to go into clinical pharmacy. I honestly don't care if I make less, for me it's more satisfying and that is what's important!


Don't let the common belief of "retail pays more" fool ya. Year and half ago, chain grocery stores were paying $48.50 per hour. I started our hospital pharmacists @ $52 per hour and $60 per hour for per diem. I had the staff work 8 hours and paid them for 10 hours. Last 2 hours, they received 1.5X due to over time. Couple that with 10% differential for evening and 10% differential for the weekend...and 1 weekend every 5 to 6 weeks, this hospital staff job rocked....

I was a director of pharmacy for a hospital in Sacramento CA. There was a director of pharmacy and staff pharmacist position in Napa... it would have been a sweet deal.. but you can only drink so much wine..

That's impossible. There is no such thing as so much wine.

That's impossible. There is no such thing as so much wine.

Napa was a pleasant hour drive from my house... St. Helena is nice with neat little stores.. But my wife and I really enjoy Calistoga.. few miles up north of Napa.. there is a fella from Louisiana out there...smoking some serious meat.. called Buster's BBQ. You can smell it miles away.. it's special..because you really can't get decent bbq out in CA.

My friend and I alway felt that in order to completely see all the wineries in Napa.. it would take a good 2 weeks of solid drinking from sun up till midnight...

There is no need to call people out for things which may have been done on other boards.

- Anna :)

As I recall there were a couple of poster who eventually began cussing at each other. I believe even harold was involved in some of it. The posts looked like they were from a teenager. But instead of just removing the posts they censored all posts. So you now speak for pharmacyweek? If they did all that because of me, then how can I still post? You really can deal with the truth can you. You'll find Slaverph to be an interesting fella... his claim to fame is how he left pharmacy and went on to invent and patented some chemical...now he dabbles in real-estate and politics..which he just lost an election. His trolling on pharmacy forums is quite famous.. He is actually the reason why Pharmacyweek decided to use some censorship.. along with his many numerous previous aliases and degradation of pharmacists and pharmacy, he has an archaic archie bunkerish attitude towards minorities and women..

But nothing can top his fake death...when he couldn't take the heat on the Pharmacist's Rant Forum.. This was 2 and 1/2 years ago.. after this little fiasco, he reincarated as "UnionYes" then "YesUnionize"

Enjoy...

"Hello,
My name is Jean, my husband Charles or you know him as Slave RPh
passed away earlier today. He had given me a note with instructions on how to do this. So I hope it works. I promised him I would post his note. I don't know a lot about computers and don't do the internet much at all. He asked me to delete all his notes. If I have missed any please erase them for me.

His note says

Well friends if you read this I've cashed in my chips. I have enjoyed the interactions and venting my feelings on pharmacy. Each of you are responsible for what you leave your children and future pharmacists. If you like pharmacy or hate it, as professionals you owe it to the next group to do all you can to make it better. I posted what I posted to make people think about pharmacy and what it could be. I knew it when it was a profession and a small business like the farmer. However, corporations have destroyed it like they are the rest of the country. And unlike the farmer, no one cares if the independent pharmacy goes out of business. Well pharmacy's future is in your hands now. I did everything I could to fight corporations and help pharmacists get decent work conditions. You might have wondered how I knew so much about pharmacy. Well to tell the truth I was a pharmacist for a short time. After more than 20 years I was back in a case. It was scary at first, but I would just read inserts to get answers to questions. I was surprised to get hired after being out so long. I remember the first Benzaclin I sent out came back because I didn't know it needed to be reconstituted. My return was sort of an experiment. I was surprised how easy I got back alone filling prescriptions. The thought that came to mind was, my god, an idiot or a nurse etc can do this. No one had a clue how incompetant I was. If I can do this the powers to be in pharmacy know it. It won't be long before they try to minimize pharmacists to nothing. An this insurance stuff is rediculous. Well I get the last word so best of luck to all of you."

That is the end of his note. I read a few of his notes while I was erasing them. Actually my daughter helped me. She is much smarter on this than me. I want to tell all of you, I assume your his friends, that he was deep down a good man a good husband and a good father. He really tried to get things done for his profession. He actually cried when he went to work for the first time in many years at how bad things were in pharmacy. I told him to quit but he wouldn't. He would call and fax doctors about how difficult their prescriptions were to read. Information was left off or something was not legal it went on and on. We would get calls at home from them regarding faxes he had sent to them. I told him not to give out our home number but he said it was him doing this and he didn't want the other pharmacists to get into any problems at work. I would hear him sometimes get very terse with some. I told him that we need to be able to see doctors and not to make all of them mad. One day he came home real upset about some hospital prescritions. He told me how he had called the hospital emergency room and told them they were writing illegal prescriptions and he was going to turn them in. The next day we get a call from the hopital director. He met with the director and was so happy that they were going to change their prescriptions. Well I didn't mean to write so much. I just wanted you all to know he was a good man and I promised him I would post his letter. I hope this works. My daughter says to hit the post button so here we go"

You're gonna get us banned from here... :eek:

As I recall there were a couple of poster who eventually began cussing at each other. I believe even harold was involved in some of it. The posts looked like they were from a teenager. But instead of just removing the posts they censored all posts. So you now speak for pharmacyweek? If they did all that because of me, then how can I still post? You really can deal with the truth can you.

So do you pay the over time because of a union or to keep a union out? The readers here will find out the truth about retail comparedd to hospital. The truth is it has always paid more in retail than in hospital. Now it MIGHT be different in California. I don't know. California is different from almost everyother state. So it really doesn't matter if we take different positions the truth will get to them when they apply for jobs. And the truth will be hospitals pay less than retail. The work environmnet is less stressful than retail. So lets ask the folks whatr they have seen. Does hospital pay the same as retail? Don't let the common belief of "retail pays more" fool ya. Year and half ago, chain grocery stores were paying $48.50 per hour. I started our hospital pharmacists @ $52 per hour and $60 per hour for per diem. I had the staff work 8 hours and paid them for 10 hours. Last 2 hours, they received 1.5X due to over time. Couple that with 10% differential for evening and 10% differential for the weekend...and 1 weekend every 5 to 6 weeks, this hospital staff job rocked....

So do you pay the over time because of a union or to keep a union out? The readers here will find out the truth about retail comparedd to hospital. The truth is it has always paid more in retail than in hospital. Now it MIGHT be different in California. I don't know. California is different from almost everyother state. So it really doesn't matter if we take different positions the truth will get to them when they apply for jobs. And the truth will be hospitals pay less than retail. The work environmnet is less stressful than retail. So lets ask the folks whatr they have seen. Does hospital pay the same as retail?

I'm no longer in CA. I pay my clinical coordinator more than retail pharmacists in the area. My staff pharmacists make $1 less to $1 more than the retail pharmacists in the area. We all work 1 weekend out of 6 including myself.

Union came to the hospital when I was in CA. Technicians joined. Pharmacists told the union to go screw off. Then again, the pharmacist crew including myself were all Neo-Cons and anti-union.

Technicians joined the union year and half ago. They have yet to receive a raise because of inefficient union reps. Pharmacists base wage during that period went from $48 per hour to $58 per hour. I tried to give raises to technicians...but couldn't because of the union. :thumbup:

I have always said a union is only as strong as the solidarity of the members. Many people think a union is some entity that comes in and helps them. A union is a legal entity that allows employees to bargin as one unit. Unless the members of the union will strike they will have no bargining ability. For example, a one day walk out of all pharmacists to protest a lack of holidays off, lunch breaks sufficient staff etc in my opinion is all it would take to improve retail conditions. Whats sad is that a chain or slave shop cannot even open the doors without a pharmacists license. Yet pharmacists don't use that leverage to get improved working conditions. I'm no longer in CA. I pay my clinical coordinator more than retail pharmacists in the area. My staff pharmacists make $1 less to $1 more than the retail pharmacists in the area. We all work 1 weekend out of 6 including myself.

Union came to the hospital when I was in CA. Technicians joined. Pharmacists told the union to go screw off. Then again, the pharmacist crew including myself were all Neo-Cons and anti-union.

Technicians joined the union year and half ago. They have yet to receive a raise because of inefficient union reps. Pharmacists base wage during that period went from $48 per hour to $58 per hour. I tried to give raises to technicians...but couldn't because of the union. :thumbup:

I have always said a union is only as strong as the solidarity of the members. Many people think a union is some entity that comes in and helps them. A union is a legal entity that allows employees to bargin as one unit. Unless the members of the union will strike they will have no bargining ability. For example, a one day walk out of all pharmacists to protest a lack of holidays off, lunch breaks sufficient staff etc in my opinion is all it would take to improve retail conditions. Whats sad is that a chain or slave shop cannot even open the doors without a pharmacists license. Yet pharmacists don't use that leverage to get improved working conditions.

Strike and compromising patient care isn't my thing. I ensure our pharmacists are working in a productive and positive environment.

Pharmacists strike which jeopardizes patient care will only result in government and regulatory body looking for alternative route of drug distribution. We sure won't receive any public support...

No one likes a group of 6 figure income erners whining... :meanie:

I really don't see retail pharmacy being as bad as Slaver is making it out to be. Sure the environment can be quite hectic, and there's a lot more pressure to fill more prescriptions quickly while providing decent pharmaceutical care (really just glorified customer service). A lot of the knowledge we get from 4 years of pharmacy school do feel wasted since we have to deal so much with insurance and non-pharmacy related issues, but it's really what you make of it. For what we do, I wouldn't mind bagging groceries if we're getting paid $50/hr to do so ;) I've only been an intern for a year so I'm not as jaded yet.

It also depends on the pharmacist to stop being so snobby and step up to the plate. At Maryland, they really emphasize student involvement in state legislative processes that would affect all pharmacists statewide. If you're going to complain, best to organize and complain to the legislators.

Just looking at the top 10 paid professions, they all have their major negatives -- doctors with long hours, crazy patients, tough med school entrance requirements; airline pilots with long hours, good eye vision, so many lives at stake; lawyers with long hours with only some of them billable; and so on. At least with retail pharmacy, once you leave work, it stays there. So what if

I doubt a one day walk out is compromising patient care ...especially in retail and especially if its announced in the news and the reason why. In fact, I believe if people knew the treatment of pharmacists in retail they would support the effort. If they want all this patient care from pharmacists like you say they want its only logical they would help the effort. If it leads to improved conditions, which would translate into more time for patient care its worth it in the long run. Strike and compromising patient care isn't my thing. I ensure our pharmacists are working in a productive and positive environment.

Pharmacists strike which jeopardizes patient care will only result in government and regulatory body looking for alternative route of drug distribution. We sure won't receive any public support...

No one likes a group of 6 figure income erners whining... :meanie:

I think SlaveRPH is trying to say that people who will accept the unprofessional conditions, and have no problem "bagging Doritos", etc. to make the big dollars is contributing to the problem. Also think about doing this 40-50 hrs a week for the next 30 something years, answering that non-stop ringing telephone, dealing with the insurance hassels and rude customers. Then you have a family, and financial responsibilities and with rotating shifts have no time to retrain after you get burned out. This is what he calls pharmacy prison. Most students think only in the short term, and this is the mistake they make.

I really don't see retail pharmacy being as bad as Slaver is making it out to be. Sure the environment can be quite hectic, and there's a lot more pressure to fill more prescriptions quickly while providing decent pharmaceutical care (really just glorified customer service). A lot of the knowledge we get from 4 years of pharmacy school do feel wasted since we have to deal so much with insurance and non-pharmacy related issues, but it's really what you make of it. For what we do, I wouldn't mind bagging groceries if we're getting paid $50/hr to do so ;) I've only been an intern for a year so I'm not as jaded yet.

It also depends on the pharmacist to stop being so snobby and step up to the plate. At Maryland, they really emphasize student involvement in state legislative processes that would affect all pharmacists statewide. If you're going to complain, best to organize and complain to the legislators.

Just looking at the top 10 paid professions, they all have their major negatives -- doctors with long hours, crazy patients, tough med school entrance requirements; airline pilots with long hours, good eye vision, so many lives at stake; lawyers with long hours with only some of them billable; and so on. At least with retail pharmacy, once you leave work, it stays there. So what if

I have to say after 2 yrs of working as a tech at CVS....retail sucks. Every day..the pharmacy was like a circus with people running around stressed to the limit. All customers want is their Rx now abd that is it. Yes, very few do want a pharmacists knowledge but that was few and far between. It is not like I am not friendly or customer oriented b/c I am, its just that I could not dream of spending my time in pharm school to get paid a lot and be as low as a grocery bagger. I wanted more out of my hard work to not get treated like crap by customers and managers. I am not a troll as I do like pharmacy but not retail one bit. I just started working in a local hospital and have seen a clinical pharmacist who is happy with his job. I would love to be in his position but those jobs are very very few and far between. Every pharmacist I have worked with (probally around 20) is burnt out over the yrs. from retail and steer me away from pharmacy. I have opened my eyes to other health professions and am soo glad I have done so. Please look into other professions as I did as it has made the world to me. Working in the hospital has been fun to me but it would not pacify me in a career.

I have to say after 2 yrs of working as a tech at CVS....retail sucks. Every day..the pharmacy was like a circus with people running around stressed to the limit. All customers want is their Rx now abd that is it. Yes, very few do want a pharmacists knowledge but that was few and far between. It is not like I am not friendly or customer oriented b/c I am, its just that I could not dream of spending my time in pharm school to get paid a lot and be as low as a grocery bagger. I wanted more out of my hard work to not get treated like crap by customers and managers.

I'm not in pharmacy school because of the 3 days per week spent helping customers in retail (although most patients actually really enjoy my help.), but more for the 4-5 days/week spent not in retail; time spent in my new house, with family, playing with my boat, sportscar, photograhpy, etc. A pharmacist can take an entire week off and only use 1 or 2 "vacation days". How many other jobs offer that type of flexability? Also, how many other jobs are reaching $50/hr (100,000k+) with OT possible, and 20k sign on? Some patients give me a hard time, but I try not to think of them when I'm on vacation, playing golf, playing with my dogs, etc. It's just a job... ;)

If you feel like the "low man" on the totem pole at work, just smile when you walk past the irate (for no reason) store managers or customers with zero college experience, a '87 toyota and half a dozen ex-wives and screaming children. Sometimes we have it better than we think. Pharmacy is a choice.

Personally, my store is wonderful. I'd like to see a few changes, but it's not my life's crusade.

Just FYI: My store does 90 scripts/day. If I were doing 400+/day, I would quit. The pharmacsits who torture themselves with 900+/day are killing our profession. What we all need is for them to quit. There are stores around here doing less that 400/WEEK!! They are hiring too! ...This was the topic of a recent class discussion.

So do you pay the over time because of a union or to keep a union out? The readers here will find out the truth about retail comparedd to hospital. The truth is it has always paid more in retail than in hospital. Now it MIGHT be different in California. I don't know. California is different from almost everyother state. So it really doesn't matter if we take different positions the truth will get to them when they apply for jobs. And the truth will be hospitals pay less than retail. The work environmnet is less stressful than retail. So lets ask the folks whatr they have seen. Does hospital pay the same as retail?

I'm in California so I guess I don't count but I get paid around 47bucks/hour. Is that the going rate for retail? I don't know, I've been out of it for awhile now.

I'm not in pharmacy school because of the 3 days per week spent helping customers in retail (although most patients actually really enjoy my help.), but more for the 4-5 days/week spent not in retail; time spent in my new house, with family, playing with my boat, sportscar, photograhpy, etc. A pharmacist can take an entire week off and only use 1 or 2 "vacation days". How many other jobs offer that type of flexability? Also, how many other jobs are reaching $50/hr (100,000k+) with OT possible, and 20k sign on? Some patients give me a hard time, but I try not to think of them when I'm on vacation, playing golf, playing with my dogs, etc. It's just a job... ;)

If you feel like the "low man" on the totem pole at work, just smile when you walk past the irate (for no reason) store managers or customers with zero college experience, a '87 toyota and half a dozen ex-wives and screaming children. Sometimes we have it better than we think. Pharmacy is a choice.

Personally, my store is wonderful. I'd like to see a few changes, but it's not my life's crusade.


:thumbup: :thumbup:

Not every retail pharmacy is a circus, nor should they have to be. I agree there are some extremely poorly-run chains that are a detriment to the profession by driving off people who might be great pharmacists. Pharmacy is something I really like, something that interests and motivates me...but it's only part of my life. It will provide me with the means to enjoy the other, more important, aspects better than other careers I have explored. I have truly enjoyed working in some pharmacies and truly dislike working in one (out of 5). I have hated every other fast-food/clerk/hotel housekeeping/teaching job I have had though.

i agree with some of what slaverph may be saying. I don't think that it's unreasonable to try to institute a few rules to make life a little better for the pharmacist, like 20-30 minutes for lunch, bathroom breaks, maybe slightly better conditions and respect from customers.

At the same time though, i just spent time in a retail pharmacy on Saturday, and in a low volume store, there was plenty of time for bathroom breaks, lunch (albeit at your desk) and even time to read magazines and surf the web. i've known some stores on thanksgiving to get 10-20 scripts. that makes for a lot of free time.

Think about it! $50 an hour to surf the WEB!!

But what i really think about slaverph, is that he is really really myopic. Has he never seen Pfizer's Guide to Pharmacy Careers?

Is he not aware that other jobs exist in pharmacy? the reason why you get all that clinical training in pharm school is that i honestly believe that pharmacists will become increasingly recognized as clinical health care providers with expanded duties and not just pill counters.

the profession is changing, old man. look at what has happened with PA's and NP and nursing as well. The demand for healthcare will not stop and pharmacy will continue to evolve. You've just given up too quickly. You think that pharmacy is an assembly fast food retail job, becuase you can't see beyond your own front door.

Here's just a few if you are that burnt out:

1. PharmD/JD, become a lawyer and work on pharmaceutical or health care based law. Go back for an mba, phd or a residency.
2. FDA/CDC/etc, lots of positions here
3. Pfizer/ Eli Lilly/ Astra Zeneca, etc a multitude of career options here
4. Hospital Administration
5. Insurance complanies
6. Managed care companies
7. Clinical pharmacy
8. Home based care/geriatric
9. Research
10. Teach
11. Join the army/navy/air force, and work in Germany, italy, korea, etc
12. Pack your bags and try retail in hawaii, alaska, or abroad.
13. District manager

Is that not enough options for you? Think realistically about some other health care professions like optometry or dentistry, where your options are severely limited in comparison to a pharmacist. your not limited to living in topeka, kansas and working in "pharmacy prison" at cvs for the rest of your life!!!