Applying for Pharm Tech Positions

[SHC1984]

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The volume of scripts depends on which pharmacy setting you work in.

On average, a retail pharmacy store can do 600 to 800 scripts per day. This is the case because most of the medication orders retail stores get are your fast movers and common drugs (e.g: IBU, AMOX, VICODIN, etc) and can be quickly prepared. In addition, I find a good 25% of that volume coming strictly from refills.

I work at hospital pharmacy and we do about 200 to 400 scripts a day. This may not sound like a lot of prescriptions but it really is a handful. We make a lot of compound medications (not your common Green Goddess or Baclofen but also include chemotherapy and eye drop compounds). It take time to make it and we don't always have stock bottles made since there is an expiration date on these medications.

We also get discharged prescriptions that can range from 1 to 4 pages long. There is about 6 to 7 orders per page. It can become a challenge on some days (especially discharge days when we have to constantly page resident doctors to verify dose and etc.) but i enjoy the challenge 🙂

Do you like retail better or hospital? and why?

Which one is MORE stressful?

Which job is harder to get? which job pays MORE? hehe...

 

[PharmD321]

Thank you!! Sure, I work at Charlotte NC. Call there and ask for a job! 😀 I haven't gotten my schedule yet...I will be going in for training monday morning.
I think they will give me around 30 hours a week though....The pharmacy currently has 2 techs and they just hired me and one other....

The store manager said he was going to hire just ONE tech but he hired two just in case one of us call in sick or one of us doesn't work out or can't work full time etc etc. Good idea I guess...LOL...

Haha, ya right. I will drive all the way from Denver to Charlotte NC to go to work everyday! Thank you for the job offer though! 😀😀😀


Wow...good call. The pharmacy I work for usually does 200 scripts a day I believe...and has only one pharmacist and one tech....
I just hope these women pharmacists aren't too moody...The one I saw today looked really stress out...I should have looked for pharmacys with male pharmacists instead...

sex and stress levels shouldn't combine. I think that your pharmacist only has a stress issue, maybe you should teach her some yoga or something...

Hopfully pharmacy tech isn't more stressful then waitressing...I wait tables and thought it was okay overall, but most people hate it!

anything is stressful if you want it to be stressful. I am sure you will be fine....

Last question...does a pharmacist and a pharmacy tech do just about the same things?????? I know a pharmacist is RESPONSIBLE if something goes wrong, but physically a tech and a pharmacist does the same stuff right?

Physically yes. Mentally no. The only thing I can think of right now (haven't studied the pharmacy tech book in like 2 months!!) is that the pharmacist can counsel patients and techs can't.

 

[Transformer]

Do you like retail better or hospital? and why?

Which one is MORE stressful?

Which job is harder to get? which job pays MORE? hehe...

I like hospital better than retail (I've done both), because hospital pharmacies hire more help than retail. This means during the busy hours, I work with at least four or more techs. At most retail pharmacies, there are only two or at most three tech on duty at the same time and then everyone else is a clerk. (think cost effectiveness for retail companies). This is why when a retail store gets too busy, techs and clerks forget to take breaks and some pharmacists don't encourage them to take their 15 min breaks either. In addition, if you are the last to leave and your store just got hit hard at the end, expect the pharmacists to ask you to stay behind to help clean up and put away the mcKesson orders. Most pharmacists will appreciate your dedication and buy you a late night snack.

Because some retail pharmacies don't pay their part time techs or clerks as well as hospitals can, retail usually have a high turn over rate. Most of the time, they loose one of their most experienced techs every one to two years to hospitals like Kaiser. Plus, retail stores are on a strict budget and each store is only allowed to hire a certain number of techs on their pay roll. This means even if you are certified by PTCB or licensed by the state, a fully staffed store can only offer you a clerk position. Doing tech work and getting paid as a clerk; kinda sucks....then again, everyone starts somewhere.

Retail is more stressful than Hospital because there is not enough help at retail settings.

Generally, Hospital pharmacies pay techs and clerks a higher hourly wage than Retail pharmacies, but this is not always the case. It really depends on where you apply for a job, your pharmacy experiences, and your negotiation skills. 🙂

 

[PharmD321]

This means even if you are certified by PTCB or licensed by the state, a fully staffed store can only offer you a clerk position. Doing tech work and getting paid as a clerk; kinda sucks....then again, everyone starts somewhere.

Retail is more stressful than Hospital because there is not enough help at retail settings.

Generally, Hospital pharmacies pay techs and clerks a higher hourly wage than Retail pharmacies, but this is not always the case. It really depends on your pharmacy experience and your negotiation skills. 🙂

I will have to agree with you on this! This makes perfect sense! I am certified and I think I will still have to be clerk or front in of the store to start out...🙁

 

[TTUMike]

Wow...good call. The pharmacy I work for usually does 200 scripts a day I believe...and has only one pharmacist and one tech....
I just hope these women pharmacists aren't too moody...The one I saw today looked really stress out...I should have looked for pharmacys with male pharmacists instead...

Hopfully pharmacy tech isn't more stressful then waitressing...I wait tables and thought it was okay overall, but most people hate it!

Last question...does a pharmacist and a pharmacy tech do just about the same things?????? I know a pharmacist is RESPONSIBLE if something goes wrong, but physically a tech and a pharmacist does the same stuff right?

Pharmacy technicians don't usually have any of the responsibilities of pharmacists (other than Florida that I know of) but pharmacists are responsible for the technicians job when busy. If that makes any sense. For instance, techs will type, fill, and sell prescriptions. Pharmacists review what you typed is correct, verify the pill that what is put in the bottle is right, determine if there are any drug allergies/contraindications (which the computer alerts them of), and consults.
What you will find is that the great pharmacists can manage their responsibilities as well as those of other technicians who get behind. If you plan on sticking it out in retail than it will definitely help you master the art of multi-tasking.
If you have any other questions just let me know.

 

[TTUMike]

Do you like retail better or hospital? and why?

Which one is MORE stressful?

Which job is harder to get? which job pays MORE? hehe...

I have never worked in a hospital but I have volunteered and I would rather work retail. I love the pace of retail and occasionally enjoy the eccentric customer.

I think hands down retail is more stressful. If you could some how find a way to add crying babies, angry customers, and a drive thru to a hospital then it might compete. Until then I don't think hospitals come close.

I think hospital is harder to get simply because they generally pay more and with the high turnover in retail there are usually more spots available. As a pharmacist retail pays more.

 

[SHC1984]

Thanks for all the replies! 🙂

I heard pharmacists makes the MOST in retail....So basically retail pays their pharmacists well and their techs crappy?? while hospitals pays their pharm techs well and their pharmacists crappy???? Kinda werid how that works...LOL...

 

[PharmD321]

Thanks for all the replies! 🙂 I heard pharmacists makes the MOST in retail....

That ain't true. There are so many jobs available in the hospital area that can compete with retail (like oncology pharmacist or other departments in the hospital area), I don't think retail has the maximum salary though. Pharmacist jobs are mostly widespread (I mean like you can work wherever you want).

I know this is not retail vs. Hospital but you should consider opening your mind like:

Industrial (pfizer or johnson and johnson) pharmacist can make a lot too.

FDA pharmacist can make a lot too.

You can work for the DEA and make some dough too

Here are two more you can make a lot too:

Nuclear Pharmacist

Nutritional Pharmacist


You can even work with the government officials on the drug policy administration for Obama. Look in the 2008 Plum book for more details!!

 

[TTUMike]

That ain't true. There are so many jobs available in the hospital area that can compete with retail (like oncology pharmacist or other departments in the hospital area), I don't think retail has the maximum salary though. Pharmacist jobs are mostly widespread (I mean like you can work wherever you want).

I know this is not retail vs. Hospital but you should consider opening your mind like:

Industrial (pfizer or johnson and johnson) pharmacist can make a lot too.

FDA pharmacist can make a lot too.

You can work for the DEA and make some dough too

Here are two more you can make a lot too:

Nuclear Pharmacist

Nutritional Pharmacist


You can even work with the government officials on the drug policy administration for Obama. Look in the 2008 Plum book for more details!!

Not to burst your bubble but according to salary.com and simply hired retail pharmacists earn (national average) $100,051-110,407, clinical pharmcists $88,420-101,075, nuclear pharmacist $96,495-104,047 (more schooling), and oncology pharmacist average $71,000.

In Texas starting salary for retail pharmacists is $112,000 which is slightly above national average.

This is not to say that their aren't pharmacists that make more (starting salary) than retail but I have yet to find them.

 

[SHC1984]

Off topic on this thread, but since you guys are always answering my questions 😀(And I am always on here b/c its either SDN or read kaplan book for PCAT...🙄)

Anyone know of any pharmacists that has been sued before??? Medical doctors and dentists have, but how about pharmacists??? and if they do does the retail store/hospital get into trouble or do you (the pharmacist) get into trouble?? Does pharmacists have mal practice insurance? or does the retail store/hospital provide for it???

 

[PharmD321]

Off topic on this thread, but since you guys are always answering my questions 😀(And I am always on here b/c its either SDN or read kaplan book for PCAT...🙄)

Anyone know of any pharmacists that has been sued before??? Medical doctors and dentists have, but how about pharmacists??? and if they do does the retail store/hospital get into trouble or do you (the pharmacist) get into trouble?? Does pharmacists have mal practice insurance? or does the retail store/hospital provide for it???

Great question! I was curious too so I looked in google and found this useful site:

http://www.uspharmacist.com/index.asp?show=article&page=8_1018.htm

EDIT: Look in the article at the different cases that happened. You will see that the first case happened in Kmart and the second case in a hospital. Notice that the second case said that the hospital organization paid $13.5 million. Also, the third case said that three pharmacist have to pay 7.1 million dollars for the damage.

Last thing I want to add, I am not a lawyer so I can't answer these questions. I think that once you get hired in retail or hospital, the company lawyers will talk with you so you can ask them these questions.

 

[SHC1984]

Great question! I was curious too so I looked in google and found this useful site:

http://www.uspharmacist.com/index.asp?show=article&page=8_1018.htm

EDIT: Look in the article at the different cases that happened. You will see that the first case happened in Kmart and the second case in a hospital. Notice that the second case said that the hospital organization paid $13.5 million. Also, the third case said that three pharmacist have to pay 7.1 million dollars for the damage.

Last thing I want to add, I am not a lawyer so I can't answer these questions. I think that once you get hired in retail or hospital, the company lawyers will talk with you so you can ask them these questions.

so if you get sued can you ever work as a pharmacist again?

 

[SHC1984]

Pharmacy technicians don't usually have any of the responsibilities of pharmacists (other than Florida that I know of) but pharmacists are responsible for the technicians job when busy. If that makes any sense. For instance, techs will type, fill, and sell prescriptions. Pharmacists review what you typed is correct, verify the pill that what is put in the bottle is right, determine if there are any drug allergies/contraindications (which the computer alerts them of), and consults.
What you will find is that the great pharmacists can manage their responsibilities as well as those of other technicians who get behind. If you plan on sticking it out in retail than it will definitely help you master the art of multi-tasking.
If you have any other questions just let me know.

So overall if you are a good pharm tech you will be a good pharmacist right?? I wish Walgreens will just hired me as a pharmacist now so I don't have to go thru Pharm school.

 

[TTUMike]

Every pharmacist that I know that is extremely good at what they do was a tech for some time before becoming a pharmacist. So I think it is safe to say there is some correlation. You will find how much there is to learn at Walgreens so having prior experience helps get through those problems that might trip you up like insurance and patient complaints.

 

[PharmD321]

so if you get sued can you ever work as a pharmacist again?

maybe. maybe not. It depends on the situation. If you went to prison for killing someone, then it would be a felony. With a felony on your record, it will be really hard to find a job.

 

[TTUMike]

I have not looked at the statistics but I highly doubt that many pharmacists go to jail for the death of one of their patients. Despite it being a terrible situation I think you end up losing your license and pay a large settlement. There was a recent case here in Texas where a pharmacist was responsible for the death of 16 babies who were incorrectly given the wrong dose of heparin. The verdict is still out on what will be the consequence of his actions.

 

[SHC1984]

Congrats! Now be prepared for two weeks of computer training.

SOOOO long and boring...Just got home from a long day at Walgreens sitting in front of a computer! lol... can't wait till I learn everything I need to know.

I do think the abbre are cool though... like qd means everyday. q means every? why? some of those abbre makes no sense to me, but I can memorize them. LOL..

 

[SHC1984]

I have not looked at the statistics but I highly doubt that many pharmacists go to jail for the death of one of their patients. Despite it being a terrible situation I think you end up losing your license and pay a large settlement. There was a recent case here in Texas where a pharmacist was responsible for the death of 16 babies who were incorrectly given the wrong dose of heparin. The verdict is still out on what will be the consequence of his actions.

But this is a once in a blue moon situation right?? Does a pharmacist pay for mal practice insurance too? There are reasons why I do not like the medical and dental fields b/c I do not like going to court every other day...LOL...Hopfully this rarely if ever happens to a pharmacist.

 

[PharmD321]

I have not looked at the statistics but I highly doubt that many pharmacists go to jail for the death of one of their patients. Despite it being a terrible situation I think you end up losing your license and pay a large settlement. There was a recent case here in Texas where a pharmacist was responsible for the death of 16 babies who were incorrectly given the wrong dose of heparin. The verdict is still out on what will be the consequence of his actions.

16 babies? I bet they going to put him in death row....

SOOOO long and boring...Just got home from a long day at Walgreens sitting in front of a computer! lol... can't wait till I learn everything I need to know.

I do think the abbre are cool though... like qd means everyday. q means every? why? some of those abbre makes no sense to me, but I can memorize them. LOL..

Abbreviations are in latin. qd means quaque die which is "every day."

But this is a once in a blue moon situation right?? Does a pharmacist pay for mal practice insurance too? There are reasons why I do not like the medical and dental fields b/c I do not like going to court every other day...LOL...Hopfully this rarely if ever happens to a pharmacist.

I have no idea if the pharmacist pay malpractice insurance but I am sure that this insurance would be part of your benefits for working for a large retail corporation.

Safeway used to deduct my paycheck when I was a bagboy because if I get injured then the insurance can pay the hospital fees. The same concept should apply to the malpractice insurance to cover a pharmacist.

EDIT: also ask your walgreens pharmacist and tell us what the pharmacist says.