I had such a bad day at work today. Granted I've only been a pharm tech for 6 months, and I generally really like working in a pharmacy.. but today was so bad it actually made me reconsider my career path! How do you guys handle it? Patients yellnig that their RX isn't ready because the Dr. didn't call us back yet? Or that we dispensed "my methadone to another customer when you were supposed to always have it ready in stock for me". or some stupid tech thinking because she took the certification test for pharm techs that she is a pharmacist and can run the show(even though she's only been there 2 months)? or aetna , aka the worst insurance company in the world,treating you like an idiot because you are trying to help someone out, and people (medicaid) calling and telling you to "refill all my meds" and then getting pissy when 1 is missing "But the vicodin is what I really needed!" Oh my god, I just bought a 6 pack and now I'm venting on sdn! How can you stand it , really?!??!
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Bad days at work?
- Thread starter Leah27
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Leah27 said:
You just have to take one day at a time and realize that you'll have days like that in retail. Thank heavens there are other specialties within pharmacy. 👍
yeah, residancies are looking really hot tonight... lol
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Leah27 said:
omg. i just got back from work today! one of the worst days. EVER. i'm a pharmacy clerk and work at the out window side where patients pick up their meds (the side that gets b!tched at the most). i knew it was going to be a bad day today too. first of the month, plus a monday, plus the nearing of flu season! i was scheduled 10-7, but i stayed until 820p cuz it was extremely busy and we just received our adc order and ppl were being impatient and out of control. i must have gotten yelled at 10 times today by customers getting mad that their rx's weren't rdy. best i can do was tell them, it will be ready in 15minutes, and if they come back in 15minutes and its still not ready, i hide. actually i don't. but i should. i just hover over the pharmacist and have him fill it nownownow!! but after all the lame customers, there are those that are really grateful that you helped them out, and its those ppl that make pharmacy so rewarding. i just needed to vent.
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Even when I've had a bad day with people screaming at me, I just think to myself that the worst day at work is better than any day at school. I am so sick of school and I still have over 2 years to go.
You know I've worked both hospital and retail, and you know retail is stressfull, no way around it.
Some days and some patients will just make you hate life, and everyone who has worked in a chain store knows it. However, I've found that there are at least two ways to diffuse the situation with these tyoe if customers. 1. Your script isn't ready? Well, we've had " "Insert excuse here: Doc hasn't called bac on the refill, computers broke, your mom can't afford her prozac this month...etc... or 2. Explain to them that even though they are in a drive through, they are not in McDonalds and if it takes an extra 10 minutes to fill their script, they would rather wait than end up becoming a med. error statistic. Also, calling in your refills 2 days early can greatly help.
Once again, this is only my view, and I don't really recommend disrespecting patients, but I only give as much respect as I am given.
Some days and some patients will just make you hate life, and everyone who has worked in a chain store knows it. However, I've found that there are at least two ways to diffuse the situation with these tyoe if customers. 1. Your script isn't ready? Well, we've had " "Insert excuse here: Doc hasn't called bac on the refill, computers broke, your mom can't afford her prozac this month...etc... or 2. Explain to them that even though they are in a drive through, they are not in McDonalds and if it takes an extra 10 minutes to fill their script, they would rather wait than end up becoming a med. error statistic. Also, calling in your refills 2 days early can greatly help.
Once again, this is only my view, and I don't really recommend disrespecting patients, but I only give as much respect as I am given.
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Don't let it get to you man, sometimes, you just have to look at it as a job. I mean, it could be worse. The pharmacist i worked for during the summer had to deal with patients who would threaten to wait for her afterwork at Wal Mart. Now that is scary.
Patients are inconsiderate and plain stupid sometimes. It's all about weighing 😎 the overall pros and cons.
Patients are inconsiderate and plain stupid sometimes. It's all about weighing 😎 the overall pros and cons.
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Even though you may not be dealt an ideal set of circumstances every day, it's really what you do with what you are given that makes it a good day or a bad day.
Patients can be bad sometimes, but 95% of that involves 3rd parties. I had a 45-minute phonecall with express scripts last night. The patient was not too happy, but I was busting my butt to get it done (guess they didn't see it that way). End result? 3 people (2 pharmacists and an intern), working 45 minutes for a $15 3rd part reimbursement. 🙄
I have just started working at a retail pharmacy located in a supermarket. I have not encountered any really bad customers yet, but I can see, and have heard of it happening. I worked as a restaurant server for 5 years, believe me I have put up with all types of stress that customers can cause.
Chris
Chris
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