Curious about Pharmacy

[briansle]

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What is the daily routine of a pharmicist? It is a job that requires hand eye coordination, or is it mainly filling out prescriptions? Can you listen to the radio while you do your job? What personalities fit the job? I get the impression its low stress, mainly a paper-pencil type of job.
Is pharmacy school easier to get into than medical or dental school? What kind of GPA do you need? And is it only two years?
What are the pre-reqs?

Thanks and please add more info that I didn't ask for

 

[LVPharm]

I'll refer you to my post of "Important Links" in the sticky thread at the top of the forum page. Specifically, go to http://www.aacp.org under "for students and applicants" on the left side, and go to http://www.pfizercareerguides.com/pharmacy.html for insight into the career....and nope, it's not a low stress, mainly pencil-paper type job...wish it was low stress 😉

 

[briansle]

I read the two sites you mentioned, thanks pretty helpful.

I got the impression that Doctors diagnose and prescribe the drug, pharm companies make the drug, and pharmacists have the most important job of measuring the dosage of the drug and putting that white label on the bottle.

Seems like a very $mart career choice since the retiring baby boomer generation will need more drugs than ever.

But after reading the two sites, I still say its pretty low stress job which is also part of its appeal. If your fast and efficient, you can fill out all the prescriptions in half time and then just kick it. I'm sold, I'm going to pharm school. I can play during the day and work at night. 🙂

 

[surgical]

lol....we have a partier My cousin goes to UCSF and he said most of the parties are thrown by pharmacy students.

 

[pharmd-08]

What is the daily routine of a pharmicist? It is a job that requires hand eye coordination, or is it mainly filling out prescriptions? Can you listen to the radio while you do your job? What personalities fit the job? I get the impression its low stress, mainly a paper-pencil type of job.
Is pharmacy school easier to get into than medical or dental school? What kind of GPA do you need? And is it only two years?
What are the pre-reqs?

Thanks and please add more info that I didn't ask for

Paper-pencil type of job = that's what I used to think. But after I followed the entries at the Xanga blog by Raindrop, it totally changed my mindframe.

I believe you can find the link at the "Important link"--> here it is
http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=raindrop

 

[briansle]

Pharmacy is pretty cool but the only downside is that you may have to work at a supermarket (walgreens, savons, etc.). I rather be making 30k-40k in a small real pharmacy, than 70k-80k in a supermarket and having to tell people, "I go to work at Savons". Pretty embarrassing, having go to school all those years and people will think your bagging groceries.

 

[LVPharm]

Walgreens and Sav-On are supermarkets? Thats news to me! Next time I'm there I can pick up some fresh produce and have the butcher get me a pound of ground sirloin!

No, they are chain pharmacies. They have a front-end that does sell all kinds of merchandise, but it is not a "supermarket".

I intern at a Vons pharmacy...neither me nor my preceptor find it the least bit embarassing...and Vons IS an actual supermarket!

 

[surgical]

umm briansle........you can always tell people you are working at Savon as a Pharmacist. You said you rather get paid $30,000 less because you are embarrassed to say you work at a grocery store? I think you need to get over your insecurities before you even think about going into pharmacy.

 

[briansle]

Hmm... I see your point.

But I always thought of walgreens and savons as markets because I usually go into those stores only to buy beer and snacks. I never really go there to get prescription drugs. But then again...I've been healthy my entire life.

Maybe if I was old I would see walgreens and savons as pharmacies, so I guess your right.

 

[LVPharm]

I hope you're not under the impression that retail pharmacy is all about counting pills by 5's, pouring them into a container, then slapping a label (that magically appears out of thin air) onto said container...repeated countless times for the remainder of your shift.

When you open up your pharmacy in the morning, your tech won't be there for another 30 minutes or so, you've got the drive-thru stacked at least 2 deep with several customers at the window with drop-offs and pick-ups, the phone is ringing off-the-hook, and you're also on hold with insurance because you can't get a claim to go through...that's not low stress.

Even with your tech there, you have the added responsibility of being the neighborhood drug info person, and you have to counsel on each and every new prescription. At the same time, you are responsible for making sure that the drug/dose is correct and appropriate for every medication you dispense. You'll be taking new scripts off the phone, transferring prescriptions in and out of your pharmacy, etc, etc, etc.

This profession entails a great deal more responsibility than I'm afraid you think it does...and that's just retail, working at your neighborhood Sav-on Drugs.

 

[briansle]

THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN TRYING TO SAY THIS WHOLE TIME!! I already knew that. Stop restating the obvious.

 

[LVPharm]

THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN TRYING TO SAY THIS WHOLE TIME!! I already knew that. Stop restating the obvious.

Me? Restating the obvious? Like it ISN'T a generally low stress job? I just don't understand the hostility here, I'm just trying to help you gain some perspective, because your previous posts seem to indicate that you think this job entails only filling scripts. It's my opinion. You can take it or leave it. If you leave it, then have a nice day 😉

 

[briansle]

You have a nice day too

 

[surgical]

man LVpharm don't bother with him.....he sounds like a punk kid. 👎

 

[loo]

But after reading the two sites, I still say its pretty low stress job which is also part of its appeal. If your fast and efficient, you can fill out all the prescriptions in half time and then just kick it. I'm sold, I'm going to pharm school. I can play during the day and work at night. 🙂

Why don't you get a job or volunteer to see what it is really like? Why don't you ask about the rigorous education that is involved? It's "low-stress" compared to what? What other career options are you considering?

 

[jdpharmd?]

THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN TRYING TO SAY THIS WHOLE TIME!! I already knew that. Stop restating the obvious.

When do you graduate from high school? 🙄

 

[Longhorn23]

Hey no need to get hostile here, we don't want this forum to become another pre-allo forum

 

[sweetcalie08]

Hey no need to get hostile here, we don't want this forum to become another pre-allo forum

 

[ultracet]

hey now... you mess with one of the pharm D students or the profession, you mess with ALL of us....
It will never be pre-allo b/c we will stick together!

Pharmacy is definitely not low-stress
and it will be getting more stressful within the next 15 years

As far as wanting to work at a "real" pharmacy, not walgreens....
I'll gladly tell people i work at walgreens, walmart, or piggly wiggly and laugh all the way home in my lincoln navagator....

 

[Glycerin]

Please do not feed the troll or give it water after midnight. Do not expose it to sunlight. Or wait...maybe we should. 😉 😀

 

[imperial frog]

Pharmacy is pretty cool but the only downside is that you may have to work at a supermarket (walgreens, savons, etc.). I rather be making 30k-40k in a small real pharmacy, than 70k-80k in a supermarket and having to tell people, "I go to work at Savons". Pretty embarrassing, having go to school all those years and people will think your bagging groceries.

Umm...no board appropriate response is suitable for these statements.

 

[Superflyjsc]

"downside to pharmacy is that u have to work at walgreens or the like?" Thats only if u plan on going into retail. THere are sooo many more options in pharmacy than retail if u prefer to work somewhere else other than at a CVS or Walgreens.
As far as the stressfactor with the job, its kinda hard for me to say cuase right now im only a pharmtech/intern. SInce im working more in the front lines directly wit the customers, i take the majority of the blunt from their moanings and bitchings about their medications, doctors calls, prior authorizations and co-pays. Also, at least at the pharmacy i work at, they never usually happen to have enough people working each day thus, im usually the one running around all day trying to help customers/patients in waiting up in front and runing back to help at drive through, and runing back to answering phonecalls and back and forth. Therefore, each day is very stressful for me easpecially when i cant find a customers perscription and they are waiting and getting all pissed. On the other hand, when i observe the pharmacist who works wit me, HE/SHE usually seems very calm and relaxed in the back verifying each orders. Theres usually other techs there to do the data entry and fill the scripts so it seems like the pharmacist has it pretty easy. The only time the pharmacist speaks wit customer is if that customer has a question about their medication and wants to have a consultaion wit the pharmacist which isnt that very often maybe like 1 out of every 15-20 customers.
So all in all, what im trying to say is Pharmacy can be quite stressful but only for those techs who take the blunt of the abuse like me. The pharmacists dont really do much else besides verifying each order in the back and seldomly consulting with patients or customers. Theres other techs who do all the other work such as answering docs calls and data entry as i had mentioned. Wow i babble on so much sorry.

 

[LVPharm]

So all in all, what im trying to say is Pharmacy can be quite stressful but only for those techs who take the blunt of the abuse like me. The pharmacists dont really do much else besides verifying each order in the back and seldomly consulting with patients or customers.

...well, not every store is like that 😉
In retail, it depends on where you work, what kind of support staff you have, access to "technology", etc. You can work for Target at a store that gets maybe 50-~70 (on a busy day) scripts a day and have one tech. I interned at such a store last summer. That is the least stressful retail site I've ever seen. No drive-thru, a large, spacious pharmacy and people who go to Target are usually happy to be there! You could also work at the Rite Aid I interned at last year. One floater pharmacist, and one floater tech (when you're lucky). Sometimes there was no tech, and you'd get hammered with customers at the drive-thru, at the window, on the phone, etc. I often got stuck with some rather green, fresh out of school floaters at that location. One time it was just me (2 months into pharmacy school), and a recent U Mich grad. NO TECH! Neither of us were any good on the computer system, and we got slammed. We had all sorts of insurance adjudication problems. Pissed off customers left and right, but I understand no one likes to wait more than an hour for their script to be filled 😉. That was NOT fun, and made me doubt whether I could hack retail pharmacy. Last time I checked, that guy bailed out of Rite Aid and works as a staff pharmacist at one of the local hospitals. I'd rather work pharmacy in a desolate Nevada mining town in the middle of nowhere than work for LV Rite Aid.

Also, the busier stores (especially the local Wags) seem to make investments in technology that makes the job a little more bearable. Some are also generally better staffed, and thus can afford to have a more structured workflow. I've never worked in that kind of pharmacy. All three retail pharmacies I've interned with were staffed with one pharmacist, and one tech. Zippo on the technology...just a good old fashioned counting tray and spatula!

 

[28657]

On the other hand, when i observe the pharmacist who works wit me, HE/SHE usually seems very calm and relaxed in the back verifying each orders. Theres usually other techs there to do the data entry and fill the scripts so it seems like the pharmacist has it pretty easy. The only time the pharmacist speaks wit customer is if that customer has a question about their medication and wants to have a consultaion wit the pharmacist which isnt that very often maybe like 1 out of every 15-20 customers.

Yeah it's amazing what 6-8 years of education can offer you....the opportunity to tell your ASSISTANTS to do the "grunt" work. 😀
But trust me, they do not have it easy. Their license is on the line for every bit of work you do.

As far as the stressfactor with the job, its kinda hard for me to say cuase right now im only a pharmtech/intern.

I'm pretty sure that in order to be an intern you have to be a pharmacy student. 😉

 

[LVPharm]

Yeah it's amazing what 6-8 years of education can offer you....the opportunity to tell your ASSISTANTS to do the "grunt" work. 😀
But trust me, they do not have it easy. Their license is on the line for every bit of work you do.

Absolutely right! Because the pharmacist is ultimately responsible, I've seen some very anxious newbie pharmacists. Even if the pharmacist works for a well-staffed store like Superflyjsc's store with an efficient workflow, it's not necessarilly low stress either. It may seem easy, but for each and every vial of medication that goes into the bag, the pharmacist's license is put at stake.

 

[bananaface]

I'm pretty sure that in order to be an intern you have to be a pharmacy student. 😉

People working on getting their tech liscence thorugh a school go through on the job experience that some schools refer to as internships. Maybe he/she is referring to a pharmacy technician internship program?

Anna

 

[dgroulx]

My store has 6 people on duty, not counting the patient care pharmacist. Yesterday, everyone was going non-stop except when they were at lunch. Out of those 6, there is 1 pharmacist, 2 certified techs, 2 other techs, plus me (the intern).

The pharmacist primarily checks the medication and takes doctor phone calls. Only the pharmacist is allowed to write down a phone-in medication. He/she also helps out at the counter, fills prescriptions, etc when they have a spare moment. The new prescriptions are usually entered by the certified techs, but others do it when they go to lunch. I fill most of the prescriptions early in the day, then help out on the registers later on. Yesterday, we were too hammered for me to ever step out from behind the counter. Someone came in to pick up their medicine after 2.5 hours and it still wasn't filled, yet. Those baskets just kept piling up in front of me. The techs can type into the computer faster than I can pull bottles and count. Of course, we kept running out of everything, too. This morning, I dreamt that I was counting pills. It woke me up like a nightmare and I immediately got out of bed.

 

[jdpharmd?]

Only the pharmacist is allowed to write down a phone-in medication.

I'm sure that it varies by state, but in AZ, interns are licensed to do anything (under the supervision of a phamacist) except the transfer of a controlled substance.

 

[Glycerin]

I'm pretty sure that in order to be an intern you have to be a pharmacy student. 😉

One would think that, but at my job, somehow an undergrad in the application process was accepted as an intern. 😕

 

[Glycerin]

My store has 6 people on duty, not counting the patient care pharmacist. Yesterday, everyone was going non-stop except when they were at lunch. Out of those 6, there is 1 pharmacist, 2 certified techs, 2 other techs, plus me (the intern).

Has FL law changed? There's only supposed to be 3 techs per pharmacist. The hospital pharmacists where I work told me that last year, and my previous job (mail order in Clearwater) went by the same rule.

 

[jdpharmd?]

One would think that, but at my job, somehow an undergrad in the application process was accepted as an intern. 😕

How are they licensed by the state board of pharmacy? The board usually requires a current enrollment in pharmacy school for an intern license. Tech licenses just require a HS diploma, or a PTCB exam for the certified ones.

 

[Glycerin]

How are they licensed by the state board of pharmacy? The board usually requires a current enrollment in pharmacy school for an intern license. Tech licenses just require a HS diploma, or a PTCB exam for the certified ones.

He wasn't liscensed, as far as I know. I think he was just given the title of intern.

 

[ultracet]

He wasn't liscensed, as far as I know. I think he was just given the title of intern.

I would have to say that as far as my experience goes..... I am with Jd. In AL and VA an intern/extern can do anything that a pharmacist can do under the supervision of a pharmacist.
However, some stores have different policies, I did one of my rotations at wally world and i was not allowed to count controlled substances.
Fine with me... don't want to be accused if their count is off.
And interns have to post their license just like pharmacists do.

This tech intern thing is new to me.... I guess b/c i've never been a tech i don't know anything about it.

I don't think the board would like it very much if they walked in and there was suzie smith--- pharmacy intern (on her name tag) and she didn't have a license hanging and wasn't enrolled in school...

 

[Superflyjsc]

Im actually pretty amazed that many pharmacys have only 1 pharmacist working on duty even at busier stores and times. Where i work we always have 2 pharmacists on duty (1 to do the verifying and the other to take doctors calls and work drop offs) In addition we have about 5 techs working as well. It seems like we are fully staffed but at where i work there still always seems to be problems. Thats y i usually prefer to work in the back and fill the scripts rather than work cashier or drive through cuase i hate dealing wit customers' complaints. Im actually really interested in working for other retail pharmacy chain and see how a different pharmacy runs their operations compared to where i work, and im actually even interested in working for a hospital as well. Does anyone know the difference in the daily work and stress-level of a clinical pharmacist compared to a retail pharmacist?

 

[dgroulx]

Has FL law changed? There's only supposed to be 3 techs per pharmacist. The hospital pharmacists where I work told me that last year, and my previous job (mail order in Clearwater) went by the same rule.

There is a two hour period during the day when the two pharmacist shifts overlap. Maybe that's how they get away with it. There's probably some kind of loophole in the law.

 

[jdpharmd?]

Im actually really interested in working for other retail pharmacy chain and see how a different pharmacy runs their operations compared to where i work, and im actually even interested in working for a hospital as well.

Definately check out another retail pharmacy. Some are HORRIBLE and bury the pharmacist with drive-throughs, questionable controllled substance scripts, etc. Some are wonderful and leave time (10 mins) for each customer consultation, diabetes education, cholesterol screening, compounding, etc. I love my new job (slow retail), but I was pretty sure that I hated my old one (busy retail). 👍

 

[ultracet]

My two most exciting days in a retail setting included a person dropping off a forged rx... and then trying to pick it up the next day thinking the people would be different
(all three of us were slave driven both days)
the guy had tried to forge 10 times in the same day all over the city (we called the dr office.)


bad boys.. bad boys.... whatcha gonna do?.....

 

[briansle]

*edited by Brill (no profanity please)

 

[28657]

*edited by Brill (no profanity please)

Am I the only one confused??? 😕 😕
Maybe Brian Lee over at USC forgot to take his antipsychotics today.

 

[dgroulx]

Brill is our moderator. He can edit messages. Someone posted a message with profanity and he removed the post.

 

[briansle]

Sorry for my profanity, It was out of line and inappropriate.

I was just annoyed that surgical called me a "punk kid".
You don't know me surgical, and if you have a problem with me, we can settle it. My name is Brian Lee I go to USC, I'll meet you anywhere anytime.

 

[ultracet]

LOL

no offense... but that last post didn't really show your maturity...

 

[LVPharm]

Sorry for my profanity, It was out of line and inappropriate.

So was calling all nurses "b*tches" in the nursing forum. My mother has been an RN for over 30 years. BTW, picking fights on an internet forum is real classy.

I'm done with this troll...no more replies are needed to this thread. We're done here.

 

[surgical]

I was just annoyed that surgical called me a "punk kid". You don't know me surgical, and if you have a problem with me, we can settle it. My name is Brian Lee I go to USC, I'll meet you anywhere anytime.

HAHA.....Brian Lee of USC you just Justified me calling you a punk kid. This isn't high school you "internet tough guy" 😀

 

[briansle]

Ok, surgical, since your so tough, tell me where your at.

I'll tell you where you can find me. Unless your too chicken.

 

[rxforlife2004]

briansle:

Dude! I haven't been brownsing this page for a while and i find it now more interesting because of you, man. Trust me, if you wanna be here, expose into pharmacy career, we'll be more than happy to tell you what we know. But as far as I notice, you're just an idiot! If you wanna be called an "mentally ******ed idiotic" dude, then yeah! You got it! You deserve this title. Trust me, none will wanna compete this title with you since u're so competitive in winning this title. Who cares if you're from USC? Freaking USC and you can mess around with us? Sure, USC is a great school, but now i feel bad 'cuz for it it's also filled with idiots like you! Grow up, kid!

 

[ultracet]

Ok, surgical, since your so tough, tell me where your at.

I'll tell you where you can find me. Unless your too chicken.

 

[surgical]