CVS vs Hospital vs Supermarket pharmacies

Started by BKpharm
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BKpharm

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Hi guys, work for cvs and feel overwhelmed about all the work they are pressuring us to do on the side....is this the same for hospital or supermarket pharmacies? KPM, my customer, other metrics...i feel like my work is 10 percent verification and rest is all that stuff...is it same in walgreens? rite aid? wegmans? Thanks
 
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I just replied to your private message. It depends on where you go, but in my experience in 5 years with CVS compared to the supermarket chain I am at now, I should have made the change YEARS ago! Best of luck to you..let me know if you have other questions.
 
The hours that they leave you alone by yourself to handle the entire pharmacy, and the fact that we get no breaks speaks volumes. Even going to bathroom I had to wait hours sometimes. I did lose a lot of weight from not being able to eat properly at work, and I actually made it down to my ideal body weight.
 
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interned at a walgreens

one word: MADNESS

worked as pharmacist at 2 big box retailers and supermaket

night and day

your quality of life and stress level will greatly improve

i can honestly say i go home "happy"
 
Are there specific supermarkets u r talking about? bec. walmart is a supermarket but i heard that its crazy bec of all those 4 dollar medications...also which supermarkets do u think ve a future?? like path mark future isnt looking too bright...what do u think?i appreciate ur help...

jawnly211 said:
interned at a walgreens

one word: MADNESS

worked as pharmacist at 2 big box retailers and supermaket

night and day

your quality of life and stress level will greatly improve

i can honestly say i go home "happy"
Click to expand...
 
you will have "stresses", "issues", "problems", "complaints" about ANY pharmacy or even JOB



there is no ideal job


that being said, i will take the $4 generics any day over a drive thru

i will take the email bombs from my DM about pushing clinical sales any day over the metrics i hear about CVS

u will get crapped on no matter where u work.....but my pile of crap isnt as bad as the CVS pharmacist's next door



and why stress over the "future" of certain chains? leave that stress to the big wigs....if and when it happens, i will worry about it then......hopefully not in my career lifetime.....but im just going to enjoy my life right here, right now
 
jawnly211 said:
and why stress over the "future" of certain chains? leave that stress to the big wigs....if and when it happens, i will worry about it then......hopefully not in my career lifetime.....but im just going to enjoy my life right here, right now
Click to expand...

IMO this is why it is nice to be an employee rather than an owner. Why worry about something you only have a very finite amount of control over? The great thing about working for someone else is collecting your paycheck and letting them worry about paying the bills. Nothing against people who want to be owners, it takes all kinds, right?
 
I agree i dont mind filling 100s of rxs just right staff and no pile of metrics crap.. But the question is... Push clinical sales? Wat does that mean...what supermarket do u think is te one with the least amount of metrics. I m pretty sure i ll b great with customers just staff me right and dont give me a pile of un important metrics


QUOTE=jawnly211;14201336]you will have "stresses", "issues", "problems", "complaints" about ANY pharmacy or even JOB



there is no ideal job


that being said, i will take the $4 generics any day over a drive thru

i will take the email bombs from my DM about pushing clinical sales any day over the metrics i hear about CVS

u will get crapped on no matter where u work.....but my pile of crap isnt as bad as the CVS pharmacist's next door



and why stress over the "future" of certain chains? leave that stress to the big wigs....if and when it happens, i will worry about it then......hopefully not in my career lifetime.....but im just going to enjoy my life right here, right now[/QUOTE]
 
Angela1234 said:
The hours that they leave you alone by yourself to handle the entire pharmacy, and the fact that we get no breaks speaks volumes. Even going to bathroom I had to wait hours sometimes. I did lose a lot of weight from not being able to eat properly at work, and I actually made it down to my ideal body weight.
Click to expand...

The lowest body weight I was ever at as an adult was when I interned full-time at WAGS. At least the job had one benefit.
 
BKpharm said:
Hi guys, work for cvs and feel overwhelmed about all the work they are pressuring us to do on the side....is this the same for hospital or supermarket pharmacies? KPM, my customer, other metrics...i feel like my work is 10 percent verification and rest is all that stuff...is it same in walgreens? rite aid? wegmans? Thanks
Click to expand...

I've worked for CVS, Walgreens, Publix and different hospital (rotations) and in my personal opinion CVS is by a milestone the worst like even worse than Walgreens. I mean you would think having a sucky computer system they might make it easier for you but no way, everyday there are aton of things to do and management is always on your case about KPI's. Meaning if you are #1 for KPI in the district for a month and suddenly you drop to #2 then the world just ended for you :laugh: I remember when techs would ask customers a million things when they are dropping off & picking up a script like what's your number, do you want text message, do you have rewards card, can you rate us....Oh and if you don't refer patients by their name that's an issue no matter how outstanding service you give (go figure).
 
CVS has always seemed to me to have dubious management, and this just from brief glances at their internal memos and posters in the employee workplace. Notwithstanding the grumbles I get from hearsay

Some recruiters seem to understand their reputation. I suppose if they were competent at their job, they could not help but be aware
 
I was taking a look at the expanded WeCare metrics at CVS and realized that the stated goal is to be in the top 20%. We are going to be assigned points depending on our percentile rank rather than a meeting a concrete target like 96% ready when promised. This is worse than when I was a teacher and they wanted all the schools to be in the top 50% or be punished. Since only 20% of the stores can be in the top 20% no matter how hard we work, I can't decide if they are *****s in corporate and don't actually realize this or they think we are. I wonder how long it will take people to realize that 80% are going to fail no matter what and just stop trying.
 
diastole said:
I was taking a look at the expanded WeCare metrics at CVS and realized that the stated goal is to be in the top 20%. We are going to be assigned points depending on our percentile rank rather than a meeting a concrete target like 96% ready when promised. This is worse than when I was a teacher and they wanted all the schools to be in the top 50% or be punished. Since only 20% of the stores can be in the top 20% no matter how hard we work, I can't decide if they are *****s in corporate and don't actually realize this or they think we are. I wonder how long it will take people to realize that 80% are going to fail no matter what and just stop trying.
Click to expand...

They are absolute *****s in corporate.
 
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Grocery store pharmacy will be a better option among all. less stress. I worked for RiteAid for 9 year. I had to leave for their inhumane policies they are trying to push to increase their sale. it was a absolutely derogatory to continue working for them
 
The big chains suck.It is a fact. I consider working for them as a mean to pay my bils. Do not leave until you find something better. The golden rule is to suck it up and at the same time try to find something better.
 
One of the major side effects of working in retail is how much it ages you. The stress, the long hours, the customers = ages you really fast. First it starts with your eyes then your skin and hair.

I have seen it with my friends. Just another reason to get out as soon as you can while you are still young
 
At least with being in prison you have a toilet right next to you so you can poop when you need to. Also, they serve you food so you get lunches and dinners. And the best part- you can sit down.


And don't forget lack of sleep that ages you too. When they give you an 8 AM- 10 PM shift back to back and you have a 1 hour commute each way, and you still haven't eaten.
 
Angela1234 said:
At least with being in prison you have a toilet right next to you so you can poop when you need to. Also, they serve you food so you get lunches and dinners. And the best part- you can sit down.


And don't forget lack of sleep that ages you too. When they give you an 8 AM- 10 PM shift back to back and you have a 1 hour commute each way, and you still haven't eaten.
Click to expand...

It's pretty easy getting in. If it's so much better you can apply at any time.
 
BMBiology said:
One of the major side effects of working in retail is how much it ages you. The stress, the long hours, the customers = ages you really fast. First it starts with your eyes then your skin and hair.

I have seen it with my friends. Just another reason to get out as soon as you can while you are still young
Click to expand...

This is something I mention to all the students that come through our hospital. I try to stress how important it is to consider long term quality of life and professional/job satisfaction when considering post-graduation employment/residency. You are most likely going to be in this profession for the next 30-40 years...
 
The phrase "quality of life" should NEVER leave the mouth of a pharmacist, retail or hospital.
 
BMBiology said:
One of the major side effects of working in retail is how much it ages you. The stress, the long hours, the customers = ages you really fast. First it starts with your eyes then your skin and hair.

I have seen it with my friends. Just another reason to get out as soon as you can while you are still young
Click to expand...

You are so right. I just started working as a grad intern and the PIC looks wore out. I took one look at her and made the decision to go hospital :meanie:
 
BMBiology said:
One of the major side effects of working in retail is how much it ages you. The stress, the long hours, the customers = ages you really fast. First it starts with your eyes then your skin and hair.

I have seen it with my friends. Just another reason to get out as soon as you can while you are still young
Click to expand...

what is your suggestion other than retail? hospital? (something without a residency, b/c I'm not sure how much chance I have at one)
 
kendrick lamar said:
what is your suggestion other than retail? hospital? (something without a residency, b/c I'm not sure how much chance I have at one)
Click to expand...

There the ambulatory care (e.g VA), research/investigational (e.g CROs), academia (fellowship instead of residency).
 
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metallideth said:
Why a fellowship instead of residency for academia?
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Kendrick said he wasn't interested in doing a residency, so I just tossed fellowship in there. Fellowship leads to the tenure tracked path in academia, doing research and teaching. Residency based academia jobs are the non-tenure tracked clinical practice + teaching.
 
Thanks man, but u still gotta think is this company going to last after a year or two... i always wonder..shoprite always hires but not sure if htey ll last






jawnly211 said:
you will have "stresses", "issues", "problems", "complaints" about ANY pharmacy or even JOB



there is no ideal job


that being said, i will take the $4 generics any day over a drive thru

i will take the email bombs from my DM about pushing clinical sales any day over the metrics i hear about CVS

u will get crapped on no matter where u work.....but my pile of crap isnt as bad as the CVS pharmacist's next door



and why stress over the "future" of certain chains? leave that stress to the big wigs....if and when it happens, i will worry about it then......hopefully not in my career lifetime.....but im just going to enjoy my life right here, right now
Click to expand...
 
CVS is the best company I have ever worked for. It taught how just how bad life can be when you work retail. Without knowing that, you can never truly enjoy doing something else.
 
rxblitzrx said:
CVS is the best company I have ever worked for. It taught how just how bad life can be when you work retail. Without knowing that, you can never truly enjoy doing something else.
Click to expand...

One thing I love about CVS is how much I get to complain about it.
 
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