Disclosing your probation status during a job interview

[Estrace]

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Got into trouble last year because my tech counseled an undercover investigator from the state board without my knowledge. We were all put on probation earlier this year ( the tech, myself and the store)
I had a phone interview last week with OptumRx for a clinical pharmacist position and the lady kept asking me about the status of my license. I wasn't sure if she was already aware as this is a public information so I told her that my license is on probation. She asked for every detail of what happened and when and I felt the tone of the interview changed at that point. I haven't heard back from them and wasn't really going to take the position if offered to me but I want to make sure that I don't make the same mistake again if I get an interview for another job I'm interested in.

 

[BMBiology]

Unfortunately you don't have a choice. Employers don't go off your license anymore. They will verify it with the state board's website.

It is unbelievable how you need to work and live like an angel in order to work as a pharmacist. Having a license is a privilege and they make sure you know it. I recently saw a case against one of my friends on the board's website and my heart just dropped.

 

[owlegrad]

I recently saw a case against one of my friends on the board's website and my heart just dropped.

What happened, if you don't mind me asking?

 

[Estrace]

Unfortunately you don't have a choice. Employers don't go off your license anymore. They will verify it with the state board's website.

It is unbelievable how you need to work and live like an angel in order to work as a pharmacist. Having a license is a privilege and they make sure you know it. I recently saw a case against one of my friends on the board's website and my heart just dropped.

That's what I thought too. I wanted to be honest and upfront. I'm actually applying to these positions to see how much effect the probation has on my getting another job if I get tired of retail.
I thought it was unfair that I got punished for something I had no control over. The undercover investigator even had the tech on camera telling him how to take his med without calling my attention or sending him over to me for counseling but they said I was the pharmacist on record. I'm not mad at him anymore because he was the best tech I have had since becoming a pharmacist and he passed on the same week we were put on probation.

 

[BMBiology]

That's what I thought too. I wanted to be honest and upfront. I'm actually applying to these positions to see how much effect the probation has on my getting another job if I get tired of retail.
I thought it was unfair that I got punished for something I had no control over. The undercover investigator even had the tech on camera telling him how to take his med without calling my attention or sending him over to me for counseling but they said I was the pharmacist on record. I'm not mad at him anymore because he was the best tech I have had since becoming a pharmacist and he passed on the same week we were put on probation.

I don't recommend you applying to positions while you are on probation. They will keep a record of your application and they may cite your probation in your application.

 

[BMBiology]

What happened, if you don't mind me asking?

Let's just say I better not take things for granted. It is not just work but also how your conduct yourself outside of work.

Remember the board of pharmacy is not there to protect pharmacists. It is there to protect the public. Everything you do, no matter how small you think it is or how irrelevant it is to your work as a pharmacist, will be looked under a microscope.

 

[BidingMyTime]

I don't recommend you applying to positions while you are on probation. They will keep a record of your application and they may cite your probation in your application.

I think this is a good idea, although in IL, even when one is off probation, a record of their probation is still available on-line. Still, I think its going to be less of an issue for employers once the person has successfully completed their probation.

 

[Dred Pirate]

In florida to - if it has ever been on probation it is public knowledge - the problem is you have to dig deeper often to find out what happened - There is a big difference between your case and some dude stealing 3000 vicodin tabs

 

[SClENCE]

As BMBiology said, I would not apply until the probation status is lifted. You may apply for a job during probation, they will not hire you, and then your application will be put on record making you a "rejected" re-applicant in the future. Sure they may be able to see the history of your license but at least you won't be a previously rejected re-applicant which potentially hurts your chances as much as the probation itself. This is just my theory/take on the situation.

This story is very frustrating to hear and I'm sad to hear it.

On a side note - would reading the label be considered counseling?

 

[Ackj]

On a side note - would reading the label be considered counseling?

I sure wouldn't want to be on the other end of that argument with the state board. It seems harmless if the label is read, but having your license in danger from a tech simply going "yep, this is the one that's twice a day" is a scary thought. Drill it into your techs' heads: anything related to the medication itself must be deferred to you.

 

[SClENCE]

It's hard not to relay obvious information to the patient when the pharmacist has a pile of waiters and is on the phone. I have always went out of my way to state "the label says to take one tablet daily, if you have any other questions I can get the pharmacist for you". It sounds ridiculous to get the pharmacist over something like this but I think I'll just start sending them to consultation and telling the pharmacist that the patient has questions regarding how to take the medication.

What's strange to me is if you walk into the gas station and ask the clerk if Tylenol or Advil is better they will give you their recommendation without a second thought, but if someone walks up to the pharmacy with this same question and a tech answers it the pharmacist can have their license put on probation. Seems really ass backwards.

 

[Estrace]

As BMBiology said, I would not apply until the probation status is lifted. You may apply for a job during probation, they will not hire you, and then your application will be put on record making you a "rejected" re-applicant in the future. Sure they may be able to see the history of your license but at least you won't be a previously rejected re-applicant which potentially hurts your chances as much as the probation itself. This is just my theory/take on the situation.

This story is very frustrating to hear and I'm sad to hear it.

On a side note - would reading the label be considered counseling?

In Texas, yes it is. That was actually what my tech did. He opened the leaflet to see what the direction was and passed the information to the guy. I was busy with someone visiting from the district office and he didn't want to interrupt us.

Techs are not even allowed to ask a patient if they have any question at Walgreens. Tech are supposed to send them to the consultation window or call the pharmacist's attention if the patient is at the drive thru.

 

[SClENCE]

In Texas, yes it is. That was actually what my tech did. He opened the leaflet to see what the direction was and passed the information to the guy. I was busy with someone visiting from the district office and he didn't want to interrupt us.

Wow I'm sorry, that really is unfortunate. I'v always used phrases like "the label says" and "this drug is most commonly used for" but I guess that isn't acceptable. It seems like every third patient says something to the effect of "are these my blood pressure pills and cholesterol pills?"

 

[SClENCE]

We always ask them if they have any questions regarding the medications (with the intention of getting the pharmacist if they answer yes) to fulfill the requirement that the pharmacist offers to counsel. Do the techs ask every patient directly if they would like to be counseled by the pharmacist?

 

[owlegrad]

but I think I'll just start sending them to consultation and telling the pharmacist that the patient has questions regarding how to take the medication.

Do you have an intern license? You should be able to answer these questions (legally) as long as you are under the direct supervision of a pharmacist and have an intern license.

 

[SClENCE]

Do you have an intern license? You should be able to answer these questions (legally) as long as you are under the direct supervision of a pharmacist and have an intern license.

I will get mine soon but currently no

 

[Dyligently]

In Texas, yes it is. That was actually what my tech did. He opened the leaflet to see what the direction was and passed the information to the guy. I was busy with someone visiting from the district office and he didn't want to interrupt us.

Techs are not even allowed to ask a patient if they have any question at Walgreens. Tech are supposed to send them to the consultation window or call the pharmacist's attention if the patient is at the drive thru.

I'm currently a tech at Walgreens right now. This is crazy! I've always asked "Do you have any questions for the pharmacist today?" because my pharmacists want me to ask the patients if they do or not. I didn't think
that if I asked the patient if they had questions for the pharmacist they would get in trouble. Would it be alright because of the way I'm wording my question to direct towards the pharmacist, or should I just not ask at all?
If a patient asks about a medication I usually just tell them that I don't have the right to answer their question and refer them to the pharmacist. So does that mean I can't answer the patient's question if they ask what the name
of their blood pressure medication is? Or what a generic/brand name of a drug is?

 

[SClENCE]

Technically you can tell them the name of the medication but you can't tell them what it's used for. If they ask if it's their cholesterol medication you have to refer them to the pharmacist.

Asking them if they have any questions for the pharmacist is fine, and in many states there has to be an offer to council when they pick it up so asking them if they have any questions for the pharmacist fulfills this requirement.

 

[ehababader]

hi estrace i have been in the same situation , can you tell me waht happened to you didi you find ajob

 

[lord999]

I don't recommend you applying to positions while you are on probation. They will keep a record of your application and they may cite your probation in your application.

https://www.npdb.hrsa.gov/

https://www.npdb.hrsa.gov/resources/aboutGuidebooks.jsp
Chapter E

I agree with BMBiology, but unfortunately it's kind of permanent. What happens is that all the state boards by agreement report derogatory information about practice to the NPDB, so that's usually what's consulted nowadays as well as your license. Very minor infractions may not get reported (and the board will say so), but anything that has your name published in the professional gazette sticks like napalm. The medical/dental board rule is relaxed to health care practitioners in general as of two years ago and is retroactive for revocations (I'm not sure if it's retroactive for lesser offenses).

This is not a big deal, it'll just be a hassle if you go to another state as you'd probably have to explain for the rest of your career whenever you apply what the circumstances were (and you should have a copy of that citation). I would say there but for the grace...go I in your shoes, and I think you have a big heart to be able to forgive your tech for screwing you over (which that tech certainly did irrespective of that tech being the best one you ever had). I doubt I would have.

By the way, a hospital can report you for losing privileges for incompetence, something that a lot of people don't remember and is a bastard action on the part of the hospital.

 

[rph3664]

I think this is a good idea, although in IL, even when one is off probation, a record of their probation is still available on-line. Still, I think its going to be less of an issue for employers once the person has successfully completed their probation.

I'm pretty sure any infraction is on a permanent record. I recently looked up an old colleague's license, and found out that HE was the pharmacist who was found passed out in the pharmacy bathroom with a Demerol syringe in his arm (I had heard about it from a tech but she didn't say his name) and this was in the late 1970s. In the meantime, the legal documents were scanned and downloadable on the website via PDF. 😱