Is it better not to care?

[BME103]

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When I started pharmacy school, I really wanted to make a difference. However, I have lost that caring attitude. Most of the customers dont understand what we do. They just want their drugs on time. It is better not to have a caring attitude when you are working in a pharmacy.

 

[VCU07]

When I started pharmacy school, I really wanted to make a difference. However, I have lost that caring attitude. Most of the customers dont understand what we do. They just want their drugs on time. It is better not to have a caring attitude when you are working in a pharmacy.

First, thinking of them as customers isn't going to help. Working in a community pharmacy you see many patients over and over again. Through these interactions you come to know them better and you can truly call them your patients. Sure many patients do not know what we do, but behind it all we save lives. Physicians write for Rx that interact with other drugs or disease states that we can pick up on. In addition to this, we counsel them on medications (including OTC). Sometimes it is difficult to be caring b/c patients are unwilling to wait or are yelling about insurance, but remember that if you do not care for them appropriatley then you will be brought up on charges and may lose your license. I believe as more and more PharmDs come out and our roles expand patients will realize exactly what we do.

 

[LiveLoveFartRepeat]

When I started pharmacy school, I really wanted to make a difference. However, I have lost that caring attitude. Most of the customers dont understand what we do. They just want their drugs on time. It is better not to have a caring attitude when you are working in a pharmacy.

Sorry to hear that.... 🙁 no, it is not better not to care..
you will one day run into people that make you feel like you made their day just by caring..and remember you just started..so give it some time and also don't stay in the same place if you feel that way move around...

I just started pharmacy school too..and i can tell you that i have run into people that made me feel like i made their day..again i work in a small pharmacy and some people are still surprise by how fast we can fill their prescription or accomodate their need versus the walgreen down the street where the waiting time can be up to 48 hours! proof that small can be good 😀

 

[futurerxguy]

When I started pharmacy school, I really wanted to make a difference. However, I have lost that caring attitude. Most of the customers dont understand what we do. They just want their drugs on time. It is better not to have a caring attitude when you are working in a pharmacy.

I think that you probably still want to make a difference, however, you are not happy with the way your patients respond to you. The key to remember is this, you are making a difference to every single patient you fill a prescription for. It may not look like they appreciate it, but if they did not need the medication, they would not be coming to you! You make a difference in each persons life you see.... don't expect them always be happy or know what your job is. You know your job, you know what the importance of the medication is, and you will do what you need to do to help your patients in their time of need.... period! My advice, do not always think about the reaction of the patient... think about the overall good you are doing to your group of patients as a whole.

In time, you will get patients that truly show their appreciation. That is not something you should expect 100% of the time, but it will happen from time to time, and it will make you realize why you are doing what your doing! Good luck, and keep caring!

--Shawn
FutureRxGuy

 

[RxRob]

When I started pharmacy school, I really wanted to make a difference. However, I have lost that caring attitude. Most of the customers dont understand what we do. They just want their drugs on time. It is better not to have a caring attitude when you are working in a pharmacy.

LOL... boy have I had THOSE days! On time would be a gift, how about those with script in hand at the drive-thru that don't want to have to move?

Anyway, pep talk. It's not about the droves so much as it is those few that really need and appreciate your help. It's probably a lot like teaching or anything else. No one else is as absorbed in what we do than we are, and you can't realistically expect it either. What if the trash was left to build up in the streets every day over and over? After a week you'd care less whether you were doing a teaspoon and a half a day of amox verses two teaspoons and someone caught it. Point is, all jobs are important. Yours will STILL continue to get more kudos over polite dinner talk at family parties than most others, that'll have to do. If you are well compensated for your ability and generally happy in all the areas of your life, then none of this can touch you. It won't always be this hard (with school etc.), and when you do have a bad day, hey, it's over when you leave for the day... troubles don't compound themselves over time like most other high profile jobs.

Last tidbit, the people who take their scripts to CVS and Walgreen's are not looking for what you're offering in the first place. They go there because the entire culture is built around producing quickly and being convenient. You'd definitely be happier at a privately owned community pharmacy, totally different clientele. Don't work anywhere where MBA's are the top position!

One last quick story to bring you to reality... when I told my dad I got into pharmacy school, he was all like "there's a school for that?". He REALLY thought you started out at like walmart as cashier and worked your way up.

 

[JackFruitLover]

When I started pharmacy school, I really wanted to make a difference. However, I have lost that caring attitude. Most of the customers dont understand what we do. They just want their drugs on time. It is better not to have a caring attitude when you are working in a pharmacy.

I TOTALLY AGREE!

 

[beng]

think about how it works, doesn't all of America want everything done fast and on-the-go. Fast food is the best example of this. Where is the traditional example of the family coming in for dinner and enjoying a nice..slow meal together? Same applies for thier desire for fast refills. America is always on the go, people need to kick back and relax from time to time.

 

[BME103]

think about how it works, doesn't all of America want everything done fast and on-the-go. Fast food is the best example of this. Where is the traditional example of the family coming in for dinner and enjoying a nice..slow meal together? Same applies for thier desire for fast refills. America is always on the go, people need to kick back and relax from time to time.

Are they like that at their doctor's office? I don't think they rush their doctors. It is about respect and it seems like pharmacists don't get that.

 

[golf299]

Unfortunately pharmacists don't get the respect they deserve for the most part. True, they won't rush their physicians. So, once you get your degree you have to train your patients. I had a lady call me the other day with a question about her Synthroid. She prefaced her question with, "I know you're not a doctor or anything..." It was a perfect opportunity to promote the profession.

As far as disrespect... the pharmacist I work with will not help a customer if they are on their cell phone, period. It is so rude for someone to be on the phone and expect help from you. I plan on being the same way when I graduate. Also, when you tell someone it's going to be 15 minutes or so before their script is ready and they ask if it can be faster... it's best not to give in and do it faster for them. They have to realize that they have to wait like everyone else.

I'm all for good patient care, but I'm not going to take crap from patients.

 

[USCMed08]

Unfortunately pharmacists don't get the respect they deserve for the most part. True, they won't rush their physicians. So, once you get your degree you have to train your patients. I had a lady call me the other day with a question about her Synthroid. She prefaced her question with, "I know you're not a doctor or anything..." It was a perfect opportunity to promote the profession.

As far as disrespect... the pharmacist I work with will not help a customer if they are on their cell phone, period. It is so rude for someone to be on the phone and expect help from you. I plan on being the same way when I graduate. Also, when you tell someone it's going to be 15 minutes or so before their script is ready and they ask if it can be faster... it's best not to give in and do it faster for them. They have to realize that they have to wait like everyone else.

I'm all for good patient care, but I'm not going to take crap from patients.

I'm assuming your scenario is in reference to a retail setting. I wouldn't be so quick to label the patients as rude and giving you crap. They're simply ignorant. In their eyes, the pharmacy is just one section of CVS, Walgreens, etc. For example, you wouldn't consider it rude if a customer were to talk on his cell phone while paying the cashier. The advent of pharmacy drive throughs aren't helping things either. There's just an overall denigration to the profession that is an unfortunate side effect of commercialism.

 

[Sosumi]

Have you ready this article on CNN? http://www.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/05/29/impatient.nation.ap/index.html

Americans just do not like waiting. With all this technology, I get antsy when downloading takes an extra two seconds or I have to God forbid click on something two more times instead of once. We're a McDonald's society that wants everything quickly and conveniently with the best service possible in 1 minute or less

 

[Cocogirl]

I'm assuming your scenario is in reference to a retail setting. I wouldn't be so quick to label the patients as rude and giving you crap. They're simply ignorant. In their eyes, the pharmacy is just one section of CVS, Walgreens, etc. [I]For example, you wouldn't consider it rude if a customer were to talk on his cell phone while paying the cashier.[/I] The advent of pharmacy drive throughs aren't helping things either. There's just an overall denigration to the profession that is an unfortunate side effect of commercialism.

I do consider it rude to talk on the cell phone when paying cashier's or getting any kind of service from someone - in fact, it's a pet peeve of mine when I see people doing. Everyone deserves your full attention when you are speaking to them.

I do agree that their is a general lack of respect for pharmacists in the community, whether it be from lack of awareness on part of consumers or commercialism on part of pharmacies. One of the key things that I think differentiates doctors from pharmacists is the transfer of money from the patients' hands to pharmacists' (or their techs') hands. When was the last time you went to a doctor's office and said "Thanks for diagnosing my ear infection and giving me a prescription for antibiotics - here is your $10 copay". Their system is set up so the doctor is far removed from the billing aspect and I think this increases their professionalism. Seeing pharmacists ringing out patients at cashier's and dealing endlessly with the financial aspects of their healthcare makes patients treat pharmacists more like cashiers.

I do agree with BME103 that their is a general lack of respect but having said that, you can train your patients to think of you as something other than a highly paid grocer/cashier. It is a frustrating, arduous process if you work for a big retail chain and I chose the easy way out and left it behind. I respect those that choose to stay and try and make the difference!

 

[rex_b]

Yah def. looks like the "fast food" world is catching up with us. Personally I like socializing with everyone and having a repour(sp?) with people.