Lazy pharmacists!

[222pharmD]

I seriously work with the most laziest pharmacist ever! 😡 My store is known to have the "worst" pharmacist in the district and no one wants this person even as a floater! She is also super rude!! While I deal with long lines in the store, long lines in drive thru, phones ringing left and right, she's sitting on some chair in the back clicking away reviewing prescriptions not even attempting to help me out! Ugh! She's always slow at reviewing and I deal with at least 20 annoyed patients a day when I work with her cuz they have to wait longer since she couldn't do her job and review their rx's in time, and guess who deals with their attitudes, ME (tech)! A pharmacists job wasn't intended to be some cushy job, you actually have to deal with problems just like techs do! Don't think that just b/c you make "a lot of money" and have a pharmD on your wall, that you are excluded from hard work! Pharmacists are no better than technicians. If your not capable of handling a measly $15 hr tech job, than you shouldn't be making $60 hr as a pharmacist. I think the best pharmacists out there are the ones that used to be techs at some point in their lives! Those are the ones that truly appreciate the work that technicians do. Without tech's your life will be hell in the pharmacy, trust me! I know I wont be such a failure of a pharmacist as the one I work for. Sorry for venting...just hope there's less of these types in the future.

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[Filler]

 

[rph3664]

I once worked with a pharmacist who didn't do anything. Literally - he did not do anything. He didn't count pills, didn't answer the phone, didn't wait on customers, NOTHING. 😡

One of my co-workers was one of these elderly women who believed that any woman who said she was happily married was either lying or in denial (if you have never known anyone like this, trust me, you eventually will) and attributed his laziness to being male 🙄 , but I knew otherwise.

After I left this place, I met someone who had worked with him at a Kroger's, and when he was "working" alone, he would unlock the pharmacy and sit behind the counter, and not even turn on the computer. Why and how this guy ever got or kept jobs was a complete mystery to me.

 

[delano2000]

Seriously!

 

[StevePerry]

I seriously work with the most laziest pharmacist ever! 😡 My store is known to have the "worst" pharmacist in the district and no one wants this person even as a floater! She is also super rude!! While I deal with long lines in the store, long lines in drive thru, phones ringing left and right, she's sitting on some chair in the back clicking away reviewing prescriptions not even attempting to help me out! Ugh! She's always slow at reviewing and I deal with at least 20 annoyed patients a day when I work with her cuz they have to wait longer since she couldn't do her job and review their rx's in time, and guess who deals with their attitudes, ME (tech)! A pharmacists job wasn't intended to be some cushy job, you actually have to deal with problems just like techs do! Don't think that just b/c you make "a lot of money" and have a pharmD on your wall, that you are excluded from hard work! Pharmacists are no better than technicians. If your not capable of handling a measly $15 hr tech job, than you shouldn't be making $60 hr as a pharmacist. I think the best pharmacists out there are the ones that used to be techs at some point in their lives! Those are the ones that truly appreciate the work that technicians do. Without tech's your life will be hell in the pharmacy, trust me! I know I wont be such a failure of a pharmacist as the one I work for. Sorry for venting...just hope there's less of these types in the future.

Pay your dues homeboy

 

[222pharmD]

Pay your dues homeboy

What do you mean?

 

[222pharmD]

I am calm...well I am right now at least 👍... If you guys haven't worked with one of these lazy types, consider yourself blessed.

 

[samuricool]

I will come across one of those every once in a great while. If I see they are really trying to avoid the phone I will answer it, put the caller on hold, and then tell the pharmacist that the person calling is asking for them. Other than that, learn to deal with it. Those kinds of people are everywhere, not just in pharmacies.

 

[WVUPharm2007]

This is why I work alone.

The only problems I ever got into at work stem from calling people out on their bull****. If its just me, everything is done how I like it, when I like it. Night shift, ftw.

 

[powertoold]

Not sure how you can make generalizations like "best pharmacists were once techs" through one bad pharmacist.

But yes, there are pretty lazy pharmacists out there, as there are and have been lazy doctors, nurses, politicians, Presidents. lol

 

[mustang sally]

Not sure how you can make generalizations like "best pharmacists were once techs" through one bad pharmacist.

But yes, there are pretty lazy pharmacists out there, as there are and have been lazy doctors, nurses, politicians, Presidents. lol

So true. There are lazy people everywhere.

I worked with someone who I like to think of as "the most evil pharmacist ever." Seriously. If people think that every pharmacist is a "people person"...well, they're not. This pharmacist actually asked me to apologize to patients after she was done pissing them off. Fun times.

 

[confettiflyer]

Can't wait for this pharmacist surplus we all keep talking about, it'll weed these fools out!

 

[Doctor Rock]

A pharmacists job wasn't intended to be some cushy job, you actually have to deal with problems just like techs do! Don't think that just b/c you make "a lot of money" and have a pharmD on your wall, that you are excluded from hard work! Pharmacists are no better than technicians. If your not capable of handling a measly $15 hr tech job, than you shouldn't be making $60 hr as a pharmacist. I think the best pharmacists out there are the ones that used to be techs at some point in their lives! Those are the ones that truly appreciate the work that technicians do. Without tech's your life will be hell in the pharmacy, trust me! I know I wont be such a failure of a pharmacist as the one I work for. Sorry for venting...just hope there's less of these types in the future.

Sounds to me like this message was meant for that pharmacist....not everyone (at least I hope). I understand your frustration, but seriously!? Was it necessary to rant online at people who had nothing to do with it?
Lazy people are everywhere; their educational status is irrelevant.

And also, dude, most laziest is not the perferred nomenclature.

 

[Praziquantel86]

I think you can make the same complaints about technicians. They have the ability to grind a store to a halt while alienating an entire customer base if they want.

That being said, generalizations are not really the best way to make a point.

 

[Its Z]

Being lazy is an innate right as a human. This laziness is one of the reasons we humans have become innovative. Why plow a field with hands when we can use cattle. Why use cattle and walk when we can use a large John Deere tractor powered by big diesel engine.

I have the right to be lazy. For life. If that's what I choose to be.

Lazy is ok.

But, I expect efficiency and job well done when you're paid to work. As lazy pharmacist is still capable of producing work as expected.

Now will someone bring me a cup of coffee? Where's an intern when I need one.

 

[owlegrad]

Ever heard the term "know your audience"?

But seriously, everyone has that person they have worked with that is just a nightmare, pharmacists are no exception. Just do your best and eventually you won't work with that person anymore. If it is truly unbearable, start looking for a transfer or new job now. Just don't let that person get you down, you can only control yourself (particularly because you are not the boss 😉).

 

[pharmschooler]

And also, dude, most laziest is not the perferred nomenclature.

 

[222pharmD]

Of course it was for that specific pharmacist...Also, this is a forum, you can write anything on your mind here remember? The best word I can think for her IS lazy. She even said she regrets being a pharmacist not too long, she graduated about 6 years ago. Seems like she just hates her job THAT much that she's making everyone's lives in our pharmacy a nightmare. I've been dealing with this for over 4 years now, almost 5 days a week and she's always been the same, nothing changed.

Yes, I still think the best pharmacist are those that used to be techs before. How else can one appreciate the work techs do? I worked with a few floaters that used to be techs that became pharmacists and they provided the best service and help imo, however, I'm sure there are those that have never been techs but still work their a** off and appreciate the value of everyone's job in the pharmacy, I'm not saying their isn't.

 

[Doctor Rock]

Yes, I still think the best pharmacist are those that used to be techs before. How else can one appreciate the work techs do? I worked with a few floaters that used to be techs that became pharmacists and they provided the best service and help imo, however, I'm sure there are those that have never been techs but still work their a** off and appreciate the value of everyone's job in the pharmacy, I'm not saying their isn't.

Just wait until you are an intern and pimped out as slave labor, only cheaper. As an intern for some rotations, I had all the responsibilities of a tech with the responsibilities of an intern. Seriously. There was no tech at the store. They needed about two techs, but instead they just used me.

So, sorry that I am gonna suck as a pharmacist because I didn't work as a tech before pharmacy school.

 

[crazybob]

One of my co-workers was one of these elderly women who believed that any woman who said she was happily married was either lying or in denial (if you have never known anyone like this, trust me, you eventually will) and attributed his laziness to being male 🙄 , but I knew otherwise.

I think I've seen that line on SDN before but I just can't remember where.

Yes, I still think the best pharmacist are those that used to be techs before. How else can one appreciate the work techs do? I worked with a few floaters that used to be techs that became pharmacists and they provided the best service and help imo, however, I'm sure there are those that have never been techs but still work their a** off and appreciate the value of everyone's job in the pharmacy, I'm not saying their isn't.

I agree, but I think it also depends on what experience they gained from working as a tech.

 

[222pharmD]

Wow...ok, people are totally getting the wrong message here...sorry if some of you got butt hurt.

 

[owlegrad]

Wow...ok, people are totally getting the wrong message here...sorry if some of you got butt hurt.

🤣

 

[AlmostAPharmD]

bahahahahahaha!!!! Love this

 

[ucrx]

Now will someone bring me a cup of coffee? Where's an intern when I need one.

I used to get my pharmacists coffee. They'd pay, I'd go. It was a great setup.

 

[liver5123]

I am calm...well I am right now at least 👍... If you guys haven't worked with one of these lazy types, consider yourself blessed.

Have you slept with her yet?, If not you are doing something wrong and thus to blame. Resolve the sexual tension between both of you before it gets out of hand.

 

[Twinsmom]

Well, at least you get paid $15/hr. I only get paid less than 10. hoho
But I have good Pharmacists in the store.

 

[222pharmD]

Have you slept with her yet?, If not you are doing something wrong and thus to blame. Resolve the sexual tension between both of you before it gets out of hand.

WTF? lool...dude shes like 30 years older than me...barf, no thanks!

 

[rxlea]

Lulz cougar hunting FTW

 

[whatbout2morrow]

I think the best pharmacists out there are the ones that used to be techs at some point in their lives!

What if they were bad techs 😛.

My retail manager was a tech (a good 45 years ago). The truth is, I have never worked with a more helpful retail pharmacist (and I have worked with many pharmacists). He knows exactly when the tech is going to need help at the register, help typing, getting the phone, etc. Even though he's a preceptor with years of experience and all, he still won't hesitate to take out the trash if the tech is busy with something else (something many pharmacists would never do).

Rumor has it that there once was a pharmacist who worked at the pharmacy who would do nothing but verify and counsel if needed. The store started going haywire whenever she worked, all of the techs hated working with her and consequently the store started falling to the ranks of the worst stores in the district. Long story short, the lazy pharmacist ended up getting fired.


I have also seen a distinct difference when it comes to hospital pharmacists who were once techs. The ones who were techs know exactly what is going on, the challenges the techs are facing and what exactly needs to be done. The others enter orders very well and are very knowledgeable, but don't have a clue as to what goes on after they hit the "submit" button, and the difference can be felt when one of those pharmacists has to be in-charge for the shift.

 

[222pharmD]

Whatbout2morrow, thanks for that post! 🙂 Atleast someone see's what I'm talking about! lol

 

[rxlea]

Pharmacists who were techs before have no problem coming into the clean room to help us out when we are slammed. Some pharmacists are just helpful. Other pharmacists just sit and read the news when we could use the help. I have learned that I need to ask those pharmacists for help. They have become used to me now, though. I pretty much say that unless I get some help, the meds aren't going to get up in time. Then I give them a look 😉

 

[PharmaTope]

Can't wait for this pharmacist surplus we all keep talking about, it'll weed these fools out!

cant wait? it is already here.

also it will do more than weed those fools out. it will give companies so much power over you that they can treat you like garbage and you must do as they demand or be fired on the spot, especially in work at will states.

surplus is never a good thing.

 

[Rockinacoustic]

I used to get my pharmacists coffee. They'd pay, I'd go. It was a great setup.

Same, but with lunch

 

[FlavyFlav]

I hope and pray that I will be the 'cool' pharmacist that all the techs like when I graduate and start working. Being a tech for over 5 years now will hopefully help make me the guy techs request to work for.

I also have many lunches to pay forward through my years of awesome pharmacists that understood my money needs at the time.

 

[StevePerry]

Pharmacists who were techs before have no problem coming into the clean room to help us out when we are slammed. Some pharmacists are just helpful. Other pharmacists just sit and read the news when we could use the help. I have learned that I need to ask those pharmacists for help. They have become used to me now, though. I pretty much say that unless I get some help, the meds aren't going to get up in time. Then I give them a look 😉

I'll bet they are counting down your days to graduation.

Seriously, you gotta understand though, there are techs that work slower than your grandmothers bowels move and then want help from the people (pharmacists in this case) that get s--- done. Man I hate working with people like that.

 

[owlegrad]

I think we have a classic case of association vs causation. Assuming the premise that "pharmacists who used to be techs are more helpful" is true, is that because they used to be techs? Or is it that people who are more helpful are more likely to have been techs? After all, if someone is lazy as a pharmacist, chances are they have always been lazy, and thus less likely to have ever been a tech. Just a thought.

I don't think there is anything magical about being a tech - you can still go on to be either a great pharmacist or a lazy one, with or without this experience.

 

[crazybob]

I think we have a classic case of association vs causation. Assuming the premise that "pharmacists who used to be techs are more helpful" is true, is that because they used to be techs? Or is it that people who are more helpful are more likely to have been techs? After all, if someone is lazy as a pharmacist, chances are they have always been lazy, and thus less likely to have ever been a tech. Just a thought.

😴

I personally think pharmacists who have been techs before are more likely to be better and more helpful, but not always a guarantee.

 

[whatbout2morrow]

I also have many lunches to pay forward through my years of awesome pharmacists that understood my money needs at the time.

👍

 

[rxlea]

I'll bet they are counting down your days to graduation.

Seriously, you gotta understand though, there are techs that work slower than your grandmothers bowels move and then want help from the people (pharmacists in this case) that get s--- done. Man I hate working with people like that.

Seriously, I am one of the fastest/best techs there. I know what I am doing and no, they are not counting down til I graduate. They always ask me if I am going to stay on after I become a pharmacist. I have worked there for four years and I love my job. I also work with some fantastic pharmacists. I am simply saying that in my experience, AT MY INSTITUTION, the pharmacists that were techs before, seem to be very helpful and just know what needs to be done. Some that weren't techs are just helpful people in general. Then there are lazy ones... It varies. But, overall, we have a great team and we get things done because we communicate very well and have a common goal: to serve patients. Does it piss me off that some are lazy? Nah... It just gets a little tiresome to keep having to ask those pharmacists for help, especially when others just jump up and ask.

So, I take offense to your post- you just sound like you're trying to be an ass.

 

[rxlea]

Another thing, there are pharmacists that think that doing tech stuff is so "beneath" them... Now, THOSE are the rph's that piss me off. I encountered a couple of those people in retail... Not fun.

 

[pharm B]

I like what owle said. I was in the Navy and worked on quite a few different teams, and one of the things I think I'm better able to pick out is whether or not someone will chip in of their own volition, or if they have to be prompted. Some people need lots of prompting.

Whether or not someone was a tech before isn't necessarily the best indicator as to how much of a team player they'll be. Some people are inherently lazy, be they techs or pharmacists. I've seen a smooth machine come grinding to a halt in different scenarios because of a single tech or pharmacist who just wasn't putting in the same work as everyone else.

 

[pharm B]

Another thing, there are pharmacists that think that doing tech stuff is so "beneath" them... Now, THOSE are the rph's that piss me off. I encountered a couple of those people in retail... Not fun.

Amen sister. Nothing like dealing with a screaming patient when your work flow is backed up while the pharmacist sits back, humming, with a cup of coffee in his hand, waiting for the next tote to come his way (which never will because you're busy dealing with said screaming patient, another tech is on lunch, and the only one is on the phone with an insurance company).

I mean, not that this ever happens. Every time this pharmacist worked. 🙄

 

[crazybob]

Another thing, there are pharmacists that think that doing tech stuff is so "beneath" them... Now, THOSE are the rph's that piss me off. I encountered a couple of those people in retail... Not fun.

I've heard about those. The other pharmacists have nothing but complaints about those pharmacists.

 

[All4MyDaughter]

This goes both ways. My friends at work who are pharmacists complain about techs who are on Facebook or making personal phone calls and don't feel the need to ever work ahead but then don't mind asking the pharmacists to help them when they get slammed. BUT... when the pharmacists are slammed, they are not able to ask the techs for assistance because the techs aren't authorized to do the work of pharmacists.

So, if the techs can be playing Farmville during the times of day that the pharmacists are stressed, it might just be kind of FAIR that the pharmacists have some downtime during periods when the techs are busier.

 

[rxlea]

This goes both ways. My friends at work who are pharmacists complain about techs who are on Facebook or making personal phone calls and don't feel the need to ever work ahead but then don't mind asking the pharmacists to help them when they get slammed. BUT... when the pharmacists are slammed, they are not able to ask the techs for assistance because the techs aren't authorized to do the work of pharmacists.

So, if the techs can be playing Farmville during the times of day that the pharmacists are stressed, it might just be kind of FAIR that the pharmacists have some downtime during periods when the techs are busier.

Sure, except that said lazy pharmacists are also viewed as lazy by other pharmacists.

And I am certain it varies by institution. On the weekends, we get lots of downtime anyway, which is great. I don't give a crap if the pharmacists are kicking back while I make stuff. But when I have stuff flying off the stat printer, 5 chemos to make, a batch fill, and outpatient infusion needing ambisome, remicaid, and gamunex all at once, I hope that someone will ask if I need help. I take on the phones when the pharmacists need help, too, even though techs don't usually man the phones at my institution. So, yeah sure... it goes both ways. But, I think a TEAM should behave as one, and pick up the loose ends where they need to. Not that we have much problem with it where I work - there are just a couple of pharmacists that have this issue 🙂

So, maybe it is just best to chalk it up to every place is different? Beats telling someone that the pharmacists are counting down to their graduation.

 

[All4MyDaughter]

Sure, except that said lazy pharmacists are also viewed as lazy by other pharmacists.

And I am certain it varies by institution. On the weekends, we get lots of downtime anyway, which is great. I don't give a crap if the pharmacists are kicking back while I make stuff. But when I have stuff flying off the stat printer, 5 chemos to make, a batch fill, and outpatient infusion needing ambisome, remicaid, and gamunex all at once, I hope that someone will ask if I need help. I take on the phones when the pharmacists need help, too, even though techs don't usually man the phones at my institution. So, yeah sure... it goes both ways. But, I think a TEAM should behave as one, and pick up the loose ends where they need to. Not that we have much problem with it where I work - there are just a couple of pharmacists that have this issue 🙂

So, maybe it is just best to chalk it up to every place is different? Beats telling someone that the pharmacists are counting down to their graduation.

I was just talking about my experience where I work. I think that at ANY workplace there are two sides to every coin, so to speak.

 

[confettiflyer]

cant wait? it is already here.

also it will do more than weed those fools out. it will give companies so much power over you that they can treat you like garbage and you must do as they demand or be fired on the spot, especially in work at will states.

surplus is never a good thing.

Disagree, it's bad for your wallet, but I'm starting to see the silver lining with a surplus. I don't talk about retail anymore because you get treated like **** regardless of what's going on (either by patients, your DM, physicians, etc...), but at least on hospital side, the expansion of roles can only come if a) there are enough pharmacists to go around and b) if you can get those pharmacists for the same price point as you can now without bidding their salaries up.

Surplus helps solve both of those.

 

[crazybob]

Disagree, it's bad for your wallet, but I'm starting to see the silver lining with a surplus. I don't talk about retail anymore because you get treated like **** regardless of what's going on (either by patients, your DM, physicians, etc...), but at least on hospital side, the expansion of roles can only come if a) there are enough pharmacists to go around and b) if you can get those pharmacists for the same price point as you can now without bidding their salaries up.

Surplus helps solve both of those.

One question that would come up is, "would there be enough money to hire these pharmacists with the expansion of roles?"

I think so. Once you start to have pharmacists doing more work, the money should increase and the hospitals could hire more pharmacists.

I'm just guessing. Feel free to correct me.

 

[StevePerry]

So, maybe it is just best to chalk it up to every place is different? Beats telling someone that the pharmacists are counting down to their graduation.

Is all that sun in Arizona giving you thin skin?

 

[samuricool]

This goes both ways. My friends at work who are pharmacists complain about techs who are on Facebook or making personal phone calls and don't feel the need to ever work ahead but then don't mind asking the pharmacists to help them when they get slammed. BUT... when the pharmacists are slammed, they are not able to ask the techs for assistance because the techs aren't authorized to do the work of pharmacists.

So, if the techs can be playing Farmville during the times of day that the pharmacists are stressed, it might just be kind of FAIR that the pharmacists have some downtime during periods when the techs are busier.

Why does the pharmacist allow the techs to mess around on facebook? I dont mean to sound presumptuous about your friend, but it seems like (s)he is lacking some good management skills. It is her job to keep them busy and make sure they are on task. It is not a techs duty to be messing around on facebook or texting, that isnt what they get paid to do. Everywhere I have worked there is ALWAYS something to do.