Pharmacists that treat technicians like crap

[crossurfingers]

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Anyone else go through this? Work was so bad today that I almost cried (but I managed to wait til I got home). 🙁 Right now it's just too much stress and I dread going into work whenever that certain employee is there. I'm wondering if it's even worth all this trouble to me. The only reason I'd want to stay and stick it out is so I have a reference or something for after I graduate. And I probably can't ask for a store transfer without burning some bridges.

 

[Aznfarmerboi]

Anyone else go through this? Work was so bad today that I almost cried (but I managed to wait til I got home). 🙁 Right now it's just too much stress and I dread going into work whenever that certain employee is there. I'm wondering if it's even worth all this trouble to me. The only reason I'd want to stay and stick it out is so I have a reference or something for after I graduate. And I probably can't ask for a store transfer without burning some bridges.

Talk to your pdm about it. Why did your pharmacist treat you so badly? They are not above you. . .

 

[sdn1977]

Can you articulate what went wrong today? For now....just focus on today - what specifically was the issue? Did he/she criticize your work? Did you make an error in labeling, dispensing, judgement? Was it a personal problem between the two of you? With more specifics, perhaps we can give you some guidance with how to proceed. Are you there as a tech, intern or specific externship rotation? What kind of practice setting is this (retail, hospital, etc..)? Most employment situations have solutions and your work experience should not be like this.

 

[crossurfingers]

The pharmacist I work for is so condescending. I've been working there since September and I'm only part time because of school so it's taking me longer than she expects for me to get completely used to everything. I ask questions because I don't want to make mistakes which will end up costing more time to fix, and I don't think that I ask overtly stupid questions either. Since day 1, everytime I ask a question she'll get snippy and make me feel stupid for not knowing the answer. She'll do the whole 'roll eyes' thing and answer in a bitchy way. There was no real formal training that I went through like they do for Walgreens or CVS- I was just thrown in there. The different pharmacists that work there do things differently so it's hard to keep things straight with so much inconsistency. Even just with her there's so much inconsistency- one day she'll tell me I'm ripping the labels wrong, the next day she'll be ripping them the way she told me not to.

Another thing that bothers me is that after every person she comes into contact with (whether it be a doctor or patient on the phone, or a customer/fellow employee in person), she'll find some reason to bitch behind their backs about why they're complete *****s. I think that just bothers me because I know she's saying that about me when I'm gone. 🙁 I know it's not just me that feels this way about the whole work situation. Older techs say she's hard to deal with when you're new and one of the newer techs and pharmacists already confronted her about it. She said it's because she just wants us to get to the point of not having to ask any questions and that she'd stop because she had that done to her when she was younger (sort of like a "pay your dues" thing in pharmacy). She got better for about 2 weeks. She did tell me she thinks I can do better, but I would have appreciated a more tactful approach. I also don't think it's realistic of her to expect me to be like her full time tech of 3 years right away just because I'm a pharmacy student.

 

[alwaystired]

Anyone else go through this? Work was so bad today that I almost cried (but I managed to wait til I got home). 🙁 Right now it's just too much stress and I dread going into work whenever that certain employee is there. I'm wondering if it's even worth all this trouble to me. The only reason I'd want to stay and stick it out is so I have a reference or something for after I graduate. And I probably can't ask for a store transfer without burning some bridges.

Why do pharmacists treat interns like crap??? I have been through the exact same thing as you.....and even snuck off and cried in the restroom. Sad and pathetic, I know. What sucks is the transfer thing..... I still can't decide what to do, but the more I learn, the less imcompetent I feel and the more I can take. I decided to stay (for today at least) since I have already learned and struggled to learn so much. My manager is really good friends with the offender and the offender enablizes the techs to treat me like crap too. I just try to be strong. If it gets too bad, I know I can always go elsewhere.....you can just try to make an excuse (schedule change, location change due to car trouble or closer to school, or something) to avoid buring the bridge. At least that is what I will try to do if I have to leave.

 

[alwaystired]

The pharmacist I work for is so condescending. I've been working there since September and I'm only part time because of school so it's taking me longer than she expects for me to get completely used to everything. I ask questions because I don't want to make mistakes which will end up costing more time to fix, and I don't think that I ask overtly stupid questions either. Since day 1, everytime I ask a question she'll get snippy and make me feel stupid for not knowing the answer. She'll do the whole 'roll eyes' thing and answer in a bitchy way. There was no real formal training that I went through like they do for Walgreens or CVS- I was just thrown in there. The different pharmacists that work there do things differently so it's hard to keep things straight with so much inconsistency. Even just with her there's so much inconsistency- one day she'll tell me I'm ripping the labels wrong, the next day she'll be ripping them the way she told me not to.

Another thing that bothers me is that after every person she comes into contact with (whether it be a doctor or patient on the phone, or a customer/fellow employee in person), she'll find some reason to bitch behind their backs about why they're complete *****s. I think that just bothers me because I know she's saying that about me when I'm gone. 🙁 I know it's not just me that feels this way about the whole work situation. Older techs say she's hard to deal with when you're new and one of the newer techs and pharmacists already confronted her about it. She said it's because she just wants us to get to the point of not having to ask any questions and that she'd stop because she had that done to her when she was younger (sort of like a "pay your dues" thing in pharmacy). She got better for about 2 weeks. She did tell me she thinks I can do better, but I would have appreciated a more tactful approach. I also don't think it's realistic of her to expect me to be like her full time tech of 3 years right away just because I'm a pharmacy student. I just dread working with her.

OMG----exactly the same as me!!!! I also started in Sept. and can't grasp it that fast because I only work 2 days. I am even wondering if it is the same damn chain where they give you no training, stick you in front of a patient and refuse to help you. The pharmacist once told me I reached my question quota and that sometimes it is just better to learn the hard way. Yah, I cried that day too.

I also know that she talks bad about me behind my back.....even though I don't deserve it. I have learned everything as quick as anyone can and they still treat me like an idiot. Geez, is there some hazing policy that we aren't aware of?

 

[sdn1977]

The pharmacist I work for is so condescending. I've been working there since September and I'm only part time because of school so it's taking me longer than she expects for me to get completely used to everything. I ask questions because I don't want to make mistakes which will end up costing more time to fix, and I don't think that I ask overtly stupid questions either. Since day 1, everytime I ask a question she'll get snippy and make me feel stupid for not knowing the answer. She'll do the whole 'roll eyes' thing and answer in a bitchy way. There was no real formal training that I went through like they do for Walgreens or CVS- I was just thrown in there. The different pharmacists that work there do things differently so it's hard to keep things straight with so much inconsistency. Even just with her there's so much inconsistency- one day she'll tell me I'm ripping the labels wrong, the next day she'll be ripping them the way she told me not to.

Another thing that bothers me is that after every person she comes into contact with (whether it be a doctor or patient on the phone, or a customer/fellow employee in person), she'll find some reason to bitch behind their backs about why they're complete *****s. I think that just bothers me because I know she's saying that about me when I'm gone. 🙁 I know it's not just me that feels this way about the whole work situation. Older techs say she's hard to deal with when you're new and one of the newer techs and pharmacists already confronted her about it. She said it's because she just wants us to get to the point of not having to ask any questions and that she'd stop because she had that done to her when she was younger (sort of like a "pay your dues" thing in pharmacy). She got better for about 2 weeks. She did tell me she thinks I can do better, but I would have appreciated a more tactful approach. I also don't think it's realistic of her to expect me to be like her full time tech of 3 years right away just because I'm a pharmacy student. I just dread working with her.

Ok...let me give you a few thoughts...these issues seem to be mostly personality based. You are not going to change her personality, but you can change how she triggers yours. I have suffered from being curt and abrupt at times - usually a direct reflection of the chaos I am currently enduring. Recognize that this is probably not about you - it is about her and how little control she might be feeling. If she is fussing about how you tear labels - it is definitely not about you. So....learn to let that go - just as you will have to learn when an OR nurse calls and reads you the riot act because you don't have the cardioplegia solutions ready, or when the 30 yo female goes ballistic because her Paxil CR is backordered. You have to learn this so coworkers do not wreck your day - take a break and go to your car and scream, put a stress ball in your pocket and squeeze, whatever it takes - this will last all your professional career. This is also a difficult thing to learn, but all pharmacists are not good educators. You may not be able to ask all the questions you want to ask because she doesn't feel comfortable in that role or you trigger her inadequcies. Find those questions she does like to answer - and ask those - for example, she may not feel good about clinical issues, but feels better about reimbursment issues or perhaps she likes diabetes and not mental health. That is why you take lots of rotations - not everyone is good at teaching everything. Finally.....let me encourage you to distance yourself from other employees and talking about this situation with others. As an intern, you are inbetween technicians and pharmacists. Sometimes there is a feeling of one side wanting you to be on "their team" - try to resist this! Professionally, you should never talk about one employee to another and this is absolutely inappropriate when you are a pharmacist and supervising employees, so start now. Pharmacists will constanstly frustrate techs because each of us does things differently - we know that and really there is nothing we can do about it. But we do try to give techs and clerks ways in which we are different so they can shift gears when each of us works. Last.....think about finding a new practice site...you may have gotten all you are going to get out of this site and as long as you give proper notice and it is not a school assigned rotation, you are ok - people change jobs for lots of reasons. Just be careful - having the last word is never a good thing and be sure to give proper notice. Hope this helps!

 

[crossurfingers]

Thanks for your suggestions, SDN. Even though I'm in pharmacy school, the place where I work is like my afterschool job (and it's a retail setting). I'm still only considered a pharmacy technician and I don't counsel. About finding the right questions to ask- I don't think she appreciates any questions at all. I don't understand it. She wants us to learn, but makes us feel like crap when we ask questions. 😕 And I completely agree with you about it not being professional to talk about other employees to each other. I wish she knew that- it made me so uncomfortable to hear her say how the other new tech was "not up to par". What, did she expect me to agree with her? The only reason I knew about the confrontation between the other employee is because I was there (at work) when it happened. They didn't do it in private and then somehow they made me an extension of the conversation. I don't vent to other employees about the situation either because I don't want it getting back to the person that it's about. It just frustrates me that I can't stand up for myself in this situation without it seeming like I'm talking back to a superior. I don't like the feeling of being stepped on constantly. It also doesn't help me look forward to actually entering the workforce as a pharmacist when I graduate either.

Some friends and I were talking about this the other day. We came to the conclusion that we should all open up a pharmacy together- going to work would be so much more enjoyable.

 

[sdn1977]

Thanks for your suggestions, SDN. Even though I'm in pharmacy school, the place where I work is like my afterschool job (and it's a retail setting). I'm still only considered a pharmacy technician and I don't counsel. About finding the right questions to ask- I don't think she appreciates any questions at all. I don't understand it. She wants us to learn, but makes us feel like crap when we ask questions. 😕 And I completely agree with you about it not being professional to talk about other employees to each other. I wish she knew that- it made me so uncomfortable to hear her say how the other new tech was "not up to par". What, did she expect me to agree with her? The only reason I knew about the confrontation between the other employee is because I was there (at work) when it happened. They didn't do it in private and then somehow they made me an extension of the conversation. I don't vent to other employees about the situation either because I don't want it getting back to the person that it's about. It just frustrates me that I can't stand up for myself in this situation without it seeming like I'm talking back to a superior. I don't like the feeling of being stepped on constantly. It also doesn't help me look forward to actually entering the workforce as a pharmacist when I graduate either.

Some friends and I were talking about this the other day. We came to the conclusion that we should all open up a pharmacy together- going to work would be so much more enjoyable.

Crossfingers....just a few other thoughts...this is what I've told my own kids and interns who I've precepted. Begin as you mean to go on....since you are in pharmacy school, your experiences should be enhancements to your professional life. Now, if you are doing a rotation in an ICU pharmacy and you tell me people are always stressed and short tempered and don't have time/want to answer your questions.....I'd say - ok - that goes with the territory. But...in a retail situation, busyness and stress are cyclic - there are slow moments too in which you should be expected to ask a question (within reason - obviously, if she is working sick - give her a break and leave her alone). But, if she is consistently unpleasant....again...begin as you mean to go on in your professional practice - move on. Decide what your limit is - trust me, this will not be the last job you leave becasue you disagreed with someone or a policy. It is not a bad reflection on you or them - your work styles just did not mesh. When your next employer asks why you left....you explain during your years as a student you want to experience many aspects of pharmacy before you graduate. NEVER, NEVER bad mouth an employee, past employer or corporation - that will come back to bite you - we really are a small community. Decide also - really early - that you will NOT get pulled into department gossip - suddenly get a stomach pain which requires you to go to the bathroom, have your pager go off, whatever it takes to remove yourself from the department drama - it will pay off in the long run. Finally, be a really great employee all the time! Be on time, don't exceed the time allowed for breaks, lunches, always be willing to do the awful jobs (remember all jobs are pharmacist jobs - yes....I've worked lots of strikes and I've really done ALL jobs within the pharmacy!) keep your home drama at home and be pleasant! None of this will control anyone else within the department, but it may help you in how you perceive your own work environment. Good luck!

 

[no-see-um]

The entry-level pharmacy job is such a Catch-22. Most places want someone with experience, yet you are looking to gain experience. You can't gain experience if you can't work there. Yet, they'd be delighted to have you there as a pharmacist. I never understood why they can't take the time to train someone.

 

[Sosumi]

That's interesting. At my job, the pharmacist sometimes treats the technicians like crap, but treats me very well. I think she was told by her PDM to treat pharmacy students/interns well, and she told her technicians to do the same. The retail chains really want you to work for them when you graduate, so they offer many benefits like higher pay compared to technicians, mail me Pharmacy Times and scholarship offers, and offer other benefits. It's better for them because you will have been trained rather cheaply by the time you graduate and know their system well that they should be falling over their knees to hire you.

I've learned from working and dealing with many different pharmacists to acquire the good things that they do (answering the phone politely, maintaining your composure and professionalism under pressure, multitasking, finding time to help patients, etc.) and avoid doing the bad things you dislike about them (treating their techs badly, snapping at customers/patients, getting flustered under pressure, not looking their patients in the eyes, etc.)

If you feel like you're not learning much, I would ask to work at a slower store so that you can have more time to learn. I've learned the most during one summer working 3 days a week at a slow store -- learning the drugs, insurance issues, inventory management. As such, you would be of more use to your regular busier store and it's a win-win situation for your condescending pharmacist and you.

If the situation doesn't get better, take her aside and talk to her about it. When that doesn't work, I would talk with your PDM. There's really no excuse for a supposed professional like her to continually treat you and everyone else badly.

 

[crossurfingers]

I'm at one of the slower stores already. We average about 60/day and it's usually just one pharmacist and me on duty. I really wish I was at a busier store because most of the time is spent just dusting the shelves, zoning or finding something to keep yourself busy. I think that also plays a part in why I'm not picking things up as quickly- I don't get much practice. You'd think at a slower store it'd be easier to ask questions and get answers tuff like this. but it's not when she's working. I don't know, I talked to a friend who works for the same chain and she says her boss is the same way with her. I think I'll take her advice of just guessing and only asking questions after things have gone wrong. I feel better that I'm not the only one going through this kind of thing.

 

[sdn1977]

I'm at one of the slower stores already. We average about 60/day and it's usually just one pharmacist and me on duty. I really wish I was at a busier store because most of the time is spent just dusting the shelves, zoning or finding something to keep yourself busy. I think that also plays a part in why I'm not picking things up as quickly- I don't get much practice. You'd think at a slower store it'd be easier to ask questions and get answers tuff like this. but it's not when she's working. I don't know, I talked to a friend who works for the same chain and she says her boss is the same way with her. I think I'll take her advice of just guessing and only asking questions after things have gone wrong. I feel better that I'm not the only one going through this kind of thing.

OK....this is more & better info. I can tell you...one of the reasons she is testy is because she is essentially working alone. Even though 60 Rxs are not many (a really slow Sunday amt actually) she is doing it alone because you are not trained to help and she doesn't have anyone else. On top of that..she knows you are really an intern and should be asking and she should be answering questions. Teaching is really time consuming and draining! On top of that....this has been 10 days of he** because of the new Medicare stuff. So...any problems that come up, she has to handle, on top of being available to take all new Rx calls/pharmacist questions, all counseling, questions about new copays, etc....She is having you dust shelves to keep you occupied! Let me give you a couple of suggestions...first, when you come to work, specifically ask her she would like you to do right now. You may think processing the prescriptions is where she wants you, but really she can do that much faster than you can. She really wants you to do the "scut" work - tagging the order, ringing up Rxs, etc....When you have a question, get a feeling how busy it is....if it is busy, write it down and ask it later. If not, ask it now. There are some things which just take time to master....like insurance processing. My guess is that she is still sorting that out herself - January is always the worst. For a pharmacy student, you really are in the best place...you'll get the best education one-on-one. For a new tech, perhaps not - it is always easier for a tech to learn computer stuff from another tech. So..you need to decide where ultimately your mind is - pharmacy intern or tech???? Can you develop your own interpersonal skills enough to handle and make this situation better? Yes, it is a challenge....can you do it?

 

[DHG]

OK....this is more & better info. I can tell you...one of the reasons she is testy is because she is essentially working alone. Even though 60 Rxs are not many (a really slow Sunday amt actually) she is doing it alone because you are not trained to help and she doesn't have anyone else. On top of that..she knows you are really an intern and should be asking and she should be answering questions. Teaching is really time consuming and draining! On top of that....this has been 10 days of he** because of the new Medicare stuff. So...any problems that come up, she has to handle, on top of being available to take all new Rx calls/pharmacist questions, all counseling, questions about new copays, etc....She is having you dust shelves to keep you occupied! Let me give you a couple of suggestions...first, when you come to work, specifically ask her she would like you to do right now. You may think processing the prescriptions is where she wants you, but really she can do that much faster than you can. She really wants you to do the "scut" work - tagging the order, ringing up Rxs, etc....When you have a question, get a feeling how busy it is....if it is busy, write it down and ask it later. If not, ask it now. There are some things which just take time to master....like insurance processing. My guess is that she is still sorting that out herself - January is always the worst. For a pharmacy student, you really are in the best place...you'll get the best education one-on-one. For a new tech, perhaps not - it is always easier for a tech to learn computer stuff from another tech. So..you need to decide where ultimately your mind is - pharmacy intern or tech???? Can you develop your own interpersonal skills enough to handle and make this situation better? Yes, it is a challenge....can you do it?

Enlightening reply 👍

 

[bananaface]

There is no excuse for treating your coworkers like crap. 👎

Have you thought about moving on to another place of employment?

 

[loo]

There is no excuse for treating your coworkers like crap. 👎

Have you thought about moving on to another place of employment?

I agree. Talk to the DM or confront the offender directly.

 

[tupac_don]

OMG----exactly the same as me!!!! I also started in Sept. and can't grasp it that fast because I only work 2 days. I am even wondering if it is the same damn chain where they give you no training, stick you in front of a patient and refuse to help you. The pharmacist once told me I reached my question quota and that sometimes it is just better to learn the hard way. Yah, I cried that day too.

I also know that she talks bad about me behind my back.....even though I don't deserve it. I have learned everything as quick as anyone can and they still treat me like an idiot. Geez, is there some hazing policy that we aren't aware of?

Yea pretty much, I mean you gotta understand people like that wanna do their job, and you are holding them down, by asking these questions. I know you are not supposed to know everything agreed. But having precepted myself, I notice that students in general try to get out of doing work, whereas when I was a student, I noticed preceptors would try to dump a lot of busy work onto you. (Kinda like a hazing thing, I did busy work to learn now you do it too, sit up and shut up kinda deal). It goes both ways, if the preceptor is relaxed "awesome", then students take advantage of that and that's a fact. Trust me students can be quite lazy and want answers basically served on a silver platter and really want their day to just go by so they can do other things when they go home. But you will be a pharmacist soon, and it sucks when a tech is more proficient at dealing with insurance companies, but dont' know how to do a simple calculation. But that's the process you gotta go through. Once you get there you make your own rules.

 

[letjin]

I agree. Talk to the DM or confront the offender directly.

Check your company policy before you talk to DM. At a company I worked, they required us to talk to pharmacy or store manager first, and I didn't know that. So when I skipped directly to PDM...my PM was mad and he was to me thereafter.

 

[loo]

Check your company policy before you talk to DM. At a company I worked, they required us to talk to pharmacy or store manager first, and I didn't know that. So when I skipped directly to PDM...my PM was mad and he was to me thereafter.

Wow. That is sad that you have to talk to the store manager or PM first. The store manager is usually clueless about pharmacy goings-on and the pharmacy manager should do something before it gets to that point. What company do you work for?

 

[fidelio]

She sounds like a beotch.

Anyway, not all pharmacists are like that though. The ones I've met are nice to me. They love to have a good chat about just anything. They're especially nice if your parents or someone you know knows them too.

But I know what you mean, patients come into our pharmacy and they complain about the rite-aid pharmacist that's close by. I guess the pharmacist there was rude and mean. His terrible customer service is making all the patients come into our pharmacy.

Good news for us, bad news for them.

I'd recommend trying to find a different pharmacist to write your reference letter. This one sounds like she'd write horrible things.