Pharmacists who take forever to get set up?

[Sparda29]

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Is it me or is it a generational thing? I'm working overnights right now. I usually start working on checking the carts around 530AM, and the first day shift pharmacist usually arrives at 6AM. But they don't sit down and start working till like 630AM. The first thing she does is go to the locker room and break room and put away her jacket and lunch (understandable), but then she goes to look at the schedule for 5 minutes, then she goes to her seat and computer and proceeds to wipe everything down with alcohol (wtf). Like, I'll be working on my stuff and then the phone rings and she has the audacity to ask me to answer the phone.

Am I right to be annoyed here? Not sure if I should bring it up with management because she is the oldest pharmacist here (been here almost 25 years)? The other overnight pharmacist told me to start up the cart checking process later so that she is forced to start working immediately.

So what's the deal? Is this a day shift thing (where people don't start working right away)?

 

[Saiyo]

I had a coworker like this! Thank God he retired

 

[SELDANE]

No, this is not a generational thing. It's just a crappy employee with a sense of entitlement. Establishments with one or more of these types of employees are usually indicative of weak management.

 

[RxPreceptor]

I think the habitual dilly-dally-er is pretty universal in pharmacy across multiple settings...some definitely worse than others but understandable that it takes a bit (keyword) of time to get into a proper rhythm. 30 minutes is just milking the system

 

[rxkrafted]

Lol I have a few of them at my place as well. Its particularly the older pharmacists here that do that. There is one pharmacist who literally comes in and doesn't start their work until almost an hour in because this individual eats a meal then talks to people until an hour passes....

 

[owlegrad]

Personally I would suggest trying to work it out with your coworker directly before going to management. If that doesn’t work you can escalate.

I had a coworker complain to management that I don’t answer the phone enough and I was pretty shocked. I didn’t realize we could complain to management for stuff we want our coworkers to do more of. I doubt the coworker who complained about me wants to get into a game of who does what.

 

[mentos]

This happens everywhere. I've worked overnight in retail, hospital and LTC. First shift always dilly dallies for the first hour or so until management comes in. They clock in then go straight to the break room, stare at the schedule, text, wipe down the workstation with alcohol, complain about call outs, talk about how busy it was yesterday, get coffee, go to the bathroom, go get breakfast at the cafe, complain about how tired they are, gossip about coworkers, talk about the football game, talk about how understaffed they are today yet they do no work for the next hour... If they really wanted to they could get a lot done and not be in a rush every afternoon.

One Rph would spoil Game of Thrones every Monday morning and talk about the episode for 30mins which got annoying real fast.

I once left 22 orders for verification in the queue (would have taken a few min to clear out). The first shift Rph literally stared at the screen for 30min and didn't verify a single order by the time I left. She got paid around $30 to sit on her ass for 30min.

No one is going to listen to the overnighter versus the first shift lifer. So I just remind myself that it's usually dead from 1am-5am and let them have their 1 hour of playtime.

 

[JustFillIt]

Is it me or is it a generational thing? I'm working overnights right now. I usually start working on checking the carts around 530AM, and the first day shift pharmacist usually arrives at 6AM. But they don't sit down and start working till like 630AM. The first thing she does is go to the locker room and break room and put away her jacket and lunch (understandable), but then she goes to look at the schedule for 5 minutes, then she goes to her seat and computer and proceeds to wipe everything down with alcohol (wtf). Like, I'll be working on my stuff and then the phone rings and she has the audacity to ask me to answer the phone.

Am I right to be annoyed here? Not sure if I should bring it up with management because she is the oldest pharmacist here (been here almost 25 years)? The other overnight pharmacist told me to start up the cart checking process later so that she is forced to start working immediately.

So what's the deal? Is this a day shift thing (where people don't start working right away)?

Sounds to me like this old lady made you her bit**... you gotta man up bro!

 

[confettiflyer]

I sanitize my workstation too but I’m usually logged in and ready to roll in under 10 mins.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN

 

[Sparda29]

Sounds to me like this old lady made you her bit**... you gotta man up bro!

Nah, the cafeteria opens at 6AM. As soon as she walks in, I'm gonna go to get dinner and tea. Force her to start working right away. Problem is that even management is scared of her because the director and assistant director were both interns under her.

 

[Sparda29]

This happens everywhere. I've worked overnight in retail, hospital and LTC. First shift always dilly dallies for the first hour or so until management comes in. They clock in then go straight to the break room, stare at the schedule, text, wipe down the workstation with alcohol, complain about call outs, talk about how busy it was yesterday, get coffee, go to the bathroom, go get breakfast at the cafe, complain about how tired they are, gossip about coworkers, talk about the football game, talk about how understaffed they are today yet they do no work for the next hour... If they really wanted to they could get a lot done and not be in a rush every afternoon.

One Rph would spoil Game of Thrones every Monday morning and talk about the episode for 30mins which got annoying real fast.

I once left 22 orders for verification in the queue (would have taken a few min to clear out). The first shift Rph literally stared at the screen for 30min and didn't verify a single order by the time I left. She got paid around $30 to sit on her ass for 30min.

No one is going to listen to the overnighter versus the first shift lifer. So I just remind myself that it's usually dead from 1am-5am and let them have their 1 hour of playtime.

The last part is true. I only had to verify like 5 orders the last 4 hours and so far I've watched 2 movies tonight and did 50 push ups.

 

[Pharmacy is a Scam]

This happens everywhere. I've worked overnight in retail, hospital and LTC. First shift always dilly dallies for the first hour or so until management comes in. They clock in then go straight to the break room, stare at the schedule, text, wipe down the workstation with alcohol, complain about call outs, talk about how busy it was yesterday, get coffee, go to the bathroom, go get breakfast at the cafe, complain about how tired they are, gossip about coworkers, talk about the football game, talk about how understaffed they are today yet they do no work for the next hour... If they really wanted to they could get a lot done and not be in a rush every afternoon.

One Rph would spoil Game of Thrones every Monday morning and talk about the episode for 30mins which got annoying real fast.

I once left 22 orders for verification in the queue (would have taken a few min to clear out). The first shift Rph literally stared at the screen for 30min and didn't verify a single order by the time I left. She got paid around $30 to sit on her ass for 30min.

No one is going to listen to the overnighter versus the first shift lifer. So I just remind myself that it's usually dead from 1am-5am and let them have their 1 hour of playtime.

That is why I will have no sympathy for hospital dispensing pharmacists when their jobs get cut due to AI/automation. Lots of fat to trim that is currently being protected by unions/seniority, but it is only a matter of time before people find workarounds to cutting these jobs or replacing them with new grads at lesser pay.

 

[El Trombopag]

We have a couple that use the first 15 minutes to make coffee. If it were good coffee it wouldn’t be as irritating. But it’s crap preground on a substandard drip machine. 1 minute to add water and grounds, 14 minutes of a free break while waiting for it to finish, pour this perfect brew, and PharmD it up to perfection. Can’t work without it in hand!

 

[mustang sally]

We have a couple that use the first 15 minutes to make coffee. If it were good coffee it wouldn’t be as irritating. But it’s crap preground on a substandard drip machine. 1 minute to add water and grounds, 14 minutes of a free break while waiting for it to finish, pour this perfect brew, and PharmD it up to perfection. Can’t work without it in hand!

Someone jacked my chair up one weekend and I took a good 15 minutes at least trying to maneuver it back into the correct position. I'm sure my colleague loved me, but I told him I couldn't work under those conditions!

 

[RxPreceptor]

Mainly just adamant about putting supplies in a logical order (spatial relation that makes sense for workflow) and getting some BS paperwork/daily tasks/logging done. 5 minutes time spent organizing to make 10-12 hours shift run more efficiently after previous RPh shift (some shifts appear as if a grenade of paperwork went off @ said RPh's workstation...much being an inability to throw away no longer relevant pieces of paper/conflict resolved already, PA sent, etc.).

Out of respect, I leave the following shift RPh a relatively clean slate yet find myself NEVER having the same done for me in return (a bit understandable because my shift generally starts deep into rush hour....hope this whole rush hour BS comes to an end as the Baby boomers die out...seems like a society thing; can't ever bring myself to waste time doing errands during rush hour)

 

[owlegrad]

Mainly just adamant about putting supplies in a logical order (spatial relation that makes sense for workflow) and getting some BS paperwork/daily tasks/logging done. 5 minutes time spent organizing to make 10-12 hours shift run more efficiently after previous RPh shift (some shifts appear as if a grenade of paperwork went off @ said RPh's workstation...much being an inability to throw away no longer relevant pieces of paper/conflict resolved already, PA sent, etc.).

Out of respect, I leave the following shift RPh a relatively clean slate yet find myself NEVER having the same done for me in return (a bit understandable because my shift generally starts deep into rush hour....hope this whole rush hour BS comes to an end as the Baby boomers die out...seems like a society thing; can't ever bring myself to waste time doing errands during rush hour)

I restock all the supplies at my workstation and attempt to keep them in order. Everyone else just raids my station when they run out even to the point of messing up what goes where. I even have it all labeled to make finding what I need easy but people throw stuff where ever and it all gets mixed up.

It makes me want to cut them. You save time by being organized people!

 

[sakigt]

Just worry about yourself. Look at all the older pharmacists who complain about others lack of work ethic. You do not want to turn into one of them.

 

[RedROSE]

Does anybody else encounter situations where an “experienced pharmacist” verifies only certain orders for a patient (discontinued, suspended, tylenol/ibuprofen) and leaves the rest hanging in a queue? I find it quite annoying. One of my co-workers always wants to give me the phone when he is not comfortable answering a question. He likes to take 15 minutes naps instead.

 

[Sparda29]

Does anybody else encounter situations where an “experienced pharmacist” verifies only certain orders for a patient (discontinued, suspended, tylenol/ibuprofen) and leaves the rest hanging in a queue? I find it quite annoying. One of my co-workers always wants to give me the phone when he is not comfortable answering a question. He likes to take 15 minutes naps instead.

I've definitely seen that and I call people out on it.

 

[RxPreceptor]

Just worry about yourself. Look at all the older pharmacists who complain about others lack of work ethic. You do not want to turn into one of them.

Sigh...already showing signs and symptoms but trying not to let it get to me mentally. Hey, if I have the time, I am more than fine with showing RPh know-how/work flow....some aspects like professionalism (simply showing up on time) seems absolutely hopeless for some of these ultra-comfortable staff salaried RPh

 

[RxPreceptor]

Does anybody else encounter situations where an “experienced pharmacist” verifies only certain orders for a patient (discontinued, suspended, tylenol/ibuprofen) and leaves the rest hanging in a queue? I find it quite annoying. One of my co-workers always wants to give me the phone when he is not comfortable answering a question. He likes to take 15 minutes naps instead.

Yes, I notice many "experienced" RPh leave things like OTC, drugs with many different dose forms, simple insurance reject fixes (some coding needed) unprocessed in triage. Have had specific floaters HIT ME UP to do third party rejects, verify script/resolve some issue, &/or answer the phone FIRST FEW SECONDS upon walking into my shift (not even enough time to put on my coat or even get computer credentials). It says a lot about the floater(s)

I think your colleague needs to grow a pair of testicles (assuming you are talking about another RPh/drug related question/judgment needed)

 

[KidPharmD]

I think some of it is generational or at least cultural. I talked about this with my Grandfather one day. There is a big difference in how people perceive what start time means. For some, it means that they are there and ready to clock in. For others it means they are ready to start work. 30 min is a bit much. I am one of those that arrives at my shift time and takes time to put my lunch away, wipe down my station (because ER germs) and set up. It takes 10 min if I talk while I do it though. I also am not replacing anyone and will stop if actual work comes up.

 

[mentos]

I think some of it is generational or at least cultural. I talked about this with my Grandfather one day. There is a big difference in how people perceive what start time means. For some, it means that they are there and ready to clock in. For others it means they are ready to start work. 30 min is a bit much. I am one of those that arrives at my shift time and takes time to put my lunch away, wipe down my station (because ER germs) and set up. It takes 10 min if I talk while I do it though. I also am not replacing anyone and will stop if actual work comes up.

It's not a generational thing, it's a laziness thing. You're supposed to start working after you clock in.

If you were an employer, would you want to pay your employees $10 to put their lunch away?

 

[KidPharmD]

It's not a generational thing, it's a laziness thing. You're supposed to start working after you clock in.

If you were an employer, would you want to pay your employees $10 to put their lunch away?

I think more jobs had a "get there" view of start times in days past than they do now. Our family employs several people through a family business and we function on a "get there" time. I have had jobs in the past where you couldn't arrive early if you wanted to because the doors didn't unlock until your start time. For some it is a laziness thing but it is on the employer to set the standard. If they expect you to begin work at your start time then it is on them to enforce that. Time clocks on the wall don't do that. They enforce only the "get there" attitude.

 

[rxkrafted]

It's definitely laziness. I have older pharmacists who have been working over 20 years who get to work right when they clock in because delaying work would negatively affect them. We also have some overnight pharmacists (who are just as old) come in and kill time in the breakroom since they know they have a big overlap with pharmacists doing work already.

 

[Sparda29]

I think some of it is generational or at least cultural. I talked about this with my Grandfather one day. There is a big difference in how people perceive what start time means. For some, it means that they are there and ready to clock in. For others it means they are ready to start work. 30 min is a bit much. I am one of those that arrives at my shift time and takes time to put my lunch away, wipe down my station (because ER germs) and set up. It takes 10 min if I talk while I do it though. I also am not replacing anyone and will stop if actual work comes up.

Assume you are the 6am-2pm pharmacist.

If I (the overnighter) as soon as you walk in, tell you that I'm leaving for break without letting you set up, would you take it as passive-aggressiveness?

I can understand giving like 3-5 minutes because the Citrix profile and Meditech apps take forever to launch. But this lady I'm working with doesn't even log in or start launching the apps until she is done with her cleaning and taking her morning meds and going to the bathroom.

Other morning pharmacists I work with, typically arrive like 545, launch the apps, go back out at 6AM to clock in, then start working (the younger ones). Sometimes if I'm feeling super tired and don't want to hit the morning rush hour, or if I want to surprise the wife with breakfast in bed and some nooky, I get my work done earlier so I can leave an hour or two early (my shift ends 830 but me and the other overnighter are allowed to burn PTO hours or come in earlier if we wanna leave earlier).

I used to be the dude that always got there 5-10 minutes late. Now I'm the dude that gets there early, but I'm packing up my stuff 15 minutes before the shift ends and waiting at the time clock to clock out.

 

[Dred Pirate]

a fellow overnighter - we have zero overlap (I leave at 7 - my relief comes in at 7) - I have had exactly two days in the past 6 months that my relief wasn't here by 7. After a brief chat - that person who was late - now is never late. If you build in a 30 minute overlap - basically you are saying it is not necessary to really work. Although I would rather have the overlap so I could tie up my loose ends and GTFO a few minutes early.

 

[MrBonita]

Tell management you are annoyed. That is what management is for. She probably thinks you are ok with it since you don't say anything. I really hate working with someone who clocks in and goes and puts stuff away and doesn't show up till 15 to 20 minutes after clocking in. Seriously selfish.

 

[Sparda29]

a fellow overnighter - we have zero overlap (I leave at 7 - my relief comes in at 7) - I have had exactly two days in the past 6 months that my relief wasn't here by 7. After a brief chat - that person who was late - now is never late. If you build in a 30 minute overlap - basically you are saying it is not necessary to really work. Although I would rather have the overlap so I could tie up my loose ends and GTFO a few minutes early.

Ah ok. I'm scheduled till 8:15 and one comes in at 6 and another 2 at 7 and 2 more at 8. I also come in at 9P, 2 leave at 10, another leaves at 12, so I have 6 hours alone.

 

[Dred Pirate]

Ah ok. I'm scheduled till 8:15 and one comes in at 6 and another 2 at 7 and 2 more at 8. I also come in at 9P, 2 leave at 10, another leaves at 12, so I have 6 hours alone.

that makes a big difference. (I have a couple of other overnighters but we work in completely different areas of the hospital)
1. Does this person coming and screwing around really cause you to have to work more? (or is it relatively slow and you really just sit around and shoot the **** for a bit?
2. Do you ever get to leave a bit early because of the overlap? (edit - I see you do, but have to use PDO -that sucks- if we leave early, since we are salaried we still get our full hours pay)
3. Do you get a unofficial break to go grab breakfast before the end of your shift?

Ask these questions first before you determine if you want to take the next step.
If the answers to these questions still make you want to address the issue - go talk to the person before going to mgmt - we are professionals and should be able to have this discussion - if that doesn't get anywhere - then go to mgmt

But ya - it happens all the time, trust me, I see it. Drives me nuts. My I am always at work 10-15 mintues early to put stuff away, grab coffee, etc. But if you make me stay 5 mintues late it just pisses me off. lol

 

[Klueril]

Just worry about yourself. Look at all the older pharmacists who complain about others lack of work ethic. You do not want to turn into one of them.

This.....why are pharmacists so READY to tell on each other---our profession has a lot less comradery than others....

 

[itaos]

This.....why are pharmacists so READY to tell on each other---our profession has a lot less comradery than others....

The default method for minor conflict resolution is to get management involved at the hospitals I have worked. I was hoping these were exceptions rather than the norm

 

[Sparda29]

that makes a big difference. (I have a couple of other overnighters but we work in completely different areas of the hospital)
1. Does this person coming and screwing around really cause you to have to work more? (or is it relatively slow and you really just sit around and shoot the **** for a bit?
2. Do you ever get to leave a bit early because of the overlap? (edit - I see you do, but have to use PDO -that sucks- if we leave early, since we are salaried we still get our full hours pay)
3. Do you get a unofficial break to go grab breakfast before the end of your shift?

Ask these questions first before you determine if you want to take the next step.
If the answers to these questions still make you want to address the issue - go talk to the person before going to mgmt - we are professionals and should be able to have this discussion - if that doesn't get anywhere - then go to mgmt

But ya - it happens all the time, trust me, I see it. Drives me nuts. My I am always at work 10-15 mintues early to put stuff away, grab coffee, etc. But if you make me stay 5 mintues late it just pisses me off. lol

What happens is that I start checking the technicians fill lists and cassette fills around 6AM since I print out the update around 5am. I usually wait until this time to start checking, drawing liquid doses, etc.

The phones really start going off the hook around 6AM. If the morning pharmacist doesn't answer phones, then I have to do it and then I fall behind on my cart checking.

As for the break, we're supposed to get a full break, if we take it at night when there is no overlap, it's technically not a break since you're still in the pharmacy, still answering phones. And I'd rather not take it when I come in because I'm usually coming in full from a home cooked meal.

 

[Dred Pirate]

The default method for minor conflict resolution is to get management involved at the hospitals I have worked. I was hoping these were exceptions rather than the norm

I cannot tell you how often people would complain to me, but refuse to give enough specifics (names, dates, etc) to actually back up their claims, then when pressed for this would simply say "I don't want you to do anything" so passive aggressive. Like I mentioned earlier, we are professionals, we should be able to work these issues out peer to peer.

 

[Sparda29]

I cannot tell you how often people would complain to me, but refuse to give enough specifics (names, dates, etc) to actually back up their claims, then when pressed for this would simply say "I don't want you to do anything" so passive aggressive. Like I mentioned earlier, we are professionals, we should be able to work these issues out peer to peer.

Everyone else I talked to about her told me to just ignore her and act like she's not there because it's not worth the headache of getting into it with her. Management is afraid of her since she was their preceptor before they leapfrogged her into becoming director and supervisor.

I thought I would like her because she always went on an Anti-Trump rant in the morning but as soon as I opened my mouth about being a progressive far-left AOC, Bernie supporter, went off on me about how the far-left and the millennial caused Trump to win and how Medicare4All is stupid, and how we shouldn't whine about student loans and just pay them back instead of asking for them to be forgiven. I asked her who she supports in 2020, she said Kamala Harris. When I told her about how Kamala locked up thousands of people for marijuana and truancy, she was like "well marijuana is illegal so they should be locked up."

 

[Amicable Angora]

That is why I will have no sympathy for hospital dispensing pharmacists when their jobs get cut due to AI/automation. Lots of fat to trim that is currently being protected by unions/seniority, but it is only a matter of time before people find workarounds to cutting these jobs or replacing them with new grads at lesser pay.

You realize that there is “fat to trim” for basically any human based job? This isn’t unique to pharmacy, don’t tell me you’ve never seen other people being lazy in a whole variety of fields?

 

[Pharmacy is a Scam]

You realize that there is “fat to trim” for basically any human based job? This isn’t unique to pharmacy, don’t tell me you’ve never seen other people being lazy in a whole variety of fields?

Yes, but not all “human based jobs” pay >$100,000/year. You have a massive target on your back based on your salary when management decides to “trim fat.” Those that make $10/hr will fly under the radar, while those that command higher salaries will be scrutinized to the bone.

 

[owlegrad]

How about people who act like if they are on the phone and are on hold it is impossible to do anything else? Is it really that hard to listen to hold music that you must give it your full undivided attention?

 

[Wickett]

How about people who act like if they are on the phone and are on hold it is impossible to do anything else? Is it really that hard to listen to hold music that you must give it your full undivided attention?

This. I work in retail, and I have a floater that does this all the time when I have overlap with her. She will jump at the chance to do a transfer with the local competitor known to put us on hold forever, then just stand there with her ear to the phone. I've told her to just put it on speaker, and she will ignore me and just stand there doing nothing for the next 45 mins. Drives me nuts.

 

[angelsplight]

I saw one of those during my rotations a while back. Comes in, spends about 15 minutes getting dressed, another 15 minutes eating breakfast slowly (Do note, she is already on the clock and her time started the moment she walked into the room). Afterwards, she proceeds to just stand around doing nothing for a couple more minutes looking around at people before doing the bare minimum work (Her role usually is the fill in as a clinical pharmacist at whichever wing was short staffed for whatever reason). Every single other clinical pharmacist there wrote quick soap notes on the patients med profile to let everyone else know that that pt was being monitored etc but not her, she just left a "Patient reviewed" intervention on the patient and refused to answer any questions. So whoever works on the patient the following day just has to start from scratch. I'm guessing her position was pretty secure for some reason because she really didn't give a damn and was hated by just about every single people.

 

[txpharmguy]

This. I work in retail, and I have a floater that does this all the time when I have overlap with her. She will jump at the chance to do a transfer with the local competitor known to put us on hold forever, then just stand there with her ear to the phone. I've told her to just put it on speaker, and she will ignore me and just stand there doing nothing for the next 45 mins. Drives me nuts.

Eff that. Have the techs pile a bunch of scripts around her work station. Tell her you have to work on MTM (or some made up "project" your pharmacy manager didn't tell you to do). As an RXM, I'd never put up with that nonsense. A moment or so to wipe down phones, keyboard and to set up the supplies how you like them? Fine. Other than that, your ass better be productive.

 

[Wickett]

Eff that. Have the techs pile a bunch of scripts around her work station. Tell her you have to work on MTM (or some made up "project" your pharmacy manager didn't tell you to do). As an RXM, I'd never put up with that nonsense. A moment or so to wipe down phones, keyboard and to set up the supplies how you like them? Fine. Other than that, your ass better be productive.

Ha no worries.....from 1 to 3 I sit in the back and do MTMs and other stuff, and make sure to take my time while she handles the front.

 

[txpharmguy]

Ha no worries.....from 1 to 3 I sit in the back and do MTMs and other stuff, and make sure to take my time while she handles the front.

Don't forget to count CIIs. That's quite important, too.