Pharmacy intern job interview--bad vibes?

[xanthous]

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Hi everyone. I regularly browse these forums but rarely post. I have a situation, and I'd appreciate some insight. 🙂

I recently moved from my hometown to start pharmacy school, and had to leave my job of nearly 3 years at a retail chain pharmacy. I tried to transfer to one of the chain's stores in my new town, but they had no openings. I also applied to other chains, but everywhere is pretty saturated with interns. Now I've started looking at other places. I found out that a long-term care pharmacy was hiring, so I dropped off a resume and had an interview today (yay!).

The pharmacy manager/owner was very nice, and the way she talked, it sounded like I may have a decent shot at the job. However, I felt a little uncomfortable during the interview. I think she just rubbed me the wrong way; I had a bad "gut" feeling. She didn't seem very professional. I understand it's a closed-door LTC facility, but she even admitted the environment can get pretty unprofessional.

I actually felt a little concerned by some of the things she said. She asked how I handled conflict, saying that they "have a lot of conflict." She said I'd need to have a thick skin; if I did something wrong, she'd call me out in front of everyone because she "doesn't have time" to pull someone aside. I understand the pharmacy gets busy and all that, but she intimidated me quite a bit. I know I'd have a lot to learn and would make mistakes, but she made it sound like it wouldn't be a very enjoyable work environment. Also, she said first-year students get to review incoming med orders for interactions, etc. The pay is actually less than what I received as a technician, with lots of added responsibility...

The problem is, I don't have many other job leads. I've applied to the pharmacy in the student health center; they're still taking applications so I'm waiting on that. I don't necessarily need a job, as I've saved money and my parents are helping me, but having some cash flow would make my financial situation less stressful.

I'm not familiar with LTC; is this environment typical? Should I feel as weirded out/intimidated as I do? I feel lucky to have a job opportunity, but if I get the offer I'm not sure if I want to take it... 🙁

Thanks for reading, and thanks for any help you can offer!

 

[Ackj]

she said I'd need to have a thick skin

Welcome to pharmacy.

LTC is always talked about as a pretty cushy job, so I'd at least give it a try. That being said, I'm on an LTC rotation now, and it's not my cup of tea, but I don't hate it either.

 

[Sparda29]

I work in a pharmacy inside a nursing home/rehab center. It's pretty nice except pay is less than the outside even for pharmacists.

I did a rotation at LTC facility where they prepared like thousands of prescriptions daily and had contracts with hundreds of nursing homes. That was a little too hectic.

 

[nafcillin]

she sounds like a bitch. If you are desperate and can't find anything else then take the job otherwise try to find something else.

 

[spacecowgirl]

Welcome to pharmacy.

I don't think that's fair to say. If you accept being treated like crap, you'll continue to be treated like crap. But I don't think it is a universal pharmacy truth that you will be abused. I have a very pleasant work environment. I have worked in unpleasant environments too and it made my life hell.

OP - I would take the job if things were looking bleak, but I would keep looking for something better.

 

[Ackj]

I don't think that's fair to say. If you accept being treated like crap, you'll continue to be treated like crap. But I don't think it is a universal pharmacy truth that you will be abused. I have a very pleasant work environment. I have worked in unpleasant environments too and it made my life hell.

OP - I would take the job if things were looking bleak, but I would keep looking for something better.

Not being treated like crap, I didn't quote the entire post for a reason. You absolutely need to have a thick skin in pharmacy. If it's not patients upset, it's a nurse, or a tech, or somebody. You're never going to please everyone, and there are plenty who think the world revolves around them. If this director knows that her techs are cliquey, or they have "high maintenance" nurses, then it was a perfectly valid comment for her to make.

 

[pinksparkly]

I worked at a privately-owned, closed-door LTC pharmacy. I was very young and it was my first experience in a pharmacy.

The environment was, uh... interesting. The owner's son did the hiring and had a preference for his fraternity brothers (all in their thirties but still living as if they were still in the frat house). At the time, I thought the environment was a good time. Ten years older and wiser, I look back on it and shudder. Professionalism wasn't exactly their strong suit.

I know that the business eventually grew and was forced to provide a better working environment. I spoke with my old manager from that pharmacy a couple of years ago and he had fond memories of the good ol' crazy days.

Having worked for other (non-pharmacy) small businesses and another LTC pharmacy, I have a feeling that the unprofessional environment at the first LTC pharmacy that I worked at had more to do with the fact that it was a small business and less to do with the type of small business it was. I know that there are many well-run small businesses out there, but I have worked for my share of dysfunctional ones.

 

[xanthous]

Thanks for all the replies everybody! I definitely don't expect a job to be perfect all the time, and I've definitely had my fair share of upset customers/doctors/nurses/coworkers at my last job. I'm just looking to find a job for the next few years, and would like to enjoy the job, or at least not hate it every day.

Also, this place has been around for about 20 years I think. They have quite a few pharmacists and a good number of techs in addition to their interns, with other pharmacy students coming for rotations. They're even opening a retail store in a nearby town, with current employees having the option of picking up shifts there. We'll see how that goes...it sounded like it might be a while before it happened.

 

[owlegrad]

Not being treated like crap, I didn't quote the entire post for a reason. You absolutely need to have a thick skin in pharmacy. If it's not patients upset, it's a nurse, or a tech, or somebody. You're never going to please everyone, and there are plenty who think the world revolves around them. If this director knows that her techs are cliquey, or they have "high maintenance" nurses, then it was a perfectly valid comment for her to make.

Agreed. I have had employers warn me about similar issues.

 

[KARM12]

If this director knows that her techs are cliquey, or they have "high maintenance" nurses, then it was a perfectly valid comment for her to make.

I don't think I've worked anywhere where the techs WEREN'T cliquey and the nurses WEREN'T high maintenance. Isn't that every place?

If you don't have any other leads at the moment, take the job. If it is unbearable, you can always quit.

 

[rxlea]

People are clique-y wherever you go (so it seems). Best approach: never engage in the gossip/drama and if people start telling you about it just listen and don't contribute. My favorite responses: "Oh, really?", "Interesting...", and "Oh, that sounds like a difficult situation". Be friendly and cordial but focus on your work and taking care of patients. Just never fuel the fire!