Relief pharmacists

[b*rizzle]

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What has everyone's experience been with relief pharmacists? Prior to today, I've been generally lucky and the floaters I've worked with have been pretty good. However, the guy I worked with today made me want to walk straight out of the pharmacy and not look back:

-He argued with me when I asked him to check prescriptions that I was putting on hold (so we knew they would be right when the patient decided that (s)he wanted to actually fill it, telling me that it was unnecessary and that we could just check the hardcopy even though the Rx would already be filed)

-He insulted the other technician (when she complained to an assistant manager on the state of the restroom near the pharmacy, the asst. manager said that the pharmacy staff should just clean it; she got upset and he said she was over-reacting until I said that as a patient I don't want the same people who are handling my meds to be scrubbing my toilets)

-He made unsolicited comments contradicting the judgement/preferences of our regular staff pharmacists (for example, a script came in last week for Dexedrine; in the sig part of the Rx the doctor had written "generic okay" but he signed "dispense as written" so the RPh filled it for brand after explaining it to the patient, who was fine with the brand anyway -- after sifting thru our C-II stuff he said "that was really silly of that RPh")

-I couldn't take a break because he said: "I don't know how to run the registers and I generally don't answer the phones or type in prescriptions, and besides you're better at that stuff than me anyway".

-After taking in a prescription, he'd sit there and talk on the phone to whoever until I walked down and saw it, and I'd ask "What's this?" Then he'd tell me that they were coming back in 10 minutes. "Ten minutes??" I'd ask, and then he'd say, "well actually it was 20 minutes but I forgot I had it down here, so you'd better hurry." This happened many times. As a result, I was a little late getting my McKesson order in (so I hope it all comes tomorrow...)

The list goes on.

Now I've always been an obedient technician because I have always respected the pharmacists I work with, and I'm generally a very flexible and patient person, but this guy really tested my limits. Words can't describe how I feel about the fellow.

Thoughts?

 

[bananaface]

They can be very good or very bad. I have worked with 4-5 relief pharmacists that I wish could have been regular team members. Others are just props in white jackets.

 

[WorcesterPHOBoy]

No offense but i hate middle eastern pharmacists, their attitudes are so strict..9/10 people i work with are like middle eastern...they cussed at patients behind their back to me...and one time this middle eastern lady pharmacist were rushing me when I just start workin as Tech! i dont know how anything yet but she expected I know everything! she were like "i dont know why pharmacy manager hired you" so that moment on, my self-conscience was rising up!!! so i throw down the pills i was counting and told her "u know what! ur a bittch, i dont wanna see ur **** face in the street, im going to tell my pharmacy manager on you" Then my pharmacy manager told me "that lady is a new pharmaacist she is a floater, nobody likes her that why she never has her own store, U do not have to work with her anymore, i know she has a bad attitude but we cannot fire her since pharmacy is demanding job"

Sorry I used Profanity, that how i talk when im angry at someone who talk shiet like that to me but I am a good pharmacist =) Patient were complaining to me and sometimes get mad at me cuz they were mad at pharmacist, but I do not get mad at them cuz I understand their situation. Pharmacist is the last person who can help the sick people =) so I understand their madness!

 

[bananaface]

Interesting story. If you really threw a temper tantrum at work as a new technician, you'd get fired.

 

[Sosumi]

It's lazy pharmacists like the one you described that really irritate me. They're getting paid 4 or 5 times more than you, but feel too privileged to put out even half the effort that you do. It's these pharmacists that give the profession a bad name. If I were you, I'd just take a break and let the pharmacist actually EARN their money. It's their job and reponsibility. Why else should they be getting paid the big bucks?

 

[b*rizzle]

It's lazy pharmacists like the one you described that really irritate me. They're getting paid 4 or 5 times more than you, but feel too privileged to put out even half the effort that you do. It's these pharmacists that give the profession a bad name. If I were you, I'd just take a break and let the pharmacist actually EARN their money. It's their job and reponsibility. Why else should they be getting paid the big bucks?

Well apparently the other tech informed the pharmacist when she returned today about everything that went on. My pharmacist called the guy who manages the floaters and informed him that both of her technicians refuse to work with him again on the basis of his unprofessional behavior. I'm glad they kept it tactful.

I didn't get a chance to say anything before she called (but it's not like I would have stood up for him or anything) but it didn't really matter to me. The other tech hugged the staff pharmacist she worked with this morning, then hugged the pharmacy manager when he dropped by to let us know he was back in town. Literally.

 

[Stroszeck]

You know what's strange, I actually have heard that these reliefs make MORE money than the regular pharmacists. A technician told me they make between $70 and 80 an hour! What the hell? How does one become one? I'd rather make that kinda cash and be free of responsibility than stick to the same store.

 

[GravyRPH]

You know what's strange, I actually have heard that these reliefs make MORE money than the regular pharmacists. A technician told me they make between $70 and 80 an hour! What the hell? How does one become one? I'd rather make that kinda cash and be free of responsibility than stick to the same store.

If they're per diem, they may make a little more to compensate for the benefits they don't have (no vacation days, no health insurance, etc.) But it may be only around 10% more.

The 70-80 dollar range is usually for a pharmacist staffing service and in that case you are also paying for the staffing service. The pharmacist doesn't get to take home all that money.

 

[off2skl]

I have worked with a few good floaters. But I've had some that just make the day very frustrating for one reason or another.

- one floater I worked with was brand new to the company and didn't know how to do ANYTHING...in window, out window, transfers...just makes for a tiring day

- one floater sat in the back of the pharmacy and only came to the front if I called him to check prescriptions or counsel on something that I was not comfortable with. Other than that I ran the entire pharmacy that day

- there was another with such a thick Indian accent that I even had a hard time understanding him, let alone the patients (one patient who had spoken with him on the phone, then asked for me and just said, "I'm sorry I couldn't understand what he was saying")

There was one floater who I heard got upset with the techs for asking her to get off the phone and counsel someone that she kicked them out of the pharmacy and they called the DM and she was relieved for the day....