Survey! This is for retail pharmacist only (not independent) what is your age?

[rxadventure]

I burned out of retail (this year) at age 42. I am wondering what is the age of the retail pharmacist out there on this board still working. This could actually be an interesting study, I think, because it will give a more realistic approach to the answers we get perhaps on these boards.

I am just wondering if I burned out early, or, if the retail pharmacist here are under 15 years of service

I am pretty sure I will not see many, if any pharmacist from Target responding over age 45 unless you still look like a 30 year old. In my opinion, Target is very age specific and has a certain look that is required to maintain their brand. Just my opinions folks have a great day and thanks for responding!

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[boriqua]

what exactly do you mean by "burned out" quit? retired? started cutting your wrists?

i'm 24, about 1 year in retail.

 

[pharmalt82]

You people think that Pharmacists are the only ones who face burnout?
Doctors, Nurses, PAs, Lawyers, and even damn Accountants. All have high burnout rates these days.
That's what happened after the 2008 recession. They fired the help you had like techs, clerks, assistants, secretaries, etc.
Once demand rose up again, management refused to higher back and said **** it, you're on your own losers.
This policy is going to have bad consequences in the long run, not just for the companies, but also for the country and work force as a whole.
This is why we're stuck at ~10% unemployment and miserable workers.
It's one thing to demand higher efficiency from Professionals, but it is another thing entirely to force them to be reckless. Especially in health care.

 

[notafraid87]

I burned out of retail (this year) at age 42. I am wondering what is the age of the retail pharmacist out there on this board still working. This could actually be an interesting study, I think, because it will give a more realistic approach to the answers we get perhaps on these boards.

I am just wondering if I burned out early, or, if the retail pharmacist here are under 15 years of service

I am pretty sure I will not see many, if any pharmacist from Target responding over age 45 unless you still look like a 30 year old. In my opinion, Target is very age specific and has a certain look that is required to maintain their brand. Just my opinions folks have a great day and thanks for responding!

I wish the older pharmacists here on this forum would talk more about this problem. I have not seen many middle-aged pharmacists in retail, particularly at Target, Wal-Mart and Walgreens...and I do not necessarily believe that burn-out is the only reason for that. As mentioned, it's no surprise that managers looks to hire young or those with "certain look" (hot, attractive).

So far, every pharmacists that I shadowed at retail were in their 20's, btw.

 

[pharmalt82]

I wish the older pharmacists here on this forum would talk more about this problem. I have not seen many middle-aged pharmacists in retail, particularly at Target, Wal-Mart and Walgreens...and I do not necessarily believe that burn-out is the only reason for that. As mentioned, it's no surprise that managers looks to hire young or those with "certain look" (hot, attractive).

So far, every pharmacists that I shadowed at retail were in their 20's, btw.

I was always afraid of this. The moment I turn 40. Boom. Fired. Too old. Does this happen to doctors too? Maybe I should go to med school.

 

[pharmalt82]

I was always afraid of this. The moment I turn 40. Boom. Fired. Too old. Does this happen to doctors too? Maybe I should go to med school.

This is why I can't wait for the robots to come in. They can replace all the labor I have to do and then I could remain in retail till I'm 65.

 

[farmadiazepine]

20's. I would have burned out very quickly if I worked days like I used to. Now that I have an independent job, I won't burn out. It's the least stressful job ever.

 

[benjee]

I burned out of retail (this year) at age 42. I am wondering what is the age of the retail pharmacist out there on this board still working. This could actually be an interesting study, I think, because it will give a more realistic approach to the answers we get perhaps on these boards.

I am just wondering if I burned out early, or, if the retail pharmacist here are under 15 years of service

I am pretty sure I will not see many, if any pharmacist from Target responding over age 45 unless you still look like a 30 year old. In my opinion, Target is very age specific and has a certain look that is required to maintain their brand. Just my opinions folks have a great day and thanks for responding!

I burnt out long time ago in my 20's.fews yrs ago graduated from pharm school and I switched gear to another career.

 

[benjee]

I wish the older pharmacists here on this forum would talk more about this problem. I have not seen many middle-aged pharmacists in retail, particularly at Target, Wal-Mart and Walgreens...and I do not necessarily believe that burn-out is the only reason for that. As mentioned, it's no surprise that managers looks to hire young or those with "certain look" (hot, attractive).

So far, every pharmacists that I shadowed at retail were in their 20's, btw.

so do you mean there is discrimination based on age? geezz, I never knew that.

 

[benjee]

I was always afraid of this. The moment I turn 40. Boom. Fired. Too old. Does this happen to doctors too? Maybe I should go to med school.

No, this does not happen to docs at all, it's actually quite opposite, cuz it based on the skills and experience/knowledge that a doc has ,not appearence or connection ..etc..

 

[notafraid87]

so do you mean there is discrimination based on age? geezz, I never knew that.

I'm sure some would strongly disagree, but I think age is a huge factor in retail. Really hope someone in this forum might have other experiences.

 

[Hope1974]

Yup. Exactly what I was thinking. Experience counts in medicine. That job is not easily replaced like a pharmacists job is.

 

[Stilltrying1288]

I've only had one preceptor in their 20's so far. Everybody else has been 30's and older.

 

[Corpseman]

So far, every pharmacists that I shadowed at retail were in their 20's, btw.

Not sure how this is possible since there are no jobs for recent grads.


Every pharmacist that I have worked for or had as a preceptor were in their late 30's -early 40's

 

[pharmalt82]

Anyone who thinks that docs don't burn out needs to get their head checked. Go look at the SDN allopathic forums. Ask around. It's there.

I've had preceptors in their 30s, 40s, 50s, and yes, even 60s.
Do pharmacists burn out? Yes. But, as long as you're not trying to keep up with the Joneses, you always have the option of accepting lower pay for a less stressful job. At least for now.

 

[SoylentGreen]

37 here. I worked at the post office before I was a pharmacist, and it's just as bad there, yet we had lots of people in their 50s and 60s who still did their jobs effectively. I see that in retail pharmacy too (though not as much). The variation in ability of pharmacists doesn't seem to be closely related to age in my experience - the least productive ones I know are well under 40. If there's age discrimination around ~40, it's either for Abercrombie and Fitch style aesthetic reasons, or because they prefer heavily indebted whippersnappers who will be management's bitches.

 

[pezdispenser]

I'm in my 30s and I have already accepted that burnout will become an issue if I stay in retail too long. But I got lucky and was able to transfer into a work at home position with no customer contact. Ahh... the screaming has stopped, and my BP is nice and low...

 

[Old Timer]

55 with 31 years of experience...... ALL retail. 19 years independent 12 years chain.

 

[BMBiology]

My friends get burned out after a couple of years. By then even money is not worth it.

Sooner or later you will try to get out of retail. It's just a matter of time. The sooner you try to, the better the odd.

 

[pharmalt82]

Question for the burned-out ones: How many hours per week did you do? Were you the manager?

 

[rxadventure]

Many Medical Boards are fighting (from a few article I have read recently) the fact that RPh's want more professional impact and prescribing authority. Many patients are now complaining that Pharmacist do not have the right to interfere with a doctor patient relationship and jeopardize prescribing authority (most narcotics-hmmm). A recent news article suggest that pharmacist may soon be granted nicotine prescribing. Wow. What an honor. This suggest what the other professions view pharmacy as in my opinion. Poor.

If techs are soon allowed to release meds without any RPh visual intervention, it may be a disaster in many locations from my experience. Many techs typically rush (in a fast paced environment) and do not pay close attention to make sure the exact product is in the patient's medication vial. So, If I catch 10 errors per day, what will happen if I do not catch 10 errors per day?

Do I care legally if I am doing blood pressure screenings and immunizations and an error occurs product wise? Absolutely, if my license if also subjected because a State Board determined that a training violation occurred and lead to the error.

Tricky times may be upon us. These are just ideas to float around to see if anyone else is thinking these similar things. Take care RPHs!

 

[pharmalt82]

Many Medical Boards are fighting (from a few article I have read recently) the fact that RPh's want more professional impact and prescribing authority. Many patients are now complaining that Pharmacist do not have the right to interfere with a doctor patient relationship and jeopardize prescribing authority (most narcotics-hmmm). A recent news article suggest that pharmacist may soon be granted nicotine prescribing. Wow. What an honor. This suggest what the other professions view pharmacy as in my opinion. Poor.

If techs are soon allowed to release meds without any RPh visual intervention, it may be a disaster in many locations from my experience. Many techs typically rush (in a fast paced environment) and do not pay close attention to make sure the exact product is in the patient's medication vial. So, If I catch 10 errors per day, what will happen if I do not catch 10 errors per day?

Do I care legally if I am doing blood pressure screenings and immunizations and an error occurs product wise? Absolutely, if my license if also subjected because a State Board determined that a training violation occurred and lead to the error.

Tricky times may be upon us. These are just ideas to float around to see if anyone else is thinking these similar things. Take care RPHs!

I think that Pharmacy has hit the limit but in a good way. Immunization, dispensing (esp. controls), verification, billing, management, counseling, OTC, interactions, formulary design, P&T, etc. are all things we should be proud of and attempt to excel in. This is worth the $120k. Ask yourself how much the average professional out there charges. See how much a CPA charges, etc.
If we step into serious prescribing territory, we're screwed. Why? You can't have McWags, McRite, and McCVS style prescribing, plain and simple. Screw-ups are bound to happen that way.

 

[IndustryPharmD]

My first boss is still with Walgreen's, and he has been with Walgreen's since 1971. I know plenty of pharmacists in retail who are in their 40s and older... And I know plenty of retail pharmacists who were burnt out and miserable before they were even 30. It's in your attitude, not your age or the setting your work in.

I happen to love my job but there are days when I want to quit, move to South Dakota and work part-time, just enough to pay the current bills.

 

[rxtech2012]

My first boss is still with Walgreen's, and he has been with Walgreen's since 1971. I know plenty of pharmacists in retail who are in their 40s and older... And I know plenty of retail pharmacists who were burnt out and miserable before they were even 30. It's in your attitude, not your age or the setting your work in.

I happen to love my job but there are days when I want to quit, move to South Dakota and work part-time, just enough to pay the current bills.

It seems to be mainly those who went into school and through school refusing to work retail because of how rough it gets but end up there because they had no other options and needed a job are so miserable. From there they are resentful they are stuck in retail and feel they were mislead by their pharmacy school who harped about all the "clinical specialist opportunities that were bountiful"...just my 2cents from my experience in this field.

 

[pharmalt82]

It seems to be mainly those who went into school and through school refusing to work retail because of how rough it gets but end up there because they had no other options and needed a job are so miserable. From there they are resentful they are stuck in retail and feel they were mislead by their pharmacy school who harped about all the "clinical specialist opportunities that were bountiful"...just my 2cents from my experience in this field.

Couldn't have put it better myself.

However, this isn't something unique to pharmacy.

Nurses, PAs, and even Doctors are in this emotional situation. During one of my rotations, an ER Doctor basically vented his emotional state to me about how despite his best efforts, he's turned into a clock pusher and that he's stuck intubating drug addicts all day. If it weren't for his wife and kids, he would hate his life, he said. They pay well but the stress is no longer worth it to him. He was in his mid-30s. Smart guy, but seemed like the whole world was on his shoulders.