walgreens pharmacy tech

[shailu25]

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How is it working at Walgreens as a Pharmacy Tech? I have no experience working in a pharmacy and started my in-store training this week. I have noticed they try to cement alot in your head with training program and at same time durning on hands as well. What I have experienced so far is good and I believe I am catching pretty fast but I would like other current walgreens pharm techs perspective. I have a feeling the worst is yet to come but maybe it is just nerves from being the new tech in the pharmacy.

 

[Poland]

I am not a tech there, but the first month or so that I started work at my store, I actually ended up with bad stomach aches on shift. I was just too nervous. My best advice is to get to know the people you are working with. Alot of our anxiety comes from what we think a co-worker's expectations of us are. That was what got me.

Other than that, Walgreens is very busy in most places and you'll take in a lot like you said. Take advantage of that and try to put some of your worries aside.

BTW, is your store requiring you to become certified within 6 months of the job?

 

[Julianne]

I have noticed they try to cement alot in your head with training program and at same time durning on hands as well.

I could write a book about this subject, but I'm gonna have to keep it simple this morning since I'm still half-asleep 😴 As far as the training Cd's are concerned: They are great learning tools, but don't get too caught up in trying to memorize everything... you will see the theories in practice during the "hands-on" portion of your training (which will help you to make sense of all information you had to cram in from those tutorials).

By the way, try not to let your nerves get the better of you - just take things one step at a time. Also, don't be afraid to ask someone if you need help or don't understand something during your training! Keep in mind that in an environment like this, you (and everyone else in the pharmacy) will be learning new things daily. I have been a tech for six years and still have little "aha" moments regularly.

Feel free to PM me with any other specific questions you might have. I may not always know the answer but I can usually find out 🙂

 

[freshbeatschris]

How is it working at Walgreens as a Pharmacy Tech? I have no experience working in a pharmacy and started my in-store training this week. I have noticed they try to cement alot in your head with training program and at same time durning on hands as well. What I have experienced so far is good and I believe I am catching pretty fast but I would like other current walgreens pharm techs perspective. I have a feeling the worst is yet to come but maybe it is just nerves from being the new tech in the pharmacy.

I'm going to play devils advocate here, but this is just my personal opinion. I worked at Walgreens as a tech for about 4 months and hated it with a passion. I dreaded going to work, the environment was too stressfull, I had terrible back aches as they usually put the new guy/girl on drive thru for complete 8-hour shifts, my grades plummetted and I needed to drop calculus, I would go home crying.

I was at the second busiest Walgreens in our district and it was always SLAMMED. The expectations of the customers were outrageous and the ONE pharmacist on duty didn't have enough time to help each patient appropriately. Numerous mistakes were made by both the techs and the pharmacists, and a significant number of those mistakes could have hurt people or at very least caused Walgreens a Large lawsuit.

I agree with a previous poster about the CD's being a good reference, but 90% of your learning is going to happen in the pharmacy working hands-on with the problems that arise.

I was lucky enough to earn my certified pharm tech status there, all on Walgreens dime and I was fortunate enough to get out before the big Medicare fiasco and the carding for ALL pseudoephedrine products.

The biggest blessing I got from my short time at Walgreens was that I know now without a doubt that retail pharmacy is not where I want to go in this career. I know that I want to see a patient and help them one on one and work on complex cases, not people pissed off that the price of their meds went up yet again.

Your experience is what you make of it. Some people live for retail and that may be your personality. Learn as much as you can about the job and yourself and enjoy the ride.

Chris

 

[ginephre]

i can see how it could be stressful if you are at a very busy walgreens and particularly on drive-thru. i work at a newer walgreens in my town and we aren't too busy. i LOVE it! the people i work with are awesome. the cd's sucked but i really didn't remember a whole lot right after. when you do everything in a real situation you'll learn a lot quicker. try not to let pissy patients get to you, they aren't being mean just to you, they're probably jerks to everyone.

 

[klebsiella]

Im sure this has been asked a ton before, but how did you guys get your jobs at Walgreens? I have walked into every pharmacy within a 20 mile radius, resume in hand...I have applied online...and still not even a single interview. Im wondering if I should just say I got into pharmacy school or ?? One pharmacist told me I was "over qualified" whatever that means. 😕

I really would like to get some experience since I have none, or maybe I should wait until I start school and get moved....

 

[shikamaru]

Im sure this has been asked a ton before, but how did you guys get your jobs at Walgreens? I have walked into every pharmacy within a 20 mile radius, resume in hand...I have applied online...and still not even a single interview. Im wondering if I should just say I got into pharmacy school or ?? One pharmacist told me I was "over qualified" whatever that means. 😕

I really would like to get some experience since I have none, or maybe I should wait until I start school and get moved....

I'd also like to know the answer to this. Someone shed some light please? 🙂

 

[ginephre]

i went in and asked and the manager was about to say no until i said that i had gotten accepted and she immediately changed her mind!

 

[gimpsd]

I'd also like to know the answer to this. Someone shed some light please? 🙂

I refused to leave. I even took a job in the front of the store ringing people out until something opened up in the pharmacy. Had to work there for 4 months before I got a break. You do what you have to in order to get ahead.

 

[chuks_pharmD]

'

 

[All4MyDaughter]

Im sure this has been asked a ton before, but how did you guys get your jobs at Walgreens? I have walked into every pharmacy within a 20 mile radius, resume in hand...I have applied online...and still not even a single interview. Im wondering if I should just say I got into pharmacy school or ?? One pharmacist told me I was "over qualified" whatever that means. 😕

I really would like to get some experience since I have none, or maybe I should wait until I start school and get moved....

Tell them you got admitted.
Walgreens was not at all interested in me until I got my letter and intern card.
Unless you live in a city with a pharmacy school, they are probably hurting for pharmacists and will want to make nice with you.

 

[Poland]

I couldn't even get a job at Walgreens by applying a couple of months prior to their new store opening with 1 year drug store cashier experience. I want to give it a try there. The pharmacy looks spiffy and they may require co-workers to complete national certification. I am not certified just yet, so when it happens maybe I will be needed. I can't help but notice the huge difference in the amount of techs available and pharmacists. Even in this small area we are overflowing with techs.

 

[shailu25]

Thanks for all the comments and advice. The thing I am most worried about is not getting along or working with a good staff. Customers come and go but it I have see the staff everyday. I am sure I will be fine. To answer the how to get a job, when I applied they were advertising they need pharm techs in most of the Walgreens in my area. I applied and did hear back from the recruiter. I called and left two messages for the recruiter. I would say to be persistent and try to offer to work a flexiable schedule. Good Luck to All!

 

[shailu25]

Thanks for all the comments and advice. The thing I am most worried about is not getting along or working with a good staff. Customers come and go but it I have to see the staff everyday. I am sure I will be fine. To answer the how to get a job, when I applied they were advertising they need pharm techs in most of the Walgreens in my area. I applied and did hear back from the recruiter. I called and left two messages for the recruiter. I would say to be persistent and try to offer to work a flexiable schedule. Good Luck to All!

 

[JerryPharmD]

How is it working at Walgreens as a Pharmacy Tech? I have no experience working in a pharmacy and started my in-store training this week. I have noticed they try to cement alot in your head with training program and at same time durning on hands as well. What I have experienced so far is good and I believe I am catching pretty fast but I would like other current walgreens pharm techs perspective. I have a feeling the worst is yet to come but maybe it is just nerves from being the new tech in the pharmacy.

Is the pharmacist on the training CDs still named 'Zelda?'

Worked for WAG about 7 years ago...

 

[pinkpnther86]

We average about 210 prescriptions per day....

That's why you love your job....try averaging about 500-600 a day

 

[kynsik]

That's why you love your job....try averaging about 500-600 a day

I love my walgreens. They do 700 to 800 scripts a day. I can't even imagine working at a slower store. Its so much fun and my staff is amazing. I made senior tech a while ago and now get a bonus based on profit. It isn't for everyone and the customers can be rude but you learn patience, compassion and how to control your emotions. I also learned so much from working there. At the busier stores I see a greater variety of medications and this will help me later in my pharmacy career. Go Walgreens!

 

[KornKobs]

How is it working at Walgreens as a Pharmacy Tech? I have no experience working in a pharmacy and started my in-store training this week. I have noticed they try to cement alot in your head with training program and at same time durning on hands as well. What I have experienced so far is good and I believe I am catching pretty fast but I would like other current walgreens pharm techs perspective. I have a feeling the worst is yet to come but maybe it is just nerves from being the new tech in the pharmacy.

Ok, I am no longer pre-pharm, but I wanted to add my 2 cents on my experience as a certified pharm tech at Walgreens. we were one of the busiest in our city averaging 800-900 scripts/day no lie. it was absolutely insane! we were always busy, way too many mistakes were made from all of us,overnight shift complained because we never got the drugs put away, etc. Ugh, got sick of the customers yelling about why there drugs werent ready on time. Yea, I was there for a year and a half and it drove me nuts! didn't do so great in school, although I had to work fulltime to meet needs. true, if u have a drive thru, they'll stick ya there..because seniority mattered at my store so the people there longer got to do the filling, all the time. oh, and after i b*tched about a lack of rotation..the others would complain and talk bad about ya b/c they are far too good to be at drive thru. oh yes, and there was a lot of talking to insurance companies. then we had this stupid prata machine put in, meant to speed up things..backfired and made our wait time even longer. I pray you get a slow store, then maybe you will enjoy your job there. if it weren't so busy, I probably would have stayed. but now i work in a hospital, much better setting, easy job! love my job! 😍 ...anyway, sorry to be so negative about it, they do have good insurance though..got my scripts for 6.50! awesome! well good luck to you, if you're good at not letting people get to u, you'll be fine. they will pay for your certification, it's an easy class! it is truely rewarding. it'll look great on ur application too. u'll get a big raise when ur certified, look forward to that! miss those big paychecks..and working in a pharmacy really gives you insight on the field and whether or not you'll want to continue. ok sry so long, i know i threw out my thoughts here and there, but just giving u an idea of worst case scenario. again, hope things are better for you.

 

[KornKobs]

I am crazy for my work......I LOVE WORKING AT MY WALGREENS....This is my first time working in pharmacy ever...Been working there for about 9 months now

We average about 210 prescriptions per day....we have first tech come at 9:00 - 5:00 ..second one at 1:00 - 6:00 ...and third one (that would be me) from 2:00 - 10:00

the people around are NICE...our regular patients are nice. I know many of them by their face and name....some of the patients as "ginephre" said are jerks ..i just ignore them and if they want to piss me off...i answer them back with the attitude that they diserve...and sometimes they realize that they were wrong..they would come inside the store and try to be nice again with me.... 👎

I will be leaving my work on July 31st....I am sad to leave my co-workers....

However...I want to work for the grocery stores or mail order as a pharmacist 🙂

that's so crazy..3 techs..we had 7-8 all working together! but we had way more prescriptions to fill.

 

[freshbeatschris]

We average about 210 prescriptions per day....

the people around are NICE...our regular patients are nice. I know many of them by their face and name....some of the patients as "ginephre" said are jerks ..i just ignore them and if they want to piss me off...i answer them back with the attitude that they diserve...and sometimes they realize that they were wrong..they would come inside the store and try to be nice again with me.... 👎

I think the volume of scripts going out has a lot to do with job satisfaction. It determines how sufficiently you'll be able to assist a patient. If we were only doing 210 a day, I probably would have loved my job too.

If you don't mind me asking, is your store in a rural, urban, or suburban location?

Chris

 

[freshbeatschris]

they will pay for your certification, it's an easy class! it is truely rewarding. it'll look great on ur application too. u'll get a big raise when ur certified, look forward to that! miss those big paychecks..and working in a pharmacy really gives you insight on the field and whether or not you'll want to continue.

I agree 100% with the certification. That was my main impetus for staying as long as I did. Not only did they pay for me to attend 8 classes, but the classes were beyond easy and they pay for the test. I got certified my last day on the job, so I never saw the big .50 cent increase in my paycheck. I wonder if they pay increase differs from store to store or part timers and full timers.

Chris

 

[freshbeatschris]

Im sure this has been asked a ton before, but how did you guys get your jobs at Walgreens? I have walked into every pharmacy within a 20 mile radius, resume in hand...I have applied online...and still not even a single interview. Im wondering if I should just say I got into pharmacy school or ?? One pharmacist told me I was "over qualified" whatever that means. 😕

I really would like to get some experience since I have none, or maybe I should wait until I start school and get moved....

Straight up timing. When there is an opening, they are looking. Fortunately, around where I live, there is a big turn over in staffing and A LOT of the techs are trying to get into pharm school. Once they are admitted they can't work the same shifts they had before, so Walgreens needs to look for more help. I would say the best time of the year to look is at the end of the summer when kids are going back to school.

Chris

 

[eleanor_rigby]

I am crazy for my work......I LOVE WORKING AT MY WALGREENS....

We average about 210 prescriptions per day...

210?! 😱 No wonder you like working there. We were averaging between 350-400 at the CVS that I used to work at. I only work during the summer and they had me come in and work 40 hours a week, so I was there for the whole morning and afternoon shift by myself due to the lack of techs.

Do you work in a rural area??

 

[dreaminofpharmd]

So I started my pharm tech training at Walgreens last week. For those of you who did this with only passing the PTCB exam (not going thru a tech program), did you feel incompetent as well?!? I'm worried I'm doing a horrible job!
For those who simply passed the PTCB, do you feel prepared to work? How well do you need to know drugs names (generic and brand)? Do you feel like you know enough to work?
And to top it off, the IC+ system seems impossible to learn to navigate! When the pharmacist was showing me how to use it, she was pressing buttons everywhere and I got totally lost.
Anyone been in my shoes? How did you feel when you started? And the main thing I'm worried about is not knowing drug names. How needed is this to do your job as a tech?

 

[chuks_pharmD]

..

 

[luckyPharmD.stu]

i have a question...for the people who got the job from walgreens or any other pharmacy, did it take you weeks or months to receive an offer/interview from the pharmacy manager? Did you guys/girls stopped by at the pharmacy frequently to ask if there is a job available after applying the application for pharmacy technician? i just applied months ago and still no word from them. I guess i'll have to apply again.

 

[eleanor_rigby]

i have a question...for the people who got the job from walgreens or any other pharmacy, did it take you weeks or months to receive an offer/interview from the pharmacy manager? Did you guys/girls stopped by at the pharmacy frequently to ask if there is a job available after applying the application for pharmacy technician? i just applied months ago and still no word from them. I guess i'll have to apply again.

I applied to 4 CVS's online and got calls from all of them within 2 weeks. Go try another pharmacy or go in and talk with the pharmacist and explain that you're a pre-pharm student in need of experience. I wouldn't wait around for months. 1 1/2 week to about 2 1/2 weeks should be the approximate response time if they need someone.

 

[ginephre]

So I started my pharm tech training at Walgreens last week. For those of you who did this with only passing the PTCB exam (not going thru a tech program), did you feel incompetent as well?!? I'm worried I'm doing a horrible job!
For those who simply passed the PTCB, do you feel prepared to work? How well do you need to know drugs names (generic and brand)? Do you feel like you know enough to work?
And to top it off, the IC+ system seems impossible to learn to navigate! When the pharmacist was showing me how to use it, she was pressing buttons everywhere and I got totally lost.
Anyone been in my shoes? How did you feel when you started? And the main thing I'm worried about is not knowing drug names. How needed is this to do your job as a tech?

After the training, i pretty much forgot all the IC+ stuff. once you actually have to do it with customers waiting, you learn fast! i was worried about doing a crappy job too but luckily for me my pharmacists and other techs were really nice about answering my questions. so far, the only time i've really had to know generic/brand is when someone calls and says "i want to refill my (brand) but i dont have the bottle" and you look at the profile and all you see are generics. just ask someone! it's better to ask and possibly have another tech think you are an idiot than to make a mistake! i definitely felt overwhelmed when i started, but it gets better! hang in there! 🙂

 

[GatorRxGirl]

Is the pharmacist on the training CDs still named 'Zelda?'

Worked for WAG about 7 years ago...

True story...Zelda was fired. Some managers from up north recognized her from some "adult films" and she was fired for a more wholesome actress. Lol I was trained by a porn star!

 

[GatorRxGirl]

I hate Walgreens with a passion. There have been days when I've thought "maybe I'll get in a car wreck so I won't have to go." Needless to say, I found a job in a hospital pharmacy I love and am just at Walgreens every now and then to keep my vacation hours till a rainy day. And there really is an anti-walgreens website. It's great.