As a pharmacy student pursuing a career in healthcare, you will always hear about volunteering for projects, humanitarian causes, and donating to the less fortunate.
As paltry students, we are taught that we have no intrinsic value in the professional world. The only commodity we have to offer is Continue reading “Our True Calling”
Pharmacy students put on the dress shirt or blouse and show up early, ready to learn the glorious work of the corporate pharmacist. They bring the resume, their laptop, and notepad primed and eager to learn how to lead, manage, and save lives.
But they soon find that they are stuck in the corner counting by fives and re-stocking the shelves. Continue reading “Pharmacist Interns Are Not Free Labor”
All across the country, it is widely accepted that retail pharmacists don’t get proper lunch breaks. Let’s forget the 15 minute breaks to rest, recharge, and refocus.
Regrettably, it has become the norm to skip lunches and forgo even the thought of paid breaks for our technician colleagues. In doing so, we succumb to this dangerous phenomenon called verify fatigue.
They will call us overpaid “bean counters,” the pill pushers who have sold their souls to big corporations.
The masses will squawk how we are mindless automatons who don’t stand up for ourselves or our profession.
They will say that we are not true clinicians because we rely on DUR checks and protocols.
The beaten and downtrodden cry out how we are obsolete and soon to be replaced by machines.
They will say […..]
In the retail pharmacy world, you will witness small wonders if you pay close enough attention.
Our customer population is unique in that we aren’t just serving ice creams and lollipops to happy people. Instead, we serve to the mentally sick and the spiritually polluted. Continue reading “Game Time”
“Hey, this is Mr. Corporate Pharmacist calling for a copy. How’s it going over there?”
“Oh, you know. The usual,” the pharmacist says, sounding defeated and jaded.
Before asking for any information from me, she yells at two different people. I wasn’t sure if they were patients or technicians; it sounded bad either way. Continue reading “Day To Day Grind”
Many people get their PharmD for the money, others for the status.
Some people get their PharmD to research and compound, others for the “hands off” approach to healthcare.
A few people get their PharmD to solve complex clinical problems, even fewer to solve people problems. Continue reading “The Making of a Corporate Pharmacist”
“Who’s the manager here? I’d like to speak to them, right now.”
“That’s me. How can I help?” (smile)
“I want to talk to the manager of this pharmacy.”
“I am the one responsible for the operations of this pharmacy and business.”
Over the years, I’ve been overlooked as a manager so many times; most likely, because people expect someone 10 or 20 years older.
When I was a new pharmacy manager, I would laugh secretly at these customers.
