By PharmSlave - 01/05/2015 06:12 - United States - Marysville

Today, my boss told me I ask too many questions and that's why they cut my hours in half. Officially, I'm a "Pharmacy Technician in Training", which means I'm trying to teach myself how to do the job without killing someone. All from on the job experience and an outdated textbook. FML
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Top comments

Redoxx_fml 22

I wanna know what pharmacy thus is so I don't accidentally end up dying

214 1

Comments

roccoman79 8

Relax the pharmacist is ultimately responsible for any death or harm to any patient that may occur due to your lack of experience.

28 2
PharmacyJoe 13

I still think they would be horrified to know that they were in part responsible for the death of another human.

7 1
z3r0d4z3 22

The pharmacist has the final say on what the customer recieves. It's their license on the line. Its a tech's responsibility to fill the scripts, but the pharmacist has to check it was done correctly.

7 0
ApplePie1994 27

This reminds me of the book series "Gone," in which all people over fifteen years of age disappear. The kids have to run the pharmacy by themselves using the medical book from the doctor's office. OP, is there someone you can go to about that? You could unintentionally hurt someone or even worse; that would be terrible and very unfair on you.

4 10
PharmacyJoe 13

I'm a pharmacy technician (hence the username), too. In my state, we need 200 hours of externship, a year of related schoolwork from an accredited pharmacy program, plus a pass on the PTCB to be licensed. Yet I'm STILL asking a ton of questions. You're doing the right thing, regardless of what your bosses say. If they're upset at how many questions you're asking, the best advice I can give is to write all of them down and look them up on your formulary when you have spare time; that way you're learning and not "bothering" the pharmacists with questions.

35 0
jlee95 5

GG on passing your exams! I wrote my law exam and national here in Canada in the fall!

5 2
PharmacyJoe 13

Thanks 47! :) I hear your exams are harder than the ones given in the States... I kind of want to see if I would pass, haha. Wishing you the best!! :)

4 1
little_one 20

My husband is a pharmacist, at his work they are called pharmacy assistants and require no schooling which is obviously frustrating when he's doing 100+ scripts a day by himself and then stoping to talk to people with tons of OTC questions. He doesn't always have time to answer a bazillion questions from techs that have no idea what they are doing. He's so stressed out most of the time. Working non stop for 8 hours, never getting a break. His last pharmacy he worked for made him work for 12 hours by himself without a break, but since he's a "professional" it isn't against labour laws. He's paid well... But I know he regrets becoming a pharmacist.

0 3
PharmacyJoe 13

That's because he's working retail, and they haven't hired technicians for him. Technicians and assistants are completely different and have different responsibilities. For instance: I make intravenous medications for children and routinely double-check the pharmacist's calculations; a pharmacy assistant could not do either of those as they wouldn't have the knowledge required. If he hates his current job, he should try to apply for inpatient work. The pay is worse, but the environment is better (from what I've seen at least). :)

2 0
GirasolNegro 22

Tell your employer you are trying to do your best job for them and that the "only dumb question is the one not asked"!!

11 0
zarrganaut 17

What's so wrong with asking questions? It's how you learn!

11 0
blah0205 9

didn't know it was a crime to ask questions would they rather you fail make a mistake fall on your face than to get it done the proper way shrugs I don't understand it

5 2
Eloxia 7

This happens at my job, also. I work in healthcare. Our referrals team gets 2 hours of training and then told to "figure it out" if they have more questions. We only have three people from the original team of six. In the past six months we've replaced the other three people three times each, but their manager refuses to realize the problem.

13 1
siggy_mcsigx 22

Health care/pharmacy is the one employment area where this really shouldn't be happening....

17 0
bab3ruthl3ss 16

Both your & OP's posts are strongly wavering my confidence in the pharmacy/healthcare system...

11 0
Meettitan 14

You had faith in healthcare? Capitalism and health care do not mix well.

11 2
bab3ruthl3ss 16

Well I still had it in the pharmacy system, at least.

0 2
chef4money 12

Unless you are asking the same questions over and over, I don't see the problem. Even in you are, I agree that it's better safe than sorry. I'm sure there is a lot to learn and a lot of meds have very similar names. Good luck op.

1 4
sahmnc420 13

Report your boss

7 1
deejoy 22

Sorry but, pharm techs are the same as cashiers honestly. Don't give anyone the wrong script and you're fine. Believe me, I work at a drugstore and am untrained in pharmacy and they put me there all the time. Not hard or life threatening.

9 6
twilightmm 2

Just depends where your at. There is so much more "behind the scene" stuff that goes on that no one knows about

4 1
jlee95 5

I would love to know where you get your knowledge on what pharmacy technicians do-- here in Canada we are a regulated (meaning you need to graduate from a pharmacy accredited program, and get a licence to practice) health care profession. I make sterile IVs and stat orders for the emergency room. We don't just count pills. You're very uneducated.

7 3
ladyg228 15

Who told you this? Pharm tech are definitely NOT cashiers! Pharm tech are the first and last person to interact with the patient. They are ones who deal with insurance. They are ones faxing the doctors. They are the ones who input your prescription, medical history etc. They do all the hard work that makes the pharmacy run! Cashiers don't need to be licensed for their job! Please get your facts straight before you open your mouth

4 2
z3r0d4z3 22

#48 #66. Some states dont require certification to work as a tech. Speak calmly before you have all the information yourself.

2 1
little_one 20

At my husbands pharmacy they've hired people that have no pharmacy education and not licensed. It's even happened at the previous pharmacy he worked for as well. Maybe community pharmacy is different clearly you work in a hospital so there may be different regulations.

0 2