Appetizers

Starting with some basics.

Fun Starters

Getting to know the human side.

Main Course

A quick deep dive into the day-to-day job.

Tell us about yourself and your job.

I am a Retail/Outpatient pharmacist. Started as a pharmacy technician all the way to being a Pharmacist, 5 years of Pharmacist experience, 9 years of overall pharmacy experience. I do appreciate taking the time to make sure my patients/customers know their path to better health. I've worked in a retail chain, and now I work for a hospital.

How did you end up in your field? What do you like about it?

I started off as a pharmacy technician, but not in the career path that I had initially wanted, but eventually, it grew on me. It provided a great path for my future stability. Counseling patients and having the knowledge to counsel both friends, family, or even being a good reference for information is empowering.

What does a typical day look like on the job?

We would process prescriptions that are pending fills. Then we would review any prescriptions that are new to be filled for both accuracy and screen for drug interactions. We would review against the hospital's online medical records. Upon the technicians putting the prescriptions together, we would review each prescription for a 2nd time for accuracy as well as product verification to ensure each patient gets the proper medication. Upon pick up, each patient would get the opportunity to as questions or fill in gaps of knowledge for the technician to relay to the pharmacist if needed. Previously at a retail location, we would have additional responsibilities such as administering immunizations.

What types of projects and meetings are you involved in?

Lots of repetition as well as adjusting on the fly to situations that pop up. Projects will come as we return to "normal" from covid. Meetings are not applicable as of this moment.

Who do you collaborate with within meetings and projects?

We would work directly with interdisciplinary teams, such as nurses and physicians to ensure accuracy. Another side of the pharmacy participates in bedside delivery for patient discharge, and we have to review quickly on the fly for sudden changes and to ensure timely completion to prepare the patients for discharge.

Dessert

Now for some juicy insights in the tea room.

What's the most challenging thing about your job?

Customer service and Continuing Education. Customers will always try to lobby for what they believe is the best for themselves, but we tend to be the gateway for what is right or wrong. There are also several new drugs that we dispense at the hospital which that we do not regularly dispense at a typical retail pharmacy, and that is where we would need to ensure we have the proper resources and proper interpretation to ensure accuracy.

What are some characteristics that can help someone succeed in your role?

Patience, Empathy, and Optimism.

Any advice on how to stand out and get hired for those just starting off?

Show work ethic and empathy. When times get busy, you want to show your poise and be able to handle multiple and several situations ranging from clinical situations to customer dissatisfaction situations. Lots of pharmacies (ie. CVS and Walgreens) may be short-staffed, which makes it harder to juggle situations as opposed to other pharmacies.

What's something that surprised you about your job?

How happy customers are and how appreciative they can be. Also how well that I've learned to communicate with customers to diffuse situations and get customers to understand things better.

Any last thoughts, advice, or recommendations for someone who wants to do what you do?

Work very hard. Pharmacy is rewarding, but the job market is tough. If in the right situation, it would be more than perfect.

Drinks

Chat more over coffee or tea?