My Job Sucks…

[...] 1. Check back at my first post: http://www.theangriestpharmacist.com/2007/02/05/my-job-sucks/ [...]

I’m curious…Why, if you hate your job so much, do you continue to do it? It’s obvious from perusing your site that you are quite adept at your job, but it seems you may have lost the passion you once had for your work. Are you a Pharm.D? If so, then teach, or go back to school, or throw off everyone and do something else that piques your interest. There is no law that is keeping you at a job that you despise, so quit.
Please understand that I am not trying to be callous in any way, far from it. I just see my fellow healthcare providers experience the anger and frustration that you are detailing here every day. Those who do not deal with their problem or seek alternatives to frustrating situations, end up doing harm; both to patients and to themselves. If you hate being a pharmacist so much, quit. Do something else that makes you happy.

Heh…you’ve commented on the first post I ever made! I dislike my JOB, but I LOVE MY PROFESSION! There’s a big difference. The profession of pharmacy is great, in good shape, and an excellent place to be. The job, the working conditions, the continued screw-overs from patients, insurance companies, doctors, et al is what sucks…The Pharmacy Alliance is starting a movement to get that changed, but it will take a lot of time to get it all ironed out.

Make no mistake, I love being a pharmacist and helping the patients that want to be helped. I love being someone’s go-to source of healthcare information that takes my suggestions just as they would their primary doctor. I love getting a hug from a little old lady because I helped her convert from an expensive brand to a cheaper generic with the same effect — thereby saving her a ton of money and putting more food on her table. Etc. Etc. Etc. Etc. In pharmacy, however, the bad patients are really bad and they outnumber the good. It’s those good ones though…that make it all worthwhile. Pharmacy makes me happy. Good patients make me happy. Educating those that need and respect my opinion fills me with joy and happiness. Listening to a Vicodin abuser on medicaid tell me he needs an early refill because he’s going on vacation (AGAIN) makes me want to hang up my white coat…but I never will…Pharmacy is what I am. The website helps me marginalize the bullshit from the dickheads…and it really helps…It’s also fun to write and gratifying when other pharmacists write me and tell me they enjoy reading my site and find it very humorous and right on point.

I agree with you. I’m a pharmacist that loves to be excellent on what I do.Interesting enough, I hate the politics of the Hospital that I work for and the ignorant jerks AH that are managent (my inmmediate boss and believe it or not a Tech Coordinator that thinks that he is over a Pharmacist).THeir BS is beyond imaginable and most important some of their way of doing things not only jeopardizes our licenses but endanger the safety of our patients. Every time I brought up the subject in a meeting, I’ve being sort of put down or ask to be quite about it. It’s very frustating but at this times is hard to quit the job. Let’s face it, we are all family providers and we just cant quit overnight.
Thank you for this blog, I was feeling sooo frustated with my job and this makes me feel better. :))