Feb

Request from 2008 Graduate

Posted by The *Angriest* Pharmacist as Just a question, Pharmacy School

I got a request from Chris, a soon-to-be graduate of the University of Colorado-Denver School of Pharmacy.

Just an idea for a post. Seeing as how 4th year students are starting to get job offers rolling in by now, How about some advice for a graduate of the class of 2008.

First and foremost, you and your classmates need to read every post I’ve ever written. I’d also suggest reading Pharmacy Mike, The Angry Pharmacist, Pharmacy God, Jim Plagakis, and The Ole Apothecary if you get time.

Secondly, have a sense of pride in what you do and don’t take shit from customers (or patients, whateveryouwannacallthem). And, don’t ever let someone from upper management try and give you the MBA spin (where you state a problem, question, or discrepency, and they talk and talk and talk and reiterate and reiterate and reiterate until you actually almost believe the bullshit they just put on your plate and served you). I counter the MBA spin by having the said “manager” write down their points. Then, I take them home in a non-hostile and hectic environment and completely tear them to shreads. They fall apart on their own when the phone isn’t ringing, someone isn’t at the dropoff, some bitch isn’t screaming at pickup, and you don’t have 50 in the fill queue.

Third — you’re going to have a lot of money. People are going to want it — all of it. They are going to want it for nothing, i.e. donations. Don’t give it away to everyone. Pick the charities you want, you respect, and you want to help, then budget your donations. When the people come begging, tell them, “I’m sorry. I budget my donations for the entire year on January 1st. If you’d like me to consider your cause for next year, please mail your information to my home, and I will do so.”

Point 4 — Don’t give change to beggers. SouthPark was right. Beggers feed on change. If you give it to them, they will multiply and only want more. They only want it for a fifth of Wild Irish Rose anyway. You budget your donations anyway, right?

Point 5 — Don’t run out and buy a new car. Get settled. You don’t need a status symbol. Your beater has got you by long enough. Rock that bitch ’til the wheels fall off. Then, go buy a nice, modest, new ride. You don’t need a Hummer. You don’t need it on June 1 either. Get some capital and cash flow first. Get a solid budget settled first before you start rackin’ up the new bills.

Point 6 — Prenuptials are a good idea. The divorce rate is astronomical (like 50%). Of course, this doesn’t matter if you are marrying another pharmacist or someone more wealthy than yourself. You’re not going to get taken to the cleaners if you both have money. And, don’t delude yourself with that “my marriage is forever” bullshit. Only my marriage was forever — your marriage is up in the air.

Point 7 — Don’t be a pussy. Do not allow yourself to become that pharmacist that is afraid the Board of Pharmacy is always standing behind you waiting to SNATCH UP your license if you make an educated decision. You do not need to call and ask if you can change Lisinopril 40mg to 2 Lisinopril 20mg tablets. It’s the same fucking thing and the doctor thinks less of all of us if you are a bitch. If you honestly don’t know, call. If you know you are wasting you’re time - don’t. You are only going to piss off your patients and worst of all, your techs!

Point 8 — Treat your techs like GOLD. They are actually worth more.

Point 9 — Teach your interns something. They aren’t just there for your bitch work. Don’t work them as merely techs. If they are there as an employee, that’s one thing, but if they are there on Experiential stuff, come up with something educational for them…a task of sorts. You can do it. They’ll enjoy it in the long run.

Point 10 — Don’t let someone BITCH you into changing your mind. If you tell someone something concerning your professional decision making skill and subsequently change your mind, you are a fucking idiot. Your judgement will be questioned every single time for the rest of your life — and you’ll start to question yourself. If you said you aren’t fucking filling it early, don’t fucking fill it early. Don’t fucking do it!

Point 11 — Swear. Sure, it’s uneducated. Gross. Unecessary (sometimes). And occasionally, flat out disrespectful. But, doesn’t it get the meaning across? Which of the following sentences evokes more meaning:

Please leave the premises of my pharmacy. You are a narcotic-seeking person

Get the fuck out of my pharmacy you piece of shit Vicodin-seeking asshole!

I consider this point made.

Point 12 — Drink. Alcohol makes the pain go away…you learned that in pharmacy school, and it is no less true once you enter the professional world. However, don’t drink on the job…it’s probably a bad idea.

Point 13 — Play a radio in the pharmacy. Music makes everyone work harder, faster, and more efficiently. It’s also good to rock out when a kickass song comes on the radio.

Point 14 — Make fun of everyone (yourself included). Keeping your sanity involves laughing at those that are different and less fortunate than yourself. Sure, you could go point a finger in their face than laugh. I find that within the safety of the pharmacy is plenty for me. Focus on the ugly - they deserve it more than us beautiful people.

I’ve really loved writing this and laughed my ass off whilst doing it. Pharmacists — please add to this list in the comments field. I’ll add more as the days go on as well, so check back!

Or Print it...

Steph says February 16th, 2008 at 2:21 am

5.a) Max your 401k immediately. Buy an IRA, and you’ll be able to convert it to a Roth soon. Keep your ears open and listen to the sound investment advice of your peers, but do check it out before you buy.
15. Buy a home in the best neighborhood you can afford. You can remodel a home but you can’t change the neighborhood.
16. Don’t be afraid to say these words now that you are out of school and you don’t have to pretend you’re the Facts and Comparison’s book: “I’m not sure–let me check on that.”
17. It’s only a job. Don’t take crap from an idiot or asshole manager. Either decide to outlast them (you can) or remind yourself that you don’t need this shit and find another job and then give them both barrels. It will feel awesome, if not the day you quit, then a year later when you realize how smart you were to quit. Fuck ‘em.
18. Enjoy the gurgly babies you get to meet. Same with most of the lucid 80+ year-olds. Flirt with all of them. People live to be 80+ because they are cool.
19. Remember–you don’t have to work full-time if you don’t want to. If you’re a mom I recommend you don’t. You and your kids will be happier. There is a certain status associated with sacrificing material possessions for sanity and peace in the home.
Nice post, Mr. Angriest. Good work.

TheAngryPharmacist says February 16th, 2008 at 2:38 am

* Get some expensive hobbies or buy yourself nice things, it’ll make dealing with that fucking crackhead a bit more tolerable
* Choose your battles (Im surprised you missed this one). Its not worth correcting an ex-nurse who thinks shes god’s gift to medicine if she has the MOA wrong for ACE-I’s.
* Stand your ground to the Doctors. You know far more than the regular GP when it comes to drugs, dont be afraid to question his/her prescribing habits. If the shit hits the fan, the doctor will sell your ass up the river, guaranteed.
* Listen to 10% of the stories that people tell you, and trust 1% of that. Your gut feeling well tell you if someone really lost their medication, or “lost” them to the neighborhood kid for a $50.
* Fart out loud in the pharmacy, I swear to god it makes the day a whole lot better.

done that says February 16th, 2008 at 10:28 am

Don’t be swayed by those big signing bonuses. Taxes will take at least half.

Pharmacy Mike says February 16th, 2008 at 10:54 am

To reiterate point #7 from Angriest’s post…

-Don’t be afraid to bend the laws in the best interest of your patients. I’m not talking about allowing early CII refills. I’m saying that if it’s Friday evening, and a patient is out of refills on his maintenance medication, don’t be afraid to give more than the alloted 3 days worth of medication. This is especially true if you’ve been faxing the doctor for 4 days for that refill request and the son of a bitch just won’t respond to it. Just make sure you are acting in the best interest of the patient’s health, and the board will never give you any trouble.

-Don’t be afraid to make decisions based on your professional judgement. You’re a drug expert (or at least supposed to be). Don’t fall back on “I have to call the doctor” for every single little discrepancy or issue you come across. For christ’s sake, if a patient has been on Wellbutrin XL 75mg for 3 years, and the doctor wrote out a prescription saying Wellbutrin 75mg with the same directions, same everything, it’s pretty clear he simply forgot to put the “XL” on the script. If the patient says there’s not supposed to be a change, don’t waste your time calling the doctor. In addition, some interactions don’t need to be called on. Use your head and figure out which ones are the truly important ones. You’re DUR software is likely to say everything interacts with pretty much everything else in some way, so it’s going to be up to you to decide which ones to really watch out for.

-One more thing… if you work for a big chain (CVS, Rite Aid, Walgreens, etc.), dont’ be afraid to blow some of the company’s money to better serve your customers. They make billions in profit every year and continue to cut the departments hours. Make sure you take every opportunity you get to stick it to them. The same obviously doesn’t apply to independents or smaller scale chains.

Joel says February 16th, 2008 at 12:18 pm

suggested revision Pt 13 - sentence 2: Music makes everyone work harder, better, faster, stronger and more efficiently.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgBgnoEY4iM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGECJP3phyY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jzSh_MLNcY

lol

AZHawk says February 16th, 2008 at 9:42 pm

Don’t be afraid to shoot this shit with your patients. If you make them see you are human, they won’t treat you like shit when you do make a mistake.

TheAngriestPharmacist says February 17th, 2008 at 3:23 am

* Say, “Hello” to everyone that comes into the pharmacy like you are actually glad to see them (even if in some cases, you are not)….like an old friend you’ve missed. They’ll hear it in your tone, feel welcomed, and come back. Script counts will go up, profits will go up, and you’ll be able to HELP more people…
*Hire staff when you *need* them - not when management tells you that you can have them. If they disagree, tell them to piss off and come work the register for you.
* If you’re slow, send the techs to straighten shelves and work the register. People love being waited on by their pharmacist - it makes them feel like you care (you do as a new graduate), it makes them comfortable, and it brings them back for years to come.
* If you see someone staring at the shelf in awe, go help them immediately, and not when they ask. You may actually keep them from buying the wrong thing and hurting a child or themselves.
* Buy DVDs. They’re forever. You never know when you’ll have the flu and the only thing to cure the nausea is watching Will Ferrell run down the street naked in Old School.
* Buy a pet. Name him something absolutely ridiculous. Pets make everyone happier and live longer. Calling out, “Blubber” “Buckshot” or “Ninja” from the front porch is freakin hilarious.
* Did I mention drinking?

bighair844 says February 17th, 2008 at 7:47 am

This is all fabulous advice that will prove to be useful throughout your pharmacy career. After 14 years, i find that everything stated above still holds true - so take all that stuff down, New Grad. make it your last note-taking entry as a student, and check it daily for the rest of your life.

Chris, Pharm.D. says February 17th, 2008 at 11:12 am

Remember that the higher the sign-on bonus, the crappier the work environment.
If you ever want to work Monday thru Friday 9-5, consider biting the bullet and doing a residency now.
Consider hospital pharmacy. While the pay is lower at first,you will soon make as much as a retail pharmacist…..and there are not any customers bitching about their copays or asking where the lawn chairs are and if they’re on sale this week.

RPh1982 says February 17th, 2008 at 12:32 pm

Take a look at the pharmacists over 60…that will be you some day. Exercise everyday no matter how tired you are. Bring food from home (yogurt, peeled oranges, cheese sticks) can all be inhaled quickly. Don’t fall into the soda, candy bar and whatever is in aisle 12 trap.
Put a receipt on everything. I’ve seen pharmacists fired for taking candy bars or newspapers.
Count the controls and keep the key. I’ve seen diversion from within almost everywhere I’ve worked (hospital, LTC, retail) from techs to relief and staff RPh’s. It surprised me every time.
Be kind & compassionate but take care of yourself. Help out when you can but don’t be
the DM’s, soccer mom Rph’s or stay open late –deliver this to me customer’s doormat.
You will have good and bad days…It is all in what you make of it.
Good Luck

What advice I would give students graduating from pharmacy school « The Blonde Pharmacist says February 17th, 2008 at 12:43 pm

[...] would give students graduating from pharmacy school Posted on February 16, 2008 by BB Seems others are doing the same, so I’ll put in my 2 [...]

Blonde Pharmacist says February 17th, 2008 at 12:44 pm

Top advice - DON’T GO INTO RETAIL

It’s like pimping yourself for the bucks to take all the abuse in the world.

Why do it?

TheAngriestPharmacist says February 17th, 2008 at 3:14 pm

I can’t say I agree with that comment! Retail isn’t the devil….the companies and non-pharmacists making the decisions are!

Blonde Pharmacist says February 17th, 2008 at 5:01 pm

The companies and non-pharmacists do make the decisions which make retail hard to deal with… if somehow retail was back to the neighborhood independent store with the coffee shop (Starbucks/Pharmacy??) where you were your own boss… YEP, it would be the dream job.

I’m just sayin’ the way it is sucks… and RUN! LOL

Mainburner says February 17th, 2008 at 7:10 pm

Don’t fuck with your health. I’ve seen too many guys go down with heart attacks, strokes, depression and the like. I know you think you’re invincible but don’t be stupid. I have never seen a hearse with a luggage rack. Oh, and hug your kids every day.

Pharmer Jane says February 17th, 2008 at 8:52 pm

I’m learning this one the hard way…When you have a shitty day, blog about it. Don’t take your frustrations out on your spouse.

boohoo rx says February 18th, 2008 at 12:48 am

this was an awesome post. i really had a good, good laugh. so what do you guys do w/ all your free time? is life really that boring? i used to care about learning when i got to college. after 5 years, i just dont care anymore. ps. @ what age you guys all marry around? ;)

TheAngriestPharmacist says February 18th, 2008 at 12:59 am

23 sounds fine - but kids are gonna wait. Still waiting at that. Spending time being in love and having money before putting all my money into a couple of rugrats…:-)

My free time goes to the website and stumbling around the internet. I also do a ton of computer gaming…technology all damn day!

cursedrx says February 18th, 2008 at 12:43 pm

i totally agree with the on-line blogging when your upset, my husband is clueless but made a great point at the same time: i take it for granted that every one understands the insurance mumbo jumbo and picks it up as fast as i do so their not really stupid some people really just don’t “get it”

Mary Augustine says February 18th, 2008 at 4:14 pm

Maybe, soon after graduation (with job in hand), if practice site is located near a State border, might consider application for reciprocity? (State law exams are easier to pass if have recently studied for them!)

fred says February 18th, 2008 at 4:57 pm

I like point 8. a great tech is hard to come by. And having the respect of your supervising pharmacist is almost worth the pathetic wage they are paid in comparison to the lousy techs.

CA tech says February 18th, 2008 at 9:39 pm

While I’m still a Pre-PharmD, working as a tech, I have seen my pharmacists get jerked around numerous times in the last two years as the bossman attempts to figure out how to maximize hours but save money… GET EVERYTHING IN WRITING! If you are getting hired and say, I can work Saturdays but not Sundays, I can work mornings but not evenings, I need Fridays off, WHATEVER, make sure that you sign a contract where your boss agrees to these things… so when he decides to extend hours, take away your lunch, screw with your shifts, you have at least a starting point to fight back.

Heather says February 18th, 2008 at 10:47 pm

Do not let the customer see an ounce of doubt or fear or indecision in your eyes or actions. Be sure about what you say. Customers smell fear and doubt and will be f*ing you doggie style if you let them.

I do not give estimated wait times (e.g. 15 minutes, 30mintes ,etc). I give exact times (10:00 am, 2:00Pm, etc.) Noone waits in my drive -thru unless it is truly an emergency or my mistake. Period. I’ll even offer to tow your car at your expense if you refuse to move your ass out of my drive thru lane.

TheAngryPharmacist says February 19th, 2008 at 1:58 am

I’ve already sorta hit on this topic before.

http://www.theangrypharmacist.com/archives/2007/12/real_life_retail_101.html

Kevin says February 19th, 2008 at 10:43 am

Work nights. You usually do a 7 on and 7 off schedule. The phone doesn’t ring that much and you seldom have to call a dr’s office. Stress levels go way down. I’ve been doing it for about 3 years now and have not looked back.

MNPharmD says February 19th, 2008 at 1:36 pm

Find a good hospital, with good marks for employee satisfaction, and get the hell out of retail. Make sure you are decentralized. Working with nurses and physicians face to face creates an environment of mutual respect. No kidding. And I’m not a guy with a bunch of initials after my name and pretend to know everything either.

5 years so far, and loving it. No insurance, no screaming patients, you actually get to take vacations, and you get challenged every day.

And if the pay is worse, you won’t mind.

Mattie says February 19th, 2008 at 5:46 pm

Thanks for the post! I am in my 4th year of pharmacy school with 2 more rotations left before I graduate in May. I love your website and the advice you are giving future pharmacists. Thank you for being honest and to the point.

DealinDrugsnOH says February 19th, 2008 at 7:16 pm

As an 07 grad… that signed RETAIL…. I would recommend that if they ever want to transfer you to a different store or ever make you do “extra” work. Demand extra pay. They got it. You ask for it. You get it. If you don’t- then threaten them ;)

And buy lots of fun toys.

Nikohl22 says February 20th, 2008 at 10:10 am

I appreciate your point 9 because I’m an intern at a pharmacy and I’m pretty sick of coming into the pharmacy to see notes reading “Please clean the compounding room” only to look and see a big ‘ol mess the pharmacy manager left me. I usually spend 2+ hours cleaning up after him and only 30 minutes getting to do hands on things like compounding. I hear him telling the technician things about pharmacy that I haven’t gotten to in school, but he apparently assumes I have NO interest in! Anyways… the students and interns appreciate that point!!!

CPT G says February 20th, 2008 at 3:48 pm

All great points. I especially like #7. I couldn’t agree more. Nothing pisses me off more than when a “colleague” is too much of a pussy to make a decision but is more than willing to turf it to me. Don’t they posess the same training/credentials as me? They always seem to know what to do, but do not have the backbone to take action on their own. These are often the same pharmacists who like to flaunt their credentials, be called “Doctor”, and bitch because their job is not “Clinical” enough. Well if they’re unwilling to take responsibility for small decisions, why would society allow them to make bigger decisions? I’m not telling all the new pharmacists to go out and be cowboys, but I am encouraging them to exercise appropriate autonomy as a professional. Make good decisions, take action, and move on. It’s what’s expected for your high pay…

KDUBZ says February 20th, 2008 at 4:04 pm

Don’t buy the expensive car until you have enough cash in the bank to pay for it, but don’t empty the account to buy it. Oh, and don’t buy it if you still live with your parents…sorry you could have a lambo, but bringing a girl home to your parents house WILL NOT GET YOU LAID.

On a more important note, don’t buy stock in the company you work for….They already give you your paycheck, don’t tie your entire financial life to the future performance of that company.

pharmermba says February 21st, 2008 at 12:41 am

As for stock buying tips, don’t listen to the guy above. Many companies allow you to buy stock in the company at a discount, so make sure you take advantage of it. If you like your company, it gives you a bit more motivation as well. If you are intelligent, that won’t be your only investment anyway. Diversify, although stocks like Walgreens aren’t risky enough to worry about in the short run.

Shalom (R.Ph.) says February 21st, 2008 at 11:58 am

5b. If you do keep driving that old beater, make sure it’s reliable. This goes double if you’re floating. The last thing you need is to get stuck somewhere at the side of the road with a disabled car while on your way to work. Your district manager/ pharmacy supervisor/ PDM isn’t going to be interested in hearing that your car broke down, all he cares about is that his store didn’t open on time.

Regarding stocks, Rite Aid’s stock tanked while I was working there (from $50 a share down to about $2), so it’s not always a good idea.

Working nights is fine when you’re single. It sucks when you have a family.

Regarding pickup times: I agree with Heather on this. If you tell someone “45 Minutes” they will be back in 20, guaranteed, and they’ll say “But it’s been over an hour already!” This way you can point to the time and say, “I told you 2:47 PM, it’s only 2:23 now. Come back when I told you to.” On a related note, don’t let them intimidate you into working faster by standing there and staring at you.

Zi Long NYC PharmD student says February 22nd, 2008 at 12:09 am

-sighs-
Well I work a for a private pharmacy I only make 7 dollars and hr and I do not get paid for 30 mins of the total hrs I work because its for “lunch”. My @$$ its for lunch they call me from lunch break and go like DO THIS DO THAT! CARRY THAT! DELIVER THAT! By the end of my 11 hr shift I am sweating bullets and guess what I know is to pour meds down a freaking counting machine they call kirby. I feel like I am their b1tch. I am cleaning the bathrooms, moving cases of water, sweeping, washing tables, translating, delivering and running errands for the boss. They all look down upon me. One day I will make more money then them but till then i am their freaking slave. Personally I been working for 5 months and all I learned is that the Pharmacist is the brain and I am only the hands. Treating me like Gold? HAH! they treat me like a mexican immigrant, but the sad thing is they treat the Mexicans better then I do… I get yelled the entire day for wut? 73.50 a day…. I made more money selling lotto tickets damn it… I miss having 10 dollars an hr. ALL I wanted to go work in a pharmacy is to learn something. I personally do not think I learned anything except how to lie to patients to make them happy. NOW I AM LOOKING FOR A JOB!

TheAngriestPharmacist says February 22nd, 2008 at 12:33 am

My Pharmacy Student Rates:

P1: $13/hr
P2: $15/hr
P3: $17/hr
P4: $20/hr

Graduate but waiting for boards:
1/2 current pharmacist rate.

If you aren’t making that and are a legitimate pharmacy student, pack up. Students are there to learn their profession, not merely do gopher work.

Find a nice, slow independent. But, give 2 weeks…that way you can use the place as a reference.

Zi Long NYC PharmD student says February 22nd, 2008 at 7:17 pm

Well I tried to find other jobs. They don’t hire 2nd year PharmD students. The ones that do require me to do overnight shifts meaning I can’t go to school. Personally I would love to find a place that respect me as a colleague and not as slave. If worse come to worse I will go back to selling lotto tickets because its hard to make due with the pay I have. Reading the pay you give your students, I am drooling. Personally all the independents in NYC are dying and hard to find good ones. I would like to find one.

BBPharmD says February 23rd, 2008 at 11:16 am

Consider a government job like IHS or VA. Like hospitals, the pay is less than retail at first but you quickly make up the difference. (A PHS officer with IHS can get signing bonus plus loan repayment!) The benefits rock and nobody is complaining about prices or co-pays.

Agree 100% with saving/investing early and not getting into the new car fever. Keep living like a student for a little while and get your saving and investing automated so you don’t even notice it. Keep a reliable car and pay yourself (ie savings account) a car payment…you’ll be paying cash for a nice car in no time.

Consider an advanced degree (ie MBA, MPH, MIS, etc) that can take you outside pharmacy if you decide in 15 years that you want to try something else. You can get these online without killing yourself with classes and homework.

Keep laughing…even if you’re having a rotten day, nobody can take away your attitude and it can go a long way.

KDUBZ says February 24th, 2008 at 4:25 pm

Actually pharmermba, I know quite a bit about stocks. I have been investing on my own for quite a few years now. Most recent grads that I know are actually in the red on their wag stock purchases. I’m not sure if you were aware but the stock has been kinda crummy lately. And while it will likely come back, I still don’t think its worth buying to take advantage of a mere 10% discount. Yes diversification is key, but financially most people are lemmings. Its also important to note that these shares are bought and sold based on the closing price of the day, if the shit hits the fan, rest assured you will ride that stock all the way down. If you don’t think investing in the company you work for can hurt, try researching enron.

Rxkid says February 24th, 2008 at 10:56 pm

One other side note. IF you go retail for the money…don’t burn out working 80 hour weeks for the money to pay off school loans. I have seen way too many Rph’s go nuts doing it. You need a life outside of pharmacy…especially if you work retail.

7on7off-Pharm says February 26th, 2008 at 4:32 am

find a 24 hr store in suburbia and take the nightshift. i average 1 movie and 2 hours of video games/night. plus you only work every other week. its the only way retail is tolerable.

7on7off-Pharm says February 26th, 2008 at 4:41 am

in addition, the nightshift offers–
1)higher pay (i make 116,000/year in the midwest)
2)very few md calls
3)very few patient calls
4)no manager/pharmacy manager breathing down your neck
5)internet surfing via wireless broadband all night
6)movies/videogames via laptop or small TV
7)you can take an unlimited # of craps and not worry about rushing
8) 100% predictable schedule
9)very small volume of rx’s to fill

dont do a residency

dr c pharm d says February 29th, 2008 at 2:01 am

learn how to stop selling sudaphed to the junkies. your register probably has a way. play with it, and quit wasting your time, and your technicians time, with fucking loser meth addict bitches….. i found a way at my ghetto ass pharmacy.. you can too. remember, your taxes are paying for these losers to have medicaid and welfare, dont give them the added joy of having meth too…

TheAngriestPharmacist says February 29th, 2008 at 11:42 am

Naw - every law enforcement officer I’ve talk to state and local says make the sell if they have a valid license and are under the legal limit. It will only make it more likely that they get caught. Just jot the names down of the regulars and the ones that look like junkies and pass it on to your local law enforcement when they stop by…

Rayjayrx says March 3rd, 2008 at 3:31 pm

Addendum to point #8…if you find a good one KEEP HIM/HER!! If you must beg and beg from the higher ups to get whatever he/she needs to stay, luckliy i don’t have this problem i own my own store. You will probably only run across 1-2 your entire career that actually GET IT 100%, they will be an asset and friend your entire career.

Randy says March 4th, 2008 at 11:58 am

“Third — you’re going to have a lot of money. People are going to want it.”

Ugh. The only ones that want it right now is my lenders. Yes, I may make ‘alot’ of money, whatever that means, but I owe too much.

My advice to soon-to-be-graduates is to live the most frugal life you can and work extra shifts to earn some extra $$$. Loans are really ridiculous. I graduated with over $50k in debt and thought ‘no problem, I’m making $103k a year.’ Well, problem: 1. car 2. house 3. taxes (SUCK!!). You get the picture.

I’ve been out five years and I’m still paying for the ‘joy’ of earning a PharmD. Sixteen more payments and that PharmD is all mine!! :)

Randy

The *Angriest* Pharmacist � Blog Archive » So you are going to pharmacy school says March 7th, 2008 at 11:14 pm

[...] sure by now most of you have taken a look at my post on Advice for 2008 Pharmacy School Graduates. Needless to say, the post has been very popular and commented on extensively. It’s also been [...]

kosman says March 31st, 2008 at 8:16 am

Any body ever been fired for having a 2 hour wait time for prescriptions?

TheAngriestPharmacist says March 31st, 2008 at 11:18 am

Time to find a new job…If they even hint about discipline for wait time, they don’t care about patient safety…just the bottom line.

They put your license at risk for under-staffing. To hell with that place.

LOLIPOP says April 25th, 2008 at 1:03 am

I DONT CARE IF YOUR MAKING MONEY TREAT OTHERS WITH RESPECT. FROM MRS NURSE

THE ANGRY TECH says April 25th, 2008 at 1:17 am

RETAIL IS A HARD PLACE TO WORK FOR 6+ YEARS EXP. IM A TECH AT THE PHARMACY NOW AND I GET ALOT OF “CRAZY” CUSTOMERS” WORKING AT THE “W” MART IS SOME TIMES OVERWELMING. THE CUSTOMERS ARE BITCHY AND THINK THAT THE CUSTOMER ALAWYS COME FIRST. FORGET THAT, YES I FEEL SORRY FOR THE PHARMACICST ON DUTY THEY GET TREATED LIKE #%$$ SOME TIMES LIKE THEIR JUST THERE FOR FUN. BUT WORST OF ALL I AM A WOMAN BUT I HAVE NEVER WORKED WITH SO MANY FEMALES THAT TALK ABOUT THEIR WHOLE PERSONAL LIFE. SHUT THE ^%&* UP TECHS COUNT PILLS DO YOUR JOB AND GO HOME. THE PHARMAICIST DOES NOT WANT TO HEAR ABOUT ALL YOUR PERSOMAL PROBLEMS EVERYDAY. THE ANGRIEST PHARMICIST NEEDS TO BE MY BOSS. HELL HE MIGHT GET SOME EXICITEMENT IN HIS LIFE. (ANGRY PHARMICIST YOU CANT HANDLE THIS)!!!!!

LOLIPOP says April 25th, 2008 at 1:21 am

ANGRIEST PHARMACIST COME BE MY BOSS! I AM A YOUNG FEMALE BUT I GET SICK OF WORKING W/ FEMALES WHO COMPLAIN ALL THE TIME GO HOME AND GET SOME AND COME BACK TO WORK THE NEXT DAY W/ A BETTER ATTITUDE

KDUBZ says April 25th, 2008 at 9:40 pm

I don’t TAestP, I think these last three posts may be from the “Doctor with 4 degrees,” the all caps, and crappy english are a bit of a give away. He’s pretending to lure you in by saying he is a young female, but watch out….He’s got a hard on for you!!!

LOLIPOP says April 25th, 2008 at 10:49 pm

No, Im not male. I think that the “Angriest Pharmacist” has a beautiful mind,maybe you should get one.

Mellee says May 9th, 2008 at 10:18 pm

This is to “The Angry Tech” I know why pharm customers at WalMart are so nasty!! This is from experience, by the time they finally get their turn their probably tired, hungry ect… those lines are ridicules. At the wal*Mart I go to the cashiers/techs take their sweet time, and alot of the time they are extremely rude!! I watched her, she was purposely going slow, like she was sooooo bored, dragging her feet. It also does not help that they allow everyone and their sisters ring out their piled up cart fulla shit. So at this Walmart, atleast, you can see why we’re so bitchy!!!. But their all different, the main one I use customer service sucks, the other one I go to once in a blue moon, their much better.

WAGslave says June 12th, 2008 at 6:54 am

SIGNING BONUS - try to avoid them if you can. They sound good at first, but over the course of your 2 -3 year term, you will find out why they need a sign on bunus. 1st off, they are taxed by the IRS right off the top. So that 10G now become 6.5 G. this means that the money you get is a lot less than you think, and if you don’t commit to the terms of your contract, you pay back the whole 10G … even though you lost some to the IRS! That’s right, you’ll wind up paying much more if you find the job is horrible and you leave before the 2 to 3 years is over. 2nd, Most bunoses are for shit jobs that the locals won’t do. And theres usually a ton of reasons why they won’t do them .. they are hard work in shitty locations and totally understaffed. Be prepared to get run ragged and have you’re self esteem molested on a daily basis. 3rd, if you decide to take a sign-on bonus, insist that they don’t pay you until AFTER you’ve done the job for a month or two. That way, if it really sucks, you can walk away with out them holding the bonus over your head. A guy in Tacoma, Wa did this, and after a few months, he found that Walgreens did not live up to any of the promises they made, so he left and said Fuck You and keep your bonus. Very brilliant move on his part.

Speaking of Walgreens and their signing bonus… do you homework. If one company is offering a signing bonus, see what other companies are offering. In Tacoma, Walgreens was offering 21 G for 3 years. But EVERYONE else from Safeway to Bartells was offering 30G! In all my years, I have never seen Walgreens offer more than there competator’s for a bonus. Also, they pay their techs less than everyone else. When you talk to any of the corporate hacks at Walgreens, like a good used car salesman, they all say “our techs are the highest compensated”, which may be true. But notice the term “compensated” is not the same as “paid”. By compensated, thay include the benefits package as well as the hourly rate. This is important to some techs, but not most. When techs realize the verbal slight of hand, they get pissed, and start jumping ship to the competators who pay a higher hourly rate.

Also, Walgreens in Washington state gets robbed a lot. Especially the night shifts, which is why I avoid them.

So, bottom line. Be wary of signing bonusus, and if you must take them, insist they don’t pay you until you’ve done the job for a month or two. This way you can walk away.

Also, stay way from Walgreens unless you like a lower bonus, lower paid techs, and frequent robberies.

Do you’re homework. If you made it this far, you already have!

saipanpharmacist says July 29th, 2008 at 1:44 am

Something i learned three years after I graduated is that there are more options out there than the typical hospital or retail store. I have a pharmacy job in a US territory that is a tropical island. I make about the same as a pharmacist in the states. If you are single and done have strings keeping you put explore options. With the salaries that us pharmacist make the travel opportunities are endless. I am sure that some day (probably sooner than later) I will end up back in the state, but my time out here as been a great experience. Look at ads for Guam, Virgin Islands, etc. for opportunities.

Faith says January 2nd, 2009 at 7:31 pm

First, your blogs have been extremely helpful. I can not find a more clear picture of pharmacy school or the day in the life of a pharmacists anywhere else. Your advice has been very appreciated…okay enough with that. I am a recent nursing graduate and am now considering going to pharmacy school. I want to make sure I have a shot in hell before I waste x amount of dollars on classes. What are the typical students that become accepted into Pharm. school and/or who graduate?