Daily frustrations

Posted by The *Angriest* Pharmacist as Drive-Thru, GUEST CONTRIBUTOR, Lazy People, Patient Education, Stupid People, True Story, Work Sucks

The following post was written by a reader of TheAngriestPharmacist. She posted a couple of comments that were right on point and impressed me tremendously. So, I invited her to write a guest post. She is taking some pharmacy-related classes and currently works in a pharmacy. Her pseudonym is ALIGIRL CphT. While I’m not into the whole “waz up guuurl!” fad, I enjoy her perspective and rants.

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After working 4 years in a pharmacy one would think you get used to all the crazy and impatient people we see everyday. I, unfortunately, get slapped in the face with these people everyday, and everyday I see something new. My little rant and rave today has to do with the drive-thru. First of all, whoever invented it for the pharmacy was either a lazy person that didn’t want to walk the twenty steps to the pharmacy inside the building or a person that claims they have five kids and did not want to take them out of the car today.

So, when you drive into the first lane (nearest the window where I am standing) in a drive thru and see that there is already a car in the second lane (furthest from the window), does that not tell you that I am already helping them and you must wait your turn? Or, does it simply tell you they are there, and I am here so somebody better help me too? Perhaps an additional, magic fairy person?

Obviously, you see me standing there at the big 10×10 window already talking to the person in the second lane. You saw them send money or a prescription which means they are still being assisted. So, please explain to me why you feel the goddamn need to still push the ringer. Did you think that I did not see your big Expedition drive directly in front of me blocking my view of the second lane? — the person I am already helping! Do you really think I do not see your face staring at me like I am wasting your time because I am helping someone who was there before you?

Now, I have to turn off the ringer and tell you I will be right with you, which I do very calmly. I continue speaking to the second lane and notice you reach out your hand to push the ringer AGAIN! Okay, are you freaking kidding me — or are you just severely retarded? I just told you I would be right with you. So, now I just turn the damn ringer off and don’t say anything to you because, obviously, you do not understand English.

As I am finally finishing up with the second lane, after all your interruptions, you start beeping your horn. Really? WHAT THE FUCK!! Now I am freaking pissed. The freaking President of the United States could drive into the drive thru, and he would still have to wait his turn — so hold the fuck up. I thank the second lane, send them on their way, and ask you how I can help you. This is when you have the balls to say, “Didn’t you see me here?” Yes, I saw you there. I told you I would be right with you. Then you pushed the ringer again, and I ignored it. Next you decided to start honking your damn horn.

I can only help one person at a time and you, my friend, were after them. Now, you start complaining that in a drive-thru you shouldn’t have to wait at all, and that you should just be able to drive up, grab your shit, and go. Um, excuse me, but last time I checked we had to get all your information as well as enter insurance info and type in the prescription. If you are picking up a prescription, we have to confirm that we have the right patient as well as take your payment. And this also may take a few minutes. It may take a little longer if the patient has any questions or concerns about their medications or if they need to be educated on something.

So, no, a drive-thru is not to just drive up and go, it is a convenience for people like you that do not wish to get off their lazy asses and walk inside. This, my friend (wait, you’re not my friend — I hate you!), is a pharmacy, not Mcdonalds. We take time in what we do, and we try to do things right. We are not making burgers and fries. We are filling medications, checking for potentially dangerous drug interactions,billing insurances, and about a million other things.

If we take an extra few minutes with a customer that actually cares about their health, then yes you must wait an extra few minutes — wouldn’t you expect the same courtesy of the person behind you? That’s how the drive-thru works, ya don’t like it then you can go down the street to the pharmacy that has no drive-thru and walk your fat ass inside.

So, when you approach a drive-thru pharmacy, please wait to be attended to…especially if there is already someone else in the lane next to you being helped. Don’t push the buzzer a hundred times — or even once. And don’t you dare toot your little horn. We do see you there, and we did hear you the first time you unnecessarily rang the buzzer. Just freaking wait a few minutes. You are sitting in a car, directly in front of me, not standing in the cold!