Oct
What is important
Posted by The *Angriest* Pharmacist as Just a question, Patient Education, Salutations
Who are you?
It’s a very pertinent question. It can be answered in a plethora of different ways. The way each person answers the question tells us a lot about them. It tells us where the priorities lie, what they think about themselves, their career, what they’ve done with their life, and perhaps even where they are going.
One could answer this question several ways:
I’m a pharmacist. — Tells us about a person’s career or career path.
I’m a man/woman. — Tells us of their gender role (obviously). They also think their manliness/femininity personifies them.
I’m a husband/wife. — Tells us the most important thing in their life is their relationship with their S.O.
I’m a (insert religion). — Tells us that their relationship with a higher power is important to them.
I’m a son/daughter. — Tells us they value family. They probably have a good relationship with their parents.
I’m a father/mother. — Tells us they have children and they are one of the most important things in their life.
I’m a brother/sister. — Again, tells us they value family and probably have a close relationship with their siblings.
I’m a Brother/Sister. — This one could tell us they were involved in a Fraternity and valued it and the relationships they forged from it.
I’m a [pharmacy] student. — Tells us where they want to go with their life. Their aspirations.
You see, we can learn a lot about someone with just a few words — with some assumptions and clever associations. But, what’s the most important thing about someone? That’s very easy. Do you know it?
THEIR NAME! A person’s name epitomizes who they are. If you know someone’s name, you may not know everything about them the statements above can tell us, but you have a way to get that information — an ‘in’ so-to-speak. Not knowing someone’s name — or forgetting it — can be a very embarrassing situation. I do all I can to remember the name of every person that comes into my pharmacy. I think every Pharmacist and Technician should. Not only does it help us ensure the right person gets the medicine, it lets the person know that you care WHO they are and not just WHAT they are buying or HOW much they are spending.
Do whatever you need to do to remember everyone’s name. Write it down. Say it ten times in your head while looking right at them. Take a mental picture. Do whatever works! Simply by announcing someone’s name as they enter the pharmacy pretty much guarantees you a customer/patient for life. (”Hey James [or Mr. Smith]! What’re you up to today?” — or — “Hey John! How is that new Blood Pressure medicine working?” [with respect to patient privacy, of course]) It also ensures that you will probably get the benefit of the doubt should you ever make a mistake or screw the person over by accident. That personal relationship will help make sure that cool heads prevail, and it also will assure that angry patients see you as a human, with a name, that can make mistakes. But, as a human, you are allowed to be remorseful of those mistakes and apologize….all from knowing something as simple as someone’s name.
So, readers, I ask you this, WHO ARE YOU?
Oct
Have a nice day
Posted by The *Angriest* Pharmacist as Just a question, Rude, Salutations
“Have a nice day.” — “Have a good day.” — “Have a great day.” — “Have a good weekend.”
I refuse to say any variation of the above when I am working the register. It’s not that I’m not polite to people, I just feel that it means nothing. Everyone hears it all day long, with every purchase they make, every person they have an encounter with. With everyone saying this, it just means very little. There’s no power behind it. Also, does it really make you have a better day? Having a high school-aged cashier tell me, “Have a nice day,” does nothing for me. It doesn’t make me feel better, it isn’t an ego booster, and it certainly does not mean that I am going to have a good day.
Additionally, do we care if the person has a nice day? Most of the time our patients are sick, so they are not going to have a nice day. Sometimes, they are rude, so we don’t WANT them to have a nice day. Sometimes they are perfect, and we do want them to have a nice day. So, why don’t we reserve that for the people we enjoy, care about, and want to have a nice day — those great patients that love and respect us, that hug us and call in their refills early, that understand “the doctor did not call back” does not mean “the pharmacist won’t give you your medicine.” They deserve a great day. They get a little more out of me in terms of politeness. Everyone else does not get that from me.
So, is that rude? Am I wrong? I’m sure someone out there has some crazy reason for why I should say, “have a nice day” — or why they do. It’s not going to change my mind, but I will humor you.
What do I say to end a sale and say goodbye?
“Thanks a lot. We’ll see you next time.” — because hopefully, if I’ve done my job right, they’ll want to come back, whether for an Rx, beer, or a greeting card.
Have a nice day,
The Angriest Pharmacist
Users Online
-
The *Angriest* Links
Translator
By N2H
What I'm Doing...
- I go to Wal-Mart to buy piddly stuff way too much! 4 days ago
- Kyjuan where you gettin' dem cuhluz? Are you dying dem? 4 days ago
- Happy National Hangover Day. I am a proud participant. 4 days ago
- Every day I'm hustlin' 4 days ago
- I hate waiting on the cable company! Who gives a 4 hour window in which to show? Honestly... 5 days ago
- I am sick. Who thinks it is karma for dissing those delightful people at airborne. 1 week ago
- There is a fat chick next to me texting in the movies. I hope she can read this. I know she has no friends cuz she is FAT! 1 week ago
- Weiners...every-damn-where 1 week ago
- More updates...
-
Tired of your job? Let a pharmacist recruiter find you a new one and negotiate on your behalf for free. The Pharmacy Alliance approved.
Subscribe to Receive Email Notification of Each New Post!
Subscriber Count
255
Last 15 Searches That Found TAestP
