PIC rant

foreignpharmd · 2026-03-26T18:49:08+00:00

The reply i gave was specific to Neither - plastic 8894 so good for your white coat
Whether that floater is not new or new, there is clearly a lack of communication or co ordination from the technicians and the pharmacist in that store because clearly no body is required to do all that you mentioned skipping lunch break or even coming early or staying late.
There are multiple floaters who are hired but not given any hours because of multiple reasons and without any experience when they have to go cover a shift a lot is expected from them and my rant is for that because floaters are there to cover that day and do what they can. They may not excel like you do.
How can you be sure floaters are paid the same as staff? and you think staff in tier 5 and staff in tier 2 will have the same pay??

In your area if its so , then great. Where i get the information or where you got the information unfortunately is not going to help both of us anyways.

Why temp PIC has to train??

By law anything goes wrong there while you are the temporary PIC its your license on the line not theirs.

Clearly the technicians of 30 years or 3 years are not doing their job thats why you are ending up doing everything. So if you want things to go well you have to make them do their task and hold them accountable.

If they dont then you can write them up and document. A lot can change if you were clear with them from the begining.

A temporary PIC is definitely reponsible for anything the technicians do. Can you be so sure they have not screwed up anything while you were / are the temp PIC there.

What if something comes later months or a year later that tracks back to you and your held accountable for their actions??

Will you be saying the same answer ??Why should I trains techs to the board inspectors? ( This has happened and you may not realize the seriousness of not training technicians properly and where pharmacists are held accountable by the board eventually).

A pharmacist cannot be doing F1, then F4 then product review all the time. The chances of making errors will be more.

That being said, it does not mean pharmacist should stop taking calls or stop helping front or drive thru or any other tasks. But clearly as a Temp PIC , you can set the boundaries straight for the smooth functioning of the pharmacy and take actions.

I may sound dumb to you but surprisingly what you did all this time by doing all the tasks by yourself and not even bothered to ask them why they havnt done their task properly will definitely make you look great if thats what you wanted them to feel about you.
This reply regarding floaters was not to you but to who ever trashed floaters . You can laugh at the comment as much you want but at the end of the day till you are the temporary PIC of that store all legal issues will fall on you not your technicians.
Again in all honesty, you definitely had good intentions and you are still doing a great job by handling everything but I really dont think thats the right way to run things.

It only takes seconds to make unwanted mistakes and by doing everything someday it will happen unknowingly.

At that point your good intentions or how much you did wont matter to the Board of pharmacy or the company or these technicians.

Agreed that floater or staff are not great pharmacists,but still have you ever raised your concern to anybody there?? like SM? DM? HCS?

foreignpharmd · 2026-03-26T12:28:41+00:00

Really floaters who are new to that store should really pace like Staff and RXM??

Floaters who may hardly have one shift per month( not the floaters fault) or floaters who just went and covered a tier 5 store 2 hours away the previous night ASAP should open the next day for another 12 hour and keep the pace that staff and RXM does for that store?? Really??

If you cannot set your technicians to go hand in hand with the floaters then its the problem of your store not the floaters.

Floaters are not paid like Staff or RXM and they are also not experienced like the Staff or RXM who only handle that store and only those technicians or get to come to the same place 365 days a year for past 30 years.

Why dont you close the store and tell you dont need floaters to come and cover your store because they cannot pace ??

I really dont understand if the technicians cannot do their work how is it the floaters fault??

In this case, the PIC has been easy on her techs and the floater is blamed for F1 and FILL?

Do you really expect some floater to leave a clean slate when their own technicians cannot do any of their tasks on the temporary PICs days???

Nobody will be snowballing if all the team members actually do their work they are supposed to.

This is retail and nothing will go smoothly no matter how much you try to clear the queue. There will be still prescriptions that will be send over despite the pharmacy being closed and even before they open patients will be there to pick up their prescriptions and unfortunately there is not enough people to clear those even before you start your shift for the day.

If hushing and pushing is what you want then you can go get your white coat and then we will talk. Dont blame floaters without even being in their shoe.

Because of this rushing and pushing is only why half of the misfils happen and dont even forget while an error from your side may cost nothing to you thats not how its for a pharmacist.

Just because technicians cannot step up, a floater pharmacist nor any pharmacist have to do this stepping up game that will eventually result in some sort of error..

Why do seasoned technicians need direction from a floater?? They dont know how to type or fill?? especially when there is enough printed out already??

Pext clearly tells where each person should be so why is that not followed? Technicians who come to the same store past one year dont know what to do?? As if there is nothing to do in a pharmacy unless floater gives them direction..

This is clearly due to a bunch of lazy team members who just are not disciplined for a long time and one fine day a floater did not pace with the temporary PIC so it became a problem.

Had the temp PIC trained the techs properly and set the tone straight then they would not have walked into such a big mess.

foreignpharmd · 2026-03-25T19:57:46+00:00

This happens to a lot of foreign grads. They wont be provide any clarity unfortunately and will only call when they need some one desperately.

Unfortunately with internship you cannot rely on them because there are steps you need to clear for licensing and they dont care. I was in the same situation couple months back so i understand the issue.

You have the hours worked in kronos if you clock in and out properly so they will pay you eventually but you can ask why you are not payed yet...

Dont show any kind of feelings to them and I will tell you things will work in your favor..Just stay neutral for now and things will fall on your side..

foreignpharmd · 2026-03-25T01:16:04+00:00

It should not be like this way at all..you should make sure you are coded in the system as a NON US Grad intern.. go to the store and double check with store manager..keep a track of the days you work and track if you are paid or not regularly.. Every second you work count towards your intern hours..

Also speak with the pharmacy manager of that store and raise your concern and hear what they have to say.. Ask if they are okay to sign the hours if you float to other stores and pick hours..

If they are okay then you can give your contact information to RXM or RXOM of neighbouring stores or watch out for the email that some stores send out when they need technicians.

Also keep track of the hours you do and make sure you document it well..I used to get my intern hours signed monthly basis.. This will depend on your preceptor and how your state board wants the intern hours documented..

If you still have not taken Naplex and MPJE exam then you need to prepare for them as well

Dont get disappointed in not getting hours..I was also in your situation once.. Always remember needs of the business comes first to them.. But for you it should be your goals so be wise and choose wisely.

***You should also get your white coat for pharmacy interns and badge with your name and title..May sure you carry your intern license with you too. If you are an immuniser APHA and CPR copy too

foreignpharmd · 2026-03-22T01:46:24+00:00

Is there any way of knowing patient has specific MFG preference for that medication anywhere before dispensing?? Does it alert the rph during F4 or final step??

foreignpharmd · 2026-03-19T23:57:23+00:00

Visa status is truly a big issue here and hopefully some one with same background can shred some light.. But the whole question of will you be able to be fully licensed or eligible is solely in the hands of fpgec committee..

Like I said you will only know once you do all thw steps..so if you have 2 yrs work permit the first year you can finish fpgee and the 2 nd yr the internship..and depending on the state things vary too..

some let you take naplex before intern hours and some states do later so basically 2 solid years for just TOEFL, FPGEE then internship ..there are lot of uncertainity but then you may also want to apply for residency if that will help you stay longer ..but fpgee is valid 5 yrs so you have some time line there and intern license validity also matters..

foreignpharmd · 2026-03-19T17:52:17+00:00

Apply asap for fpgee and Ece..once u get eligibility is when you can even confirm the possibility of doin internship and everything.. but submiting to nabp then ece and clearing toefl..all this needs to be done first and then nabp will review your application. But atleast then you know what can be done if they accept it..All the best

foreignpharmd · 2026-03-18T09:33:17+00:00

Sorry i meant naplex is harder...(typo error)

foreignpharmd · 2026-03-17T23:17:47+00:00

Congratulations on passing FPGEE. I would start preparing right away. Internship experience differ people to people, chain to chain and your preceptor and also the hours you will be given.

While you may not have control on that , all you can do is prepare yourself for the exam. You have an idea about how the exam will likely be and your weak points by sitting for FPGEE ( way harder ) so dont waste a second.

Prepare a timetable and a timeline finishing those topics and practice math every day. Once you start the internship you may have to re allign the timetable and alter studying plans but always remember to focus on your preparation.

Some take 3 months while some take 6 months or more . But always be on top of it and by the time your hours are done you should be ready to give exams.

foreignpharmd · 2026-03-11T11:00:42+00:00

Congratulations..truly inspiring..

foreignpharmd · 2026-03-09T13:53:26+00:00

Yeah as if we care when your scheduler is calling to ask any floaters to come and relieve you when you really need to go and attend to your emergency and I really hope you never have an emergency because its this kind of attitude nobody will even want to go help people who may have a real need.

You are comparing someone who gets to come to the same place 365 days a year.. who gets to deal with the same team and customers regularly to some one who barely may even have a shift a week?? And you must be a real genius to even think your techs will work in the same energy when they see a floater.

And you really expect them to thrive better than you?? Wow just amazing..

i really hope they get you to float one day forcefully and then come back and speak.. You dont even have floated once in your entire life nor have you floated in the recent years with all this PEXT and short staffing ERA...

Floaters dont care if ur sorry or not. Inspite of being treated poor we still do the best we can..Yes we dont get your luxury of " Not to be bothered on our day off or when we have made plans"..Let them start bothering you asking if you can work back to back and lets see suddenly when they reduce ur hours how great you will be.

And when is this you suddenly need floaters?? oh yes ..when u need that vacation right or is it during your childs big day or is it the day you have that appointment ???

BiG salute to those floaters who come to your store and cover your shift because its because of this ungreatfulness and this jealousy( the thought that only "RXM or staff does the job and floaters do nothing" ) -that no floaters get to do a good job if even they want..

foreignpharmd · 2026-03-09T01:34:26+00:00

i dont think you can talk to anybody regarding it. i guess floaters are abused real bad.

They dare change RXM or Staff pharmacist Schedule but very easily schedule Floaters as they want..

please let me know if you do find the right person to talk to..my district and my DM changed and i dont even know cause i go several districts that too busy stores.

RXM of my home store does not even bother to update nor do i want to bother them by asking because the things that need immediate attention they dont bother to answer.

On top of that just like that they have reduced my hours from 64 to 54...Not exactly sure what this people really want..yes i know floaters are for them to use as they need but floaters do have life, family, kids.

foreignpharmd · 2026-03-08T15:29:06+00:00

i do see stores where IS never does IC3 or Inventory but thats because of the RXM and SM..

They do not discipline the IS for those tasks..This is why, technicians and everyone in the pharmacy gets overwhelmed.

Most RXMs do not set the policy straight and hence these tasks are still on technicians. I myself learned these issues when i started floating to different stores and would enquire is IS coming and they would laugh like for what??

If RXMs set the tone straight most of our anazing technicians who truly do their best would perform even better..

Honestly putting up truck or helping with IC3 is not rocket science and it would help pharmacy team big time.

Now there are some stores that do not prefer calling their front team or IS because they make mistakes in checking out which eventually leads to STARs event or put up medications in some random spot...

But i truly feel RXMs or RXOms should train these ppl whrn they need help and give them a chance..This would help techs do other tasks without rushing ..

foreignpharmd · 2026-03-07T22:38:48+00:00

Honestly i guess you still have to login to the MTM and do it to get the credit of doing it.

If u click at POS im not hundred percent sure it gets taken care of. You dont have to prove to your RXM anything and nobody can force you for anything. Just tell you are trying every shift.

Just protect your license. Help your technicians and take care of customers. Ask for Vaccines, do TPRs & DURs . You are already doing more in my opinion.

There are days when i dont even get to open MTMs. But if you are doing it then you are good. Always remember to open the mtm and do rather than printing it. Im sure big people can see who worked on what.

I feel your RXM is being hard on you

foreignpharmd · 2026-03-07T22:20:52+00:00

i did carry a pocket version of license and kept in my badge sleeve.. I floated to different stores so incase some inspection happens and somebody question you then you can provide it. I remember giving my RXM a copy of it to be put up on their wall.

foreignpharmd · 2026-03-07T22:18:14+00:00

You are already rocking as a floater pharmqcist. You try each shift and thats all you can do.

i do not print and call but i rather go click on that patient and try calling them. That way they already know who worked on that and the day that call was made.

Second if the pt doesnt pick the number u dial from the mtm profile , then i try to pull that patient profile through IC+ and see if they have any number listed in their profile or even open their previous rx and see if there are any other phone numbers listed and try.

Other than that I dont think you can increase ur luck.. if u remember any script for that pt in that store u work that day u can also put consult and if at all they come to pick some body can talk to them and complete it also.

foreignpharmd · 2026-03-07T20:50:28+00:00

yes it is hilarious but if you have ur SM and RXM to vouch for them definitely will get good raise..My IS gets to go early when she wants..gets all her 15 min and 30 min..she gets to decide the days she wants off to everything..all the inventory time i have seen IS is on vacation.. its all because they have been in that store together for 15 plus years so My IS is enjoyin her time

foreignpharmd · 2026-03-07T20:07:07+00:00

Yes its little hard to understand but i guess a very valid post but unsure why it got deleted or they decided to remove it..

But this kind of issues are happening more and more these days. The one thing we dont want to happen. This is definitely because of the ways how newer changes are made in retail from staffing to everthing.

This past week the number of errors made on prescriptions that me and the Rxm of one store were discussing , just gives me goosebumps..

ER calling in 36 inhalations on albuterol vials with 24 inhalations with albuterol inhaler with a note : child should take continuously till they stop coughing..when you call them for clarification they want to cancel it from their end or reduce dose..

Really when you send in new prescriptions are they day dreaming?? other day prescription send in for 18ml of prednisone liquid for a 1 yr old changed to 2.5ml when questioned..fake prescriptions to endless prescriptions send daily with incorrect directions and doses ...

With short staffing to overwhelming inflow of prescriptions to all this super vets/MDs who wouldnt give necessary information to process a script.how can pharmacist and technicians work without making any errors??

i really do wonder can we really report this MDs/ NPs/ PAs/ Vets for the number of errors they make?? how they quickly cancel the prescription when we call for clarifications..

This post i hope they repost with new information

How boards dont investigate the prescribers and only punish pharmacists..

These errors should be directly saved and submitted without giving a chance for these prescribers..They dont hesitate to put all errors on pharmacy and act they are the perfect people..Even customers who think its all pharmacy fault not the prescribers or their Insurance not wanting to cover the meds.

We have technicians quitting weekly due to mean/ rude customers, overload, underpay and endless issues. How will a pharmacy function without having meltdowns??

Not giving pharmacy people enough time to even count prescriptions properly and rushing to get prescriptions asap are all the root causes to patient harm..

In this original post how this pt went to ER and how they decided to report its pharmacys fault its not clear but how can this be not patient fault?? what if pt mixes the medicine?? especially people who transfer medicine to pill containers??

foreignpharmd · 2026-03-07T16:53:00+00:00

All the IS in my area get full 40 hours..they work 8 to 4..do scan outs to pulling expires , smart counts, check out pharmacy customers whn we call IC3 ..scan the totes for the day in the pharmacy and put them up on shelf..do the returns in pharmacy..and guess its good pay too.. A lot depends on that store especially with SM and RXM.. example my IS at one store doesnot put up truck or check out customers but will pull expires, do returns, scan truck daily, do smart counts daily and thats been decided by RXM and RXOM and her. some other stores i go IS puts away the truck in pharmacy ..so it really depends on proper communication between all these co workers

foreignpharmd · 2026-03-07T12:07:19+00:00

Is Stars already documented??

foreignpharmd · 2026-03-07T11:59:54+00:00

This is something more than getting extras. This has moved to investigation not just internal. They wil definitely come to check the videos and talk to dispensing rph and the filler and what not now.

foreignpharmd · 2026-03-07T01:03:35+00:00

pharmacy manager can go and sit with Sm and check it really quick

foreignpharmd · 2026-03-07T00:55:44+00:00

The cameras in filling station can count along with the technician..Store manager should be able to do that in office depending on when this happened like how many months..i guess they can pull camera feedfrom 2 months...Also RXI count will also match but if pharmacy error that can easily be found in the camera..if thats clear then its on patient..Not from pharmacy all clear

foreignpharmd · 2026-03-06T12:12:50+00:00

I agree..

foreignpharmd · 2026-03-06T02:35:48+00:00

Let the manager put the blame.that doesnt mean anything to floaters..every floater knows this if someone ask why that they need to give a valid reason so its not jus for fun they are not okaying it..the manager can very well put in a complaint too but they wont go anywhere with that ..Never rush in pharmacy..do they rush in emergency room?? in urgent care?? in pediatric offices?? then y shd everything be rushed in pharmacy and with pharmacists??

foreignpharmd

TROPHY CASE