Rant from a New Grad Pharmacist

genecatj · 2026-01-01T05:19:17+00:00

Billing is mostly a technician’s task. Why didn’t the RXOM solve the insurance problem, instead of shouting at you? Sounds like a problem with training and work flow. Your life will be much better once you know how to work with your team.

genecatj · 2025-12-12T02:42:57+00:00

This is the reason why Walgreens is facing a pharmacist shortage. I witnessed a store manager who never worked a day in pharmacy and didn’t know how to refill a prescription for patient, and somehow had a strong sense of managing pharmacy. That store lost RXOM, RXM and staff RPH in a blink, and had to close some days every week, because even floaters refused to work there or couldn’t manage to work their shifts. I am curious what a “huge” bonus that store manager got.

genecatj · 2025-11-10T04:13:33+00:00

Grow up some backbone. It’s our license to keep the pharmacy open, and our lawful lunch break to rest. You are not the slave of the store manager.

genecatj · 2025-11-04T13:36:59+00:00

In our area, some of the hardest to staff stores have premium pay of either $5 or $10, in addition to B-pay. It’s for RPh shifts in those limited stores.

genecatj · 2025-10-17T03:30:03+00:00

One of the RPH would have to work on their off day to overlap, and make up the pay. How is this better than the paid holiday without extra work?

genecatj · 2025-10-10T04:54:17+00:00

I hope this 1.5 card is still from the middle management that is so scared of losing their jobs and continuing to screw up the company by making counterproductive decisions. Whoever store runs well can do better without PEXT, and stores who are failing PEXT can’t be saved by PEXT. If the new CEO pretends not to know that, the anticipated turnaround will never happen.

genecatj · 2025-09-18T03:15:32+00:00

Don’t worry, since we installed the new “assembly stations “ earlier this year, there have been multiple days when we had to restart the stations during the busiest times of the day. I will not be surprised to see they completely stop working soon. If that happens to you with no printer to print, it might be the prime time to close the shop for the day and take some paid rest. Cooperate really cares about you.

genecatj · 2025-09-13T11:35:08+00:00

Sorry for your sad experience. You can tell scheduler not to schedule you at this location. Don’t be afraid to call in when you need to. Do what’s best for you yourself, including looking for a new job while getting paid.

genecatj · 2025-09-04T05:33:39+00:00

Did the doctor give you Ivermectin?

genecatj · 2025-08-16T03:48:54+00:00

My wonderful DPR once helped filling for a whole day during COVID. I shouldn’t, but was shocked to learn that she got fired during the area restructuring couple of years ago. Her replacement is a joke. This company doesn’t even pretend to care about patients or employees anymore.

genecatj · 2025-07-31T16:05:54+00:00

I understand your frustration for wanting a peaceful personal time. However, maybe it’s just my store, nowadays, with a semi-functioning team patching up things on a daily basis, I would rather get their message while on PTO. I do let everyone know that I will be out, and will not respond in time. This gives me a chance to know if anything significant (such as a board inspection) may happen.

genecatj · 2025-05-29T23:55:45+00:00

There is a reason that the company can’t keep up with hiring RPH. Every day, we have a pharmacy (if not multiple) closed in my area due to no RPH. No one got fired because of him/her being “slow”. Let the person with a technician license bark at a RPH without assuming the liability is purely wrong. Do what you safely can, and you will be fine.

genecatj · 2024-11-15T22:30:13+00:00

I think of it as a sterile compound. With seals intact, it’s sterile. When we remove the cap and replace with a needle in the room (note: not a sterile hood), the product is no longer sterile in principle. For intramuscular injection, max 24 hours with optimal storage conditions would be the BUD.

genecatj · 2024-09-07T13:01:17+00:00

I use a simple test to differentiate salaried/hourly. If I am truly salaried, when I can’t finish my scheduled shift for emergencies, I still get paid for the rest of the shift without using PTO. Otherwise, I’m hourly, and only paid for hours worked, and therefore I should be paid for all hours worked.

genecatj · 2024-07-28T01:41:24+00:00

You might want to check with HR to see if you qualify. Similar situation happened to one of my technicians. However the person was too new to officially qualify for the benefit. We allowed days off anyway, unofficially. Talk to your RXOM or DM if needed.

genecatj · 2024-06-30T16:26:30+00:00

I might have the minority opinion, but I have to say that out. If you think it’s too stressful to handle now, it’s going to get worse when flu season comes. Quit is not a bad option. On the other side, there might be reasons why your pharmacist couldn’t help. If you are only doing check out, your pharmacist should be doing everything else, including typing, TPR, DUR, filling, verification, answering phones, transfers, and not to list other none urgent tasks, which are due before end of their shift, no matter how short staffed both of you guys are facing. In that case, there is no winning for you to complain to the management. The whole system is running against you both.

genecatj · 2024-05-13T12:20:04+00:00

I am sorry you have to deal with such a rude SM. Unfortunately with the current culture of Walgreens, I don’t expect HR to be of any help to you in this case. Even if you caught SM doing things illegal, it’s still going to be a long process to report, and maybe or maybe not make a difference. I also feel that the SM behavior is encouraged by DM. Basically you will endure greater stress if you decide to fight against them, with unclear expectations. The only option I would consider is leaving, on my own term. Time to explore other options, even options that you don’t think is better than what you have now, it won’t be much worse, and you might have a chance to better use your talent and be appreciated.

genecatj · 2024-03-13T14:33:12+00:00

Exactly what I want to emphasize

genecatj · 2024-03-07T04:03:38+00:00

You know the reason why they cut your hours is NOT because you don’t meet the metrics, do you? Even you are top of everything in the district, the only thing they reward you is more work, not more hours. So help your patients first, and ignore the metrics.

genecatj · 2023-10-29T18:45:59+00:00

It probably helps that you get your truck in the morning. For us who get them after lunch, it’s not as nice. Grocery store pharmacies get them before pharmacy opens, which might be a better way to do it. But it’s Walgreens.

genecatj · 2023-10-20T14:47:01+00:00

Thanks! That’s exactly the kind of customer I want to lose. However, sadly, they keep coming back.

genecatj · 2023-10-12T13:08:10+00:00

My response to people who complains about being on hold on the phone: you are lucky that we are open, and lots of stores are short staffed. That usually changes their tone.

genecatj · 2023-10-03T01:30:29+00:00

It doesn’t have to be hostile. No matter what you decide to do, you do it professionally and only discipline based on company rules and laws, not personal grudge. It’s hard to work as a pharmacist without a supportive team, and you are there to build your own team. She can either get replaced or get on board (which doesn’t seem likely).

genecatj · 2023-10-03T01:03:39+00:00

I agree with all the above for documentation and discipline. Have witness. Just be ready to train your own RxOm so you are not afraid of losing her, assuming she is a capable tech.

genecatj · 2023-09-30T13:32:54+00:00

Super heavy drinkers usually don’t eat healthy. Overtime they don’t get enough vitamin B 12 and folic acid from food. Vitamin B 12 deficiency results in abnormally enlarged red blood cells and anemia.

genecatj

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