Monday, March 31, 2008

Pharmacy Staffs Can't Read Mind!

I worked the 4-11 shift tonight. Usually, truck day (where all the drugs ordered comes in) is today. But when I got there, the truck was a no show. On any given Sunday, everything would be put away by the time I get there. Today was not the case. So I spent half the time putting drugs away when it actually arrived.

Anyway, it was a slow day until a customer comes in for his refill of (insert ED drug here. Henceforth, the customer will be referred to as ED). Here's how the conversation happened albeit a few changes to not give away any potential reference.

Me: "Hi, may I help you, sir?"

ED: "Yeah, I'll like a refill for one."

[I'm like WTF. I can't read your God-damn mind. Oh wow, I just used the "lord name in vain". I can do it because I don't believe in G-o-d. It's just a normal part of my speech, however incorrect it may be. My excuse is that I'm ESL! Yeah, you would think that I'm going to Hell. But there isn't one! Back to topic, Cmon! Does he think I can read his mind.]

Me: "Okay, what's your last name?"

ED: "xxxxxxx".

Me: "And your first name?"

ED: "xxxxxxx."

Me: "Can you verify your birth date?"

[I ask this even if there's only profile comes u]

[I pulled ED's profile up and notice just the one ED drug, but I'll still ask:]

Me: "And what medication do you need refill, sir?"

[I'll rather be safe to make sure he's the person he's saying he is. At this point, I can see his body language saying "ain't it obvious". However, I can't and don't read mind. I treat every customer the same irregardless of what I see or able to infer from their profiles]

ED: (Insert ED drug)

Me: "And how many would you like?"

[At this point, he's really obvious about "You (meaning me) should know" kind of attitude and body language.]

What the hell, I must've slept through the class on Mind Reading as an undergrad. Some customers come in for 1 tablet, while other come in for 10 tablets or more. How am I suppose to know what he wanted. Yes, I can check his record for the last severals fills, but what if this time he wants 2 or 3. Without specifying, I wouldn't want to guess. There's another regular customer who only get 1 every time but I'll still ask 'how many' every single time.

This is just one example of how customers make it seem that the Pharmacy staffs can read their minds.

To be continued...

Friday, March 28, 2008

Not Giving Up........Just yet

Long story short, I realize that I wanted to be a Pharmacist during senior year as an undergrad albeit going to the 'Oldest pharmacy school in the nation' for a BS. Being the timely-challenged person that I am, I applied late for a few schools. It was particular due to not taking an earlier PCAT. However, I was invited to Temple for an interview early March.

About 3 days ago, I got an email stating that I was accepted as "Alternate Admission". From my understanding, all the spot are filled/sent an acceptance out, waiting for reply deal. So now, I'll wait with hope dwindling day after day as I read on SDN (Student Doctor Network), that students are being accepted and what not. On the other hand, I haven't completely giving up yet. I've heard stories and recently read that a student will be giving up his/her seat. Last semester, a fellow tech who started Temple mentioned that 4 students didn't show up to orientation, thus losing their spot. So THERE IS STILL HOPE!

The only concern is the uncertainty of not knowing where I'll be next year is really stressful. The landlord sent a mail stating that my roommate and I have 30 days to decide if we want to keep the lease or not. Roommate is already looking at other places while I'm here clueless to what my plans are. Everything is dependent on TEMPLE. Damn, the stress.

On the bright side, it's Friday! I get to work with my favorite pharmacist Sunday nights too. It's always fun when it could be.

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

I Got Me a Raise!...Still Not Far From Minimum Wage

So after 8 months of busting my ass, I've finally gotten a raise. But, It's only one dollar up from minimum wage. I know, better than no raise, right? I really appreciate the pharmacist that got me the raise, it wasn't even his job. He realize that I deserve a tidbit more for the FINE work that I'm doing.


I am glad I don't depend on this job to pay the rent anymore. Seriously, Pharmacy techs does and take so much shit, but are paid comparable to Mexican farm workers! I don't mean call out any race here but it's the TRUTH. Day in and day out, we deal with loud and angry customer at drop-off, at the register, on the phone, and for those unlucky techs, at the drive thru.

The retail pigs are hoarding all our hard work for themselves. These porkers need to reward us,the individuals got them into their millions dollar mansion and Italian racing cars, with better paid. CHRIST! I'm even embarrassed with how much I make as a Pharmacy technician. The job requires a hint of professionalism, more common sense than the average person, and the patience of ten Buddhist monks. I am required to wear a nice shirt, a nice pair of pants, and maybe a tie. Hell, I even dress better then some of the male Pharmacist. With ties, I used to wear them for the first couple of months. However, I quickly realized that I'm not getting paid enough to warrant a tie. I kid around on that subject about not wearing a tie because of the paid. However, in the end: nothing is further from the TRUTH.

Lately, I've been working only a night a week; therefore, I don't have anything "angry" to bitch about. I hope this coming Sunday won't fail me with copious amount of customers that will offer me that "what the f---" feeling.

Thursday, March 13, 2008

What Really Grinds my Gears (ala Family Guy)

First off, if you watch Family Guy then you know what I'm talking about. I am alluding to the one episode where Peter lands a job on television with his "What Really Grinds my Gear.." segment.

I worked at CVS last night. I was going to post this but I got home at 1 am. Usually, I work 2 to 3 times a week in the evening. Apparently, they have me down for Sunday nights indefinitely now too . Anyway, you know what really grinds my gear?

In no particular order:


1) When a customer comes up to the Pharmacy counter with a SHOPPING CART full of shit. Worst yet, there are like 3 people waiting in line behind this person. It's not that I don't want to ring them out but come on. They should just pick up their scripts and go to the front to check out. By the time that I'm done with that ONE person there are like 6 people in line.

2)When a customer have to dig into their wallet/purse to get their cash/cards out. Like seriously, They KNOW that they're buying something. And buying something means you got to fucking pay for it. But no, no, they wait until you have to announce how much the total is before they start digging for their money or credit/debit cards. Have some common sense people, get your damn money ready. You're wasting my time, and especially YOUR time.

Last night, I had to wait at the cash register while someone had to run to their car to get like $3 dollar to pay for their meds. I think this happen at least once when I work the cash registers.

3) Mentioned in previous post, when a customer comes to DROP-OFF to pick up and vice versa. I think the Pharmacy area needs to have those bright neon signs so even a blind person won't miss the obvious.

4) I work at a 24-hour CVS and I love it when I get a call like this:

me: "CVS Pharmacy, May I help you?"
idiot: "Hello, what time are you guys open til" or "Are you guys 24-hour?".
me: "Yes, we're 24/7". <>

What's wrong with this pictures you ask? We'll lets see. When you call the CVS phone number, there is an automated message that go along the line of: "Welcome to your !!24HOUR!! CVS Pharmacy located at _______ and ________...". Enough said.

5) When a customer comes up to the counter WHILE talking on their cellphone. Fucking hell. If that's not bad enough, they continue to keep on talking while I stand there like a fucking idiot. I dropped whatever MORE important things that I was doing to run over and help. Yet, they're still yapping away. If you want your medications, GET OFF THE FUCKING PHONE!

6) When a customer, whom I know is receiving state or federal health care plan is bitching about a $1.00 co-pay. This is the shit that pisses me off. They're getting hundreds of dollars worth of medication for practically FREE and bitches about the co-pay.



Add your own to the list. I am sure I missed numerous scenarios here.

Monday, March 10, 2008

Why can't you HAND me your money like how I HAND you your change/prescription!?

I should be at work right now. No, not at the pharmacy but "real" work. Yeah, I got a real job. My definition of a real job is anything that pays you more than stinking $10. Being a retail tech with only about 8 months of experience doesn't pay much. I'm more there for the experience with aspiration for Pharmacy school.

So why am I not at work?

So the last couple of days, it was raining. A lot of rain. It accumulated on my dilapidated piece of shit apartment complex and it started to drip in the bathroom. Long story short, a section of the ceiling is now on the floor so I'm here waiting for the maintenance guy to be finished cleaning and fixing it.

BACK TO THE RANTING.

I would say it's only about 10% of all customers that I help who actually HANDS me their money. I appreciate it and tries exceptionally hard to help them if they have any problems.

On the other hand, I can't speak for the other 90% of fucking douchebags who seem to think a Pharmacy tech is riddled with the plague or something. They need to remember they're the one here picking up prescription(s) for who's know what disease. They're the one coughing in my face. I'M THE ONE AT RISK HERE! When it's time for them to pay, they'll throw the money down on the counter. I don't think I have ever, ever done that to anyone helping me check out at the register. I ALWAYS hand the cashier the money. It is a small sign of respect! But fucking douchebags just throw it on the counter. When I mean THROW, I literally mean it. They don't place it down nor even slide it to you, they just take it out of their cheap wallet or money clip and throw it at you. I feel like a cheap slut. I can't stand that and I can't say anything, but I'll bite my tongue and get them out of here ASAP. I don't even says "thanks, have a good day/night" to those types anymore. They just pisses me off too much.

What if I just throw their change or prescription on the counter. How would they feel. In a perfect world, that could happen. But admit it, we're not living in a perfect world. However, it'll be better when we're a Pharmacist. We won't have to deal with most of the customers. Consequently, at that juncture there will be other douchebags for us to worry about also.

Sunday, March 9, 2008

For the love of god, speak up when I ask "What's your last name?"!

As a pharmacy technician, one of the possible jobs I have to deal with is the cash register and pick-up. There, I would greet customers with a "Hello (sir,mamm,or miss), may I help you". The customer typically then says they're here to pick up prescription(s). I'll ask them "What's the last name?". But then they utter something so indistinguishable, so quiet, dull, and in monotone way that I have to ask them to repeat. At time, It makes me looks like a jackass or someone who doesn't understand English. (I'm non-Caucasian) I'll ask them what's their last name again, and AGAIN they'll answer you the same way. And when you ask them for the third time, they get pissy at you. What the fuck! Learn to pronounce and enunciate your god damn name. They're holding my line up because they refuse to tell me their last name. Sometime you can get a wind of it can decipher 2 or 3 letters. But damn, they need to SPEAK THE FUCK UP.

And then, there the type of people who are so stupid that they can't see which register are open and ready to help them. Now, let me ask you this. Would you approach a register with no one standing by it or someone who's standing eagerly at the other awaiting customers? They'll be so dumb to walk up to the other empty register. And let me add the kicker: I'll have to ask them not once, but at least twice, to come over before they slide 2 feet over to be helped. My god.

Lastly, how retarded can people be. We have signs that says "DROP OFF" and "PICK UP" for a reason!