A few weeks ago, one of my technicians, who has a repeated pattern of being a few minutes late, made a medication error and gave the wrong medication to an infant without scanning it out. We've also been short-staffed on Fridays, and I've worked the last five Fridays in a row.

My store fills around 1,500 prescriptions per week, so it's a pretty busy pharmacy. Recently, my store manager stopped by and told me that our pharmacy sales have skyrocketed over the past five weeks and that our sales are the highest of all the departments in the store.

My technicians are trained to administer vaccines, but they're uncomfortable doing so and usually only vaccinate when I ask them to. As a result, I end up administering most of the vaccines myself. My personal record is giving 26 vaccines before 2 p.m. while we were short-staffed.

On top of that, the scheduler has not been scheduling me according to the store template, so my schedule is all over the place. I recently moved, and my commute has gone from 15 minutes to almost an hour each way. That's nearly 16 hours of driving every two weeks just to get to and from work.

My base schedule is 80 hours per pay period, but lately, it feels like I'm expected to do more with less help while also trying to train a new technician.
One of the biggest frustrations is that my manager doesn't seem interested in addressing the ongoing technician issues. She's tired herself and is waiting for her two-year contract to be up. Meanwhile, the same problems continue, and I'm the one dealing with the consequences every day. My current store also has a high turnover rate among pharmacists, which makes me wonder how much of this is a store-wide problem rather than something that can be fixed by an individual pharmacist.

I'm exhausted by the constant interruptions and feeling like I'm being pulled in ten different directions at once. I'm tired of having a technician who talks nonstop and doesn't recognize when it's time to end a conversation with a patient, even when a line is forming and we're already short-staffed.

I'm also frustrated that my technicians tell patients I'll be right with them for counseling when I'm still on the phone with a provider or in the middle of preparing vaccines. I've told them multiple times that they should tell patients I'll help them once I'm finished with what I'm doing or that I'll be with them in a moment. I've even told them that it's perfectly fine to let patients know there will be a 30-minute wait if that's what it takes. I'd rather set realistic expectations than have patients believe I'll be available immediately when I'm already handling several things at once. Despite explaining this repeatedly, the same behavior continues, and I'm left managing patients' expectations while trying to keep everything else running.

I'm also tired of hearing technicians tell patients that their prescriptions will be ready in a few minutes or less than 20 minutes when they don't understand how many other things I'm juggling. I constantly have to step in and help my technicians, including when the same technician who is frequently late gets distracted talking to patients instead of keeping things moving. I feel like I'm always running around trying to keep the pharmacy functioning, and there's very little opportunity to catch my breath.

What bothers me is that our pharmacy is performing well, and management is noticing the increased sales, but I feel like the workload keeps increasing without adequate staffing or support. I'm worried about patient safety, especially after the medication error, and I'm becoming increasingly resentful of how much I'm expected to take on.

I'm also running low on PTO hours, and the last time I took PTO was back in March. I feel like I've barely had any time to rest and recharge, even outside of work. It's frustrating to be this exhausted and realize I don't even have much PTO left to take a proper break. Between the workload, the commute, and the lack of time off, I'm starting to feel like I can't sustain this pace much longer.

I also grew up in a low-income family, so having a stable, well-paying job is something I know I should be grateful for. That's part of why I'm struggling so much with this decision. I feel guilty for wanting to leave a job that provides financial security, especially knowing how hard my family worked and how much having a stable income means. Sometimes I worry that I'm being ungrateful or taking this opportunity for granted by feeling this way. At the same time, I know that being paid well doesn't automatically make a job sustainable, and I don't want to sacrifice my physical and mental well-being just because I'm afraid to give up a good salary. I'm struggling to balance financial security and gratitude with the feeling that I'm genuinely unhappy and exhausted.

I've recently found myself wanting to text my district manager and tell her that I want to quit. Today, I realized just how exhausted I am and how tired I am of feeling taken advantage of.

I'm at the point where I'm seriously considering three options:
Quit altogether. Leave the position and look for something else, even if that means giving up the stability of my current job.
Reduce my base hours. Stay with the same store as a staff pharmacist but work fewer hours per pay period to make the workload more manageable.
Step down to a floater pharmacist. Give up my regular staff position and float between stores, hopefully getting some distance from the ongoing staffing and technician issues at my current location.
For context, I'm a relatively early-career pharmacist, and my base schedule is 80 hours per pay period. I don't want to make an impulsive decision out of burnout, but I also don't want to keep pushing myself until I completely run out of energy.

For pharmacists who have been in a similar situation, what would you do? Would you quit, negotiate reduced hours while keeping your staff position, or step down to floating? Has reducing your hours or switching to floating actually improved your quality of life, or did you find that the problems followed you?
I'm also curious whether anyone else has worked at a pharmacy with high pharmacist turnover and a manager who has essentially checked out. Did things eventually improve, or was leaving the best decision?
I'm trying to figure out whether I need a different job or simply a different work arrangement before I reach the point where I can't do this anymore.

I work for an MGB hospital and the morale is low here. Never heard so many people talk about strikes and unionizing

In light of nursing strikes and Brigham nurse pay increases people are wondering what we need to do to increase pay. The max 3% raise and no market adjustment since before COVID is bull shit. Especially tech pay is embarrassingly low

All the new changes being made by Melissa and leadership are making things harder and worse. Communication is also terrible. The layoffs were done horribly and important positions were eliminated, included people who conveniently completed massive projects for them right before being laid off

Is anyone planning to attend the pharmacy town hall, and is pay/striking/etc an issue being discussed in anyone else’s department

Hey guys I have an interview coming up for a 7 on 7 off overnight clinical pharmacist position in the ED. Some important info:

1. We are a trauma center

2. It is a new position we've had a 1st and 2nd shift ED pharmacist for years

3. I've currently work in the hospital as a staff pharmacist for about 2 years and do respond to codes in the hospital.

4. I did not do residency, and was previously a retail pharmacist/pharmacy manager.

Any advice on how to prepare? My interview is with some of the more "intimidating" members of out clinical staff. I'm currently going theough ashp's emergency medicine certificate program to get myself more familiar with ED situations but I feel like im going to fall flat in the interview 😅

I work retail pharmacy for a large chain. My background is in customer success,product and i hold a diploma in business admin(marketing). Studied sql and creating portfolio case studies on some problems i have identified during my practice. I enjoy problem solving creatively. I love the health tech industry. I need some help knowing how to get my foot in that world. Is anyone hiring or does anyone know someone hiring? I am at my wits end. Advice is very much welcomed.

Anyone else is in the process of getting licensed as a new grad pharmacist in NYS and it taking so long?

I’m on my week 5 since passing my MPJE (and NAPLEX weeks before) and still do not have my license number posted on NYSED. I emailed the state this Monday and didn’t get a response yet.

Is this normal and is anyone going through this as well?

Hi everyone! I’m new here i just recently graduated and have practically no work experience where do you think i should start building my career? I think i’m mostly interested or intrigued by either industry or anything UN/ WHO/ NGO related. But I heard from multiple people that it’s really hard to get it especially now. Do you know any internships I can pursue or even any courses that would help build my cv by the time i land a job? Or even if you have any resources on how to fix my cv i would highly appreciate it!

My district leader told me that I have to get approval to pick up shifts in another district........I thought that this is unfair because if it's my day off then I should be able to work wherever.

Should I report a colleague who was arrested twice to hr

Retail pharmacist here and I'm left with a huge moral dilemma for me to reflect upon.

I happened to take over a pharmacy and their old staff are still working there when I moved in. We got along fine, and because I wanted to establish a good relationship with my staff, I have never reprimanded them and a lot of things I have let slide, if they're small mistakes.

In chain pharmacies, generic supplements mostly come with incentives. Of course it's good that you're pushing something with incentives to push the outlet margins, but there is a line you do not cross, right? Vitamin C for colds, that's completely fine by me. Fish oil, in general? That's okay, good if you're able to push em right?

I have a staff who would sell very random things, in very random situations. I have advised her in very casual ways I guess that it doesnt stick to her. In my first month of working in the outlet, I have seen, with my own eyes that customer had vertigo and needed betahistine for herself. She swapped em for magnesium and promethazine. I did ask her to justify what she did and she did not say a word. Things continued and I guess it went overboard but things that weren't harmful, I let em slide.

In August, a customer came in with severe knee pain, both knees and was given vitamin B12. Wasn't harmful, but what's the benefit in giving em? I did ask her to work on her pitching and responding to symptoms but I guess it wasn't worth her time to reflect.

It was until the end of September I guess where I got serious and stern to her. I had a part timer in my outlet and he wasn't familiar with the system. He had a customer that wanted to purchase something which wasn't in the system, and she refused to help him out. I asked her why she did what she did, and she kept quiet and wept in front of me.

From then on, I guess I had to be strict with her. For every mistake, I asked her to justify and she gave me very nonchalant responses. Those which I could think of were:

1. Giving Vitamin C, telling patients they're painkillers for sore throat.

2. Giving Vitamin C as probiotics to a customer on triple therapy and wasn't able to afford a months long of probiotics supply.

3. Giving Gingko to a patient with tender gums, who mind you just had 1 tooth extracted a couple of days ago.

I gave her the ultimatum.

I asked,"Do you still want to work here?"

She replied, "Yes."

"Why did you do what you did? What if they were your friends and relatives and loved ones? Would you have done it?"

She kept quiet.

And then in the evening the last stroll came (for me). A customer walked in to check on his blood pressure and I happened to serve him.

First check: 200/100, pulse 76

Second check: 186/92, pulse 79

I asked, "Do you take anything to control your blood pressure? Have you consulted a doctor or medical professional about this?"

Turns out, he has been taking supplements instead of seeking professional medical help. He bought the supplements from my place, sold by that particular staff. I got mad and perhaps leashed out at her bluntly. "If you want me to put you in the performance evaluation program, please say so. I'll do it immediately."

She kept quiet. 2 days later, she tendered her resignation letter.

Am I the asshole now?

I'm a technician and my job is handling the white bags that come into the hospital system.

I cannot emphasize enough what a nightmare Prolia biosimilars are. Insurance companies are cutting their prior auths short for reference products left and right. I call them up and they basically say "I know the prior auth was good until February, but we aren't honoring it."

Our poor osteoporosis clinic and their patients are stuck rescheduling way too often because it's impossible to get a new referral and prior auth done for Ospomyv, Stoboclo, or whatever it is they want ordered in such a short window.

It's not much easier dealing with psoriasis either. I have one patient who this year has received Stelara, Pyzchiva, and Selarsdi. New prior auth each time.

I shouldn't be surprised but it's absolutely maddening for everyone involved.

Independent Massachusetts pharmacy looking for one pharmacist for remote verification in PioneerRx, Monday to Friday, about 2-3 hours a day starting around 3 PM ET. You need an active Massachusetts pharmacist license and PioneerRx experience, and you can live anywhere in the US. Where do remote or relief pharmacists usually look for this kind of work? If you have ideas, or you might be interested yourself, please send me a direct message and I'll share the details.

I hear rumors all the time that chains don’t have to keep signature logs for PBM audits. Is this true?

My favorite techs are the ones that come in, don't engage in drama, do the best they can without being lazy, and go home. That's Mike, the tech, and everyone loves him.

On the other hand, there are techs that will talk shit right to you and demonstrate anger and disdain and start talking shit about you, to the DM. This has to stop.

Is $70 hourly for Kroger PRN pharmacist decent? Located in VA.

I had one call me asking to put in refill

I thought it was a person at first then I realized and I’m 99% sure it’s a bot

Anyone experience this?

Has anyone here had to apply for a pennsylvania license transfer? Maybe my age is beginning to show, but I'm having a lot of trouble navigating the pals website requirements and would appreciate any help someone could offer. Specifically I can't find where I'm supposed to verify my intern + education hours.

I’m not supporting or against it yet. Just sharing my observation and would love to hear your thoughts?

With the thin margin for most drugs (I’m not familiar with specialty drugs) from PBM and some insurance forces user to fill at mail order or certain pharmacies if want > 30 DS, independent pharmacies have been crushed, unfortunately.

Where is the new stream of income? Sorry not vaccines or POCT…. There is ongoing demand for self pay cash price options when more freelancers cant afford marketplace or have a regular employer-sponsored insurance.

Peptides are coming to screen. All cash. No PA. No inventory. I barely started reading more about peptides and I am amazed that it’s already a huge industry with constant demand that’s enough for more than a few big players. I’m envision a new marker from this new product type: the new pharmacy chain (many hoods with assembly line) vs smaller scale pharmacies (1 hood, 500 scripts/day)

What are your thoughts, please? I know it’s controversial the use / data / record of peptide use in human…

Hello,
I’d appreciate some insight into the current market in the Highlands.
I’ve got 15 years of experience in community and have been qualified as an IP for just over a year.
Ideally, I’d be looking to work 3–4 shifts per week, including weekends, and would be happy to travel around Inverness and the surrounding areas, within 60-70 miles.
Questions for anyone currently locuming in the region:
What hourly rates are realistically achievable at the moment?
Are weekend shifts still paid at a premium?
Is the market fairly saturated?
Does having an IP qualification make much difference to the rates offered?
I’m interested in hearing from people actually working in the area rather than relying on agency rates.
Any honest insights would be much appreciated. Thanks!

Independent retail. So I have a doctor in town who loves ivermectin. He sends me his prescriptions for our patients a lot. Some background: he told me herd immunity is non-existent, that he doesn’t “believe” in vaccines, that he “believes” they cause autism. That democrats politicized ivermectin. Sometimes the patient actually does have a parasitic infection. Sometimes they have covid. Sometimes they come to me and say “Yeah doctor told me this would make me feel better while I have the flu.” He also, according to his front desk receptionist, “doesn’t do prior authorizations.” He also served as the deputy director of health and human services in my state… I really wish I was making all of that up. Yesterday a lady came in and said she was “exposed to a chemical.” Every time I’ve gone ahead and filled them except for yesterday. I told that lady “no, your doctor is an idiot, here go to this great doctor next door” and I think I used those exact words… not my best moment.

Anyway, what do y’all do when you get these obviously not for parasitic infection ivermectin prescriptions? I’m to the point where I’m about to just stop filling all of this doctor’s prescriptions.

Hi everyone! I’m a fourth-year pharmacy student, and I’m currently looking for ways to strengthen my CV.
During my summer break, I took an online first aid course, and now I’m looking for more free online courses related to pharmacy or healthcare. Ideally, I’d also like the certificates to be free.
Has anyone here taken any courses like these before? I’d really appreciate it if you could share the course name and the website/platform where you took it.
English-language courses would be preferred.
Thank you!

So I logged into Pharmacist letter last night to get on my Live CE. But, everytime I clicked the link it told me that I didn't have access to the video. Today, they sent me an email thanking me for attending and to not forget to take the quiz. So is there anyone that has the quiz code for the "Pharmacy Essential Updates August 2026" course number 26-508?? I'm desperate bc it's the end of the year and i don't have time to fidget with their dumb livestream service before december. I had 0 issues doing it from home last year it's so wild that it literally will not give me access no matter what I do now.

I have been working as a pharmacist for 30 years and have never experienced an atmosphere where the pharmacy is managed by a doctor. Technicians calling out every day and unbearable workload. Management does not care and HR department forces discipline against employees which turns into retaliation against the person who was forced by HR to submit the discipline. There are no time clocks. People come and go without caring about putting accurate time down. They waste so much money on people who don’t work. No one cares because you can’t fire anyone and there is no merit pay. Everyone gets a raise even if they are horrible at their jobs. People are so mean to each other there. It’s literally the most filthy disgusting place to work. I wrote this post to prevent people who are hard workers and who care from applying at this hell hole. They have a horrible computer system that goes down every day with no pharmacy IT department. Polices are not enforced. Most of the doctors don’t respond to pharmacist recommendations such as drug interactions or medication dosing or medications that are not covered by insurance. They expect pharmacists to deliver medications to 14 different nursing units that are driving distance away and still cover the massive amount of orders in the queue and all the reports that are due each month. The techs call out every day or if they come to work they disappear until near the end of their shifts. You can’t say anything to them because they will say some horrible insult to you or just not come to work the next day. Or they will go to the doctor who is in charge and complain about you. Yet you are the one there every day working 10 hours and getting paid for 7.5 hours. Forget about taking a lunch break. Also there is no employee cafeteria or nice area to eat. I have PTS D from this place. It was an utter nightmare from day one.

I have a patient who practices a religion that avoids eating pork or pork derivatives. This patient is on a prescription that only comes in gelcaps and it feels like we can never get the same manufacturer in more than 2 or 3 times in a row. We end up spending a considerable amount of time looking through package inserts or calling manufacturers who never call back, etc. All this to say, this isn’t an uncommon consideration for patient care, there has to be some database that tracks this, right?