Do you like your job as a retail pharmacist

[Apothecary]

I was just wondering how many of us are satisfied with our job? I thought I'd try a poll on this. Please answer if you have time. It's just for interest, and may be useful to students thinking of studying to become a pharmacist.

If you like your job what do you like about it?

If not what do you not like about it?

Thanks

[Linnear]

Hi there.

The biggest problem I have is the lack of professional autonomy.

Especially with the new contract it seems that everyone is telling us what to do, how to do it and how little we're going to get paid for it.

Look at Extemp Dispensing. One fatal error on the part of an inexperienced pre-reg under the poor supervison of one pharmacist and we are no longer deemed fit to make extepm products any more.

Imagine if the Shipman enquiry came up with "GPs can only write CD scripts if they are coun ter signed by another Dr". There is no way the BMA or the Drs themselves would put up with it.

I realise that we now live in a culture whereby no-one is allowed to elarn from a mistake, legislation has to be set down about it but I don't like the way we have all jsut accepted it.


:evil:

C Morris MRPharmS

[Pari]

I used to think that no pharmacists have ours problems, we Iranian Pharmacists! but reading carefully the posts in trhis website made me quite realistic! thank Goodness! what a releife!
I was always worried about my permition in the pharmacy, about the money, about stablishing my own shop, etc.
one more worrying topic for me:
All the time I am thinking of "where are we-pharmacists- standing exactly?" May be I can discuss this with someone :wink:

[alex]

Seeing as the vast majority at the moment seem to be fairly unstaisfied, what sector are the people saying this working in? What aspects of the job are making you not like your job?

Is it not challenging enough? Is there a lack of respect from the GPs/the public? Is the job monotonous?

On face value, you are offered steady work, with good job security, and you get the chance to help people who genuinely appreciate your help; together with a wage which allows a comfortable level of living (thats why I chose to do it anyway )

My biggest fear for when i'm (hopefully) qualified in 18months time is that i really don't like being in the same place, staring at the same 4 walls day in day out every day. I found that in my 8 weeks at boots in the summer, hopefully i won't have that problem doing my pre-reg in hospital. ATM though, i'm optimistic and looking forward to learning more relevant things than i'm having to do now.

[admin]

Alex

As you can see the poll as aimed at retail, so we are talking about retail pharmacy.

Is it not challenging enough? Is there a lack of respect from the GPs/the public? Is the job monotonous?

Yes all of the above.

On face value, you are offered steady work, with good job security, and you get the chance to help people who genuinely appreciate your help; together with a wage which allows a comfortable level of living (thats why I chose to do it anyway

Yes the work is steady, security is fairy good compared to other jobs. But the point is we all wanted a career didn't we? We wanted to be professionals and we don't feel like we are ( well I don't). I'm not sure who you mean when you say people really appreciate our help? The odd member of the public thanks you for your help, but most people get really angry if they have to wait just a few minutes.

staring at the same 4 walls day in day out every day

I have wroked in many pharmacies where the dispensary is about 7 foot by 12 foot. There is no tea-room and we take it in turns to sit on a stool while we grab a sandwich at lunchtime. I hate this feeling of "cabin fever" which is why I like to locum, and travel around a bit.

I think it's a trade off. You either go for the money (retail) with all the problems that entails, or try hospital where you earn a lot less. Having said that I know someone who left hospital to go back to retail, and I did the same myself.

Try reading the threat in "moans and groans" on lack of pharmacy staff. That may give you an insight into people's feelings.

[alex]

As you can see the poll as aimed at retail, so we are talking about retail pharmacy.

I was up extremely early this morning to take my girlfriend to the airport - sorry for the doziness :wink:

The kinds of people I was thinking of were the likes of young mums, and where I'd worked, whihc had a lot higher elderly population than the average, we had a lot of family members coming in asking for the pharmacist's advice or guidance on things they could do to help a relative they were looking after.

In that pharmacy though, the pharmacist was permanetly based there and had worked there for about 5-6 years, so all the people who came in were really familiar with her and had built up a trusting relationship with her.

When you became a locum, did you notice any difference in the relationship with your patients? I'd of thought that when you do locum, with the possibility of being in a different place every day, that it makes it a lot harder to build up a relationship with the patients where they have confidence and trust in you enough to use the pharmacist as the government intends.

It does seem like a tough juggling act to me at the minute; if i do opt for community eventually, I'd want to get to know the patients and staff well enough so that i feel i make a worthwhile contribution, on the other hand, as I said, i am prone to cabin fever and would hate being stuck in the same tiny space day in day out.

[admin]

Alex

When you write: -

When you became a locum, did you notice any difference in the relationship with your patients? I'd of thought that when you do locum, with the possibility of being in a different place every day, that it makes it a lot harder to build up a relationship with the patients where they have confidence and trust in you enough to use the pharmacist as the government intends.

You still have the pharmacist/customer relationship, in other words the people that want help will ask, wether they know you or not. As for making long lasting relationships with the public, well been there, seen it, don't want to do it again.

[Linnear]

Pharmacist customer relationships? The more people I meet the more I like my cats! :twisted:

[admin]

Linnear

How true is that

I prefer my old Lucy and Louis to the public any time! At least they can only sctratch you!

[Zoggite]

Alex-
Don't be put off by the likes of Linnear- some of us really do love our jobs.
I've been the manager of "my" seaside pharmacy for 5 years now, and I have a great time, great staff, great customers and great customer relations. I thought I'd get bored of doing the same thing day in, day out, but somehow no two days are ever the same,and the months just fly past. Mine is an intensely gratifying job, I can't begin to tell you how moved I am when I get "thank You" cards from patients, and not just at Xmas!
To this day I still have no idea what made me choose this line of work- I started off wanting a Maths degree!- but I can honestly say that I have never regretted my choice.
A pharmacy degree will open up so many opportunities for you, so just knuckle down, get registered, and then take your pick of careers!