I'm currently working in a library but my contract is due to run out quite soon.
Although there are some library jobs I could apply for I'm interested in becoming a dispenser (at least I think I am). I really just want some day-to-day info, although I realise every place is different any info you could give me would be great.
1. How long is lunch break? Can you leave the building during this time?
2. Can the NVQ be completed fast, or do you have to do modules at a certain pace?
3. How often do you interact with customers, do you have to go on the till or do you stay in the back?
4. Can you sit down while sorting drugs or are you on your feet all day?
5. Does the role require a lot of typing or is computer use minimal?
Anything would be helpful.
I don't really like my job so I'm sort of stuck at the moment, I really want to do some volunteer work in a chemist to get some idea but I'm working so many extra hours at the library that I don't really have the time. Posting on here seems like the next best thing
First thing, sorry if it looks rude but, how old are you and what is your educational background ??? My asking this is because, the pharmacies now a days are so busy that they would not like someone to start from scratch and take a long time in getting hold of things. You will be allowed to have atleast an hour of lunch break and you can choose to go wherever you want as long as you retyrn back on time. You will be on your feet for the whole day and I don't see any sitting arrangements in place in any dispensary that you can use unless it is so quiet and practically there is nothing to do.
My advice would be to start as a medical counter assistant then move in to dispensary once you are comfortable with the pharmacy day to day activity.
Its your call at the end of the day. All the best.
A day in the life of a dispenser/Technician.....where do I start???
Answers to your questions:
1. If you actually get a lunch break it's usually an hour depending on the amount of hours you work and you will always be interrupted. You may be better off leaving the premises so you won't get hassled.
2. NVQ 3 is two years in duration and if you get a damn good tutor and assessor and external assessor, you'll do it within that time otherwise you'll have to get extensions.
3. If working in community pharmacy you will be used as a sales assistant often. You really shouldn't be interrupted when supposedly doing your own job but unless you can lock yourself away from the shop staff, you will be serving sanitary towels and shampoo for 50% of your time......
4. To "sort drugs", you'll have to stand up.....but when doing labelling, then maybe you can get a chair and have a sit down.
5. Tons of typing and computer use
Hope that helps. Reading it back it all sounds quite negative but i'm being honest. Being a Tech in community sucks......but go work in a hospital and they will value you and pay you properly and you get to do the job that's written into your job description instead of being a badly paid, fed up, insulted dogs body......
If I haven't put you off, then ask more questions if you want......but beware, i'm not going to sugar coat anything.....
1. How long is lunch break? Can you leave the building during this time?
Depends on the Pharmacy. Mine is technically an hour, with another half hour break. I practice, it can be anything from 15 mins up to an hour, depending on workload. I could choose to take my full break, but means coming back to more chaos than I left. I prefer to sit in the park if it's sunny though!
2. Can the NVQ be completed fast, or do you have to do modules at a certain pace?
Nope. It takes two years, and where I work, you need to undertake the Medicine Counter Assistants course first. So most people start with that, then do Dispensary Assistants Course before moving on to NVQ3. To be perfectly honest, I struggle to keep to the two year timetable, so would be amazed if anyone could complete it in less time!
3. How often do you interact with customers, do you have to go on the till or do you stay in the back?
I work in Care Services/MDS, so most of my dealings are on the phone, so I see possibly one or maybe two customers a week. Working downstairs in walk-in Pharmacy, it was customers 90% of the time- if you stayed out the back, you got labelled as lazy where I work!
4. Can you sit down while sorting drugs or are you on your feet all day?
I sit down for about 20 minutes a day to put the orders through. Am on my feet the rest of the day.
5. Does the role require a lot of typing or is computer use minimal?
Lots of computer use, but it is not like typing essays! Mainly accessing patients records and generating labels. I also do a lot of ordering, but that is specific to my role.
Overall I would say be prepared to start at the bottom and work up, and expect to be on your feet the whole time, and don't expect a high salary!
Like others have said, start by applying for Medicine Counter Assistants jobs first, with a view to progressing. Its much less stressful that way.
Yeah I wasn't expecting to rush into dispensing, I've been reading lots of jobs and they all say NVQ2 at least, but that was my goal so I thought I would mainly ask about that. I used to work in a shop (before the library) so I'm guessing counter assistant is a pretty similar role.
Summer is chaos at work (school kids/summer reading/staff on hols etc) so I haven't had a chance at going for volunteer work. I guess that volunteering would help me decide whether it was something I'd want to do full time.
Really appreciate all your responses. I'll probably have more questions soon (how exciting for you all )
I cant speak for other Pharmacies, but you would find it difficult to get work experience placements in our Pharmacy, due to the requirement that if you are working on a Medicines Counter, you must either be qualified or be registered on a course and working towards that qualification.
Kizor...you will find it difficult to get any work experience as most companies have training/health and safety/insurance issues. I would suggest trying to get a saturday job in a pharmacy and see how things go that way.
Ask as many questions as you like. We are all here to help and support each other when we can.
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