why do community techs have a bad attitude?

[hibernia]

To be honest I think that some of the pre regs think that they are pharmacists whereas the pharm tech sees them as students. And that's why the problems are arising. Perhaps if the students recognised that the tech has many years of experience doing the job, rather than just sitting in a classroom, they might be able to relate to them in a more professional way. Because at the moment they appear to see them as glorified shop assistants and treat them accordingly.

I think you may have put your finger on a big part of the problem. We all leave college thinking we are wonderful and that we know everything. The reality is very different and it is only as you gain experience that you realise how little you know and how useless most of that knowledge is.
A good pharmacist is always learning and you will learn a great deal from techs, counter hands and patients, but you must be willing to listen and to treat them with respect.

[NR1990]

To be honest I think that some of the pre regs think that they are pharmacists whereas the pharm tech sees them as students. And that's why the problems are arising. Perhaps if the students recognised that the tech has many years of experience doing the job, rather than just sitting in a classroom, they might be able to relate to them in a more professional way. Because at the moment they appear to see them as glorified shop assistants and treat them accordingly.

Here is the criteria for becoming a pharm tech. http://www.pharmacyregulation.org/si...Oct%202011.pdf

I've worked with some lovely, hard-working and efficient dispensers and technicians (and some not so good ones) but your post would do nothing to make me think higher of them in general. 'Just sitting in a classroom'? Perhaps if you want to be regarded in a more professional way and respected more you should treat pre-reg pharmacists in the same way.

I totally agree, but that shouldnt be an excuse to be grumpy. I mean get on with it or quit your job. Today, I was doing the most boring job again when the tech should have been doing it, becuse the tech decided to take a day off.everytime i go at the front counter to do eMAS or smoking cessation or OTC they call me back (within minutes) to do stupid things. I guess thats the way it as and i will try to get on with it (just for the moment).

That will happen in community pharmacy though. I've worked in shops where the pharmacist would clean the toilet if we were quiet, you can't just say 'that's not my job, you should do it' if you feel it's not something you'd enjoy or that makes use of your qualifications. Am I right in thinking you're doing a hospital pre-reg and this is your 4 weeks in community? Just get your head down and get what you can from it. People will like you better if you muck in and do the boring stuff too. Have you spoken to the pharmacist about what you'd like to learn? Maybe going to them with a list of things you'd like to see and do would help. Or even asking the technicians. During my third year placement the ACT was amazing at finding interesting scripts to show me or finding things I could phone manufacturers or GPs about. The techs in your shop might have a bad attitude but the best way to deal with it is to not have one yourself and make the best of it.

[jzd4rma]

I think you may have put your finger on a big part of the problem. We all leave college thinking we are wonderful and that we know everything. The reality is very different and it is only as you gain experience that you realise how little you know and how useless most of that knowledge is.
A good pharmacist is always learning and you will learn a great deal from techs, counter hands and patients, but you must be willing to listen and to treat them with respect.

I so agree with you, but I think respect works both ways, so pharmacist and techs need to give respect to each other unfortunately some dispensers have a very lowly view of a pharmacist and some pharmacist do too! From my own experience the dispensers/techs with the most attitude also have been the most incompetent and the ones who are more friendly and wish to help the pharmacist have been the ones from which I have learned the most.

[sparkybw]

To be honest grumpiness occurs everywhere and is certainly not restricted to community. Nor is it the exclusive preserve of dispensers and techs.

To NR1990 - How else would you describe 4 years of university if not as sitting in classrooms? I could have said sitting in pubs!

[tinx25388]

My approach is that every member of full staff (be it Pharmacist, Pre-reg, Manager, Shop Assistant - anyone!) instantly has my respect and I treat them as I wish to be treated. Once they know me better, my attitude to them will mirror their attitude to me.

For example, the Pharmacist who is happy to help me will have my full support and I will do anything for (including making coffee etc!) However, the one who treats me as an inconvenience, I keep my contact to a minimum with and may end up appearing to have a bad attitude.

I see pre-reg Pharmacists as people who can be of mutual support - I can help teach them the day-to-day side of things not learned and University, and in return, they help to improve my clinical knowledge. Ultimately though, if they have the degree, it is up to me to empty the bins and sweep the floor!

[Ama2007]

I think you may have put your finger on a big part of the problem. We all leave college thinking we are wonderful and that we know everything. The reality is very different and it is only as you gain experience that you realise how little you know and how useless most of that knowledge is.
A good pharmacist is always learning and you will learn a great deal from techs, counter hands and patients, but you must be willing to listen and to treat them with respect.

you are missing the point here...I do respect techs, i respect everyone equally regardless of their 'band pay!' the attitude prob is comin from the techs not me, and am not the only pre-reg raising this issue, i know many pharmacist and pre-reg have encountered grumpy techs and thats why i wanted to see what everyones take on it. I personally dont pretend to be a pharmacist when am a pre-reg, i know my strengths and weakness. The problem is techs think they can behave any way they like because they are doing the 'HARDEST' job. I think it is utter rubbish and this kind of attitude is the reason why you get such inefficient working envirmnt in some places. It shouldnt be like this.

[dizzyb23]

you are missing the point here...I do respect techs, i respect everyone equally regardless of their 'band pay!' the attitude prob is comin from the techs not me, and am not the only pre-reg raising this issue, i know many pharmacist and pre-reg have encountered grumpy techs and thats why i wanted to see what everyones take on it. I personally dont pretend to be a pharmacist when am a pre-reg, i know my strengths and weakness. The problem is techs think they can behave any way they like because they are doing the 'HARDEST' job. I think it is utter rubbish and this kind of attitude is the reason why you get such inefficient working envirmnt in some places. It shouldnt be like this.

Can I ask that you say "some" techs think they can behave any way they like?? Sorry to be a pain about a few words but some Techs are crap and a pain and up themselves but not all. You've had a negative experience here for sure. I'm really sorry this has happened to you. I can only say that if you were a Pre Reg in my workplace, you would be looked after, have cups of tea made for you, would have a shoulder to cry on if needed and as much good and interesting work tasks as I could find for you and we'd have a laugh too!!! No way would I allow any pre reg to have a bad time of it. The problem is, that most of the bread and butter jobs in community pharmacy are "rubbish". So, if you decide to go into community pharmacy when you pass your course, be aware of this. You'll end up cleaning toilets like the rest of us......

[Ama2007]

Can I ask that you say "some" techs think they can behave any way they like?? Sorry to be a pain about a few words but some Techs are crap and a pain and up themselves but not all. You've had a negative experience here for sure. I'm really sorry this has happened to you. I can only say that if you were a Pre Reg in my workplace, you would be looked after, have cups of tea made for you, would have a shoulder to cry on if needed and as much good and interesting work tasks as I could find for you and we'd have a laugh too!!! No way would I allow any pre reg to have a bad time of it. The problem is, that most of the bread and butter jobs in community pharmacy are "rubbish". So, if you decide to go into community pharmacy when you pass your course, be aware of this. You'll end up cleaning toilets like the rest of us......

no worries, I wont be going into community, thats the last thing on my mind!!!!
I just got offered an interview for a band 6 in england (for next year) but i have not decided yet. Basically this brief placement in community is going to play a major part in my decision.

[dizzyb23]

I really wish you'd had a better community experience Ama2007......You'll be absolutely fine in your future career i'm sure and hopefully, this negative part of your training will fade to become a distant memory.