Re: Pharmacy Tech in Training

June 28, 2009

Dear ,

In 2006 I called upon three dear friends who are also educators:

Janet Liles, Jule Barta and to develop a presentation that I

recently updated, added to and presented in New York City on March 15, 2009 that

contained a portion that addressed this VERY issue.

I recently adapted it to a written CE for the AAPT Newsletter which is due come

out very very soon.

Janet Liles and addressed topic this so very well. I must give

them much credit.

What I can tell you is you are NOT ALONE! Training on the job does take time and

may result in:

1. Frustrated experienced employees because they needed you trained YESTERDAY -

they are swamped and need you to be able to take over immediately.

2. Hire/train/frustration/quit or fire/hire.....merrygoround

3. Because of this it takes a very long time to get trained.

4. Interuptions in work by the trainees lack of understaning or experience and

stopping to train them.

5. More medication errors due to interruptions

As a teacher I most definitely PUSH my students to pick up faster as I know they

will be in a fast paced arena, when they graduate. YET in school it is a very

'SAFE' environment since there is no real patient. MANY of my students are

older adults. HOWEVER when they go t externship there are still things

especially the computer system, billing, label making and order entry etc that

must be learned from scratch and is different than in school and also time

consuming to learn due to insurance/managed care and adjudication problems.

ON the JOB training a person in a hurry or getting upset with them or hollering

at them will only serve to make the tech trainee more nervous, possibe

medication errors and patient safety at RISK....not to mention displeasure with

co-workers or no desire to report to work as you described.

Mature technicians make good retail techs because they ARE good with customer

service. This does not mean that younger people are not good at retail or can

not be, but it does mean that the mature technicians' best attribute is

'handling' customers. They are also more 'believable and trusted' by the public.

But unfortunately this is NOT all the job entails. Learning the computer system

is difficult for anyone. But it is true that younger people 'get it' quicker,

mainly due to the fact that they are in tune to the technology already. The

mature person may not be as technology saavy and bit slower at learning new

e-things. This person may not only be learning pharmacy and pharmceutics, but

also the computer system at the same time. Where as the younger person is

probably just learning the pharmacy/pharmaceutics, not the technology (computer)

too.

Now as far as the rudeness, there is no excuse, BUT I will tell you as time goes

on we see a difference in tolerance of rude work behavior. This does not mean

that you have to 'take it' , but I am saying that it is out there more than it

was a few years ago and it has permeated the pharmacy world, unfotunately. AS

you see topics on TV that we never saw before you will see changes in society

and the work place.

I do not know your specifics, your state or you well enough to give you personal

advise tailored to you. BUT I believe IF a pharmacist told you that you have

potential that he or she must know what they are talking about. I trust that

judgement call.

But I can say this too: I belive you would be an asset to any pharmacy due to

your kind nature and maturity in handling the patients. I belive that you CAN

learn what you need to learn to be a mulitasking technician, with time. The main

question is are you willing to wait for this time to pass? Are you willing to

pick up the pace a bit more each day? I believe you can.

IF you do not like pharmacy or are finding it too difficult then I would say

leave. BUT that is not what I am 'hearing you say'.

I am hearing you say that you don't like the disrespect and rudeness.

I would suggest that you have a long talk with all of the workers and tell them

that you like pharmacy and you want to learn and you believe that you can, but

you will need patience on their part and time (as anyone would) and if they

still want to train you and WITH respect then you will stay on. Tell them that

they will have this problem with anyone who is mature enough to handle the

public at the window like YOU do. This should put them in their place as

trainers and mentors. Tell them that you have learned much from them and you

appreciate their teaching. Tell them that you believe that you ALL will make a

great family as long as you are treated with respect and in return you will

promise to pick up the pace a bit each day and that when you are fully trained

you will reward them with a tech who comes to work on time, rarely absent and

works well with everyone and who can handle the public complaints.

Believe it or not that is your 'bargaining chip': handling the public.

You use the words 'transfer to a different dept. " Does this mean you have

another option? Please tell me what that is.

Also I would just like to say that once you pass the PTCB exam there is no

reason why you would have to stay in this particular pharmacy. You could move to

another. I would say at least go for that and make your decision only after you

have your actual certification. You may feel different then.

I havemuch faith in you that you are doing something you are interested in and

that unless you can change the co-worker's attitudes you may be in the wrong

location. BUT training is hectic and fast paced in most locations. Going to

school (education) eliminates much of itm but not all of it.

Most Respectfully,

Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS

Pharm Tech Educator/Advocate

Founder/Owner

In , Chaplain

<chappy12172000@...> wrote:

>

> Dear Jeanetta,

>

> I could use some honest feedback. I have been working at a retail

pharmacy/store chain and began my position with no experience in February of

2009.. I am finding the job very interested and rewarding. My issue at the

moment is that the head pharmacist that is training while we are on the job is

somewhat inpatient and somewhat trying when under pressure and they lose their

composure with me and with patients. The training that they have given thus far

has taught me alot but I feel so stressed out starting my day and ending my dad

knowing there will be comments and trantrums that occur daily, as they become

frustrated with my lack of my knowledge base . I have changed careers and I am

not as youthful (46) as some of the other techs that I have met and the pace in

retail is fast paced. The pharmacist has indicated that I am great with pickup

and dropoff and dealing with patients but the computer system is trying and I am

not quick to pickup

> all my training and retain as they would like. I am studying at home to

prepare for my certification within the store for 9/1/09 but the outburst and

lack of respect for me as an adult is keeping me from wanting to go to work and

continue on my new career path. I have spoken to another pharmacist in the

pharmacy dept and they tell me to just keep moving on and I am good, but I am

questioning myself maybe being a retail tech is not for me maybe this is a young

person job. I have spoken to this pharmacist about the comments and they

apoligize and tell me not to take it personally and that they are being hard on

me because they see great potential in me and pushing me is what I need.

>

> I do not agree as a mentor to my kids and to other employees at my job I

always show positivity and I am always willing to teach something new to

others. I know that life is full of challenges but no one likes to get kicked in

the teeth daily.

>

> Your thoughts as a teacher and a mentor to all of us in this group could you

give me some honest to goodness advise so I can move forward with this

opportunity or transfer to another dept.

>

> Jersey Tech

>

June 29, 2009

Dear Jeanette,

I wanted to answer your question first. There is a another department not

pharmacy (health and beauty ) related that wish for me to work with their team

but I am trying to put my best foot forward in pharmacy at the moment.

I did speak to the pharmacist in question yesterday afternoon and they

apologized and have indicated that pushing me so hard is obviously not the

answer so we are trying a different approach. I will give till I get ceritified

9/1/09.

But I want to thank you so much for your quick response and sincerity that you

bring to the table, I am glad that I have joined the group for support

when needed.

Warm regards,

NJ Tech

Steph