PHARMACIST STEVE

A tired Pharmacist is a Dangerous Pharmacist ?

2 Responses

1. 

   Tracey, on May 4, 2018 at 10:37 am said:

   Yep, one only needs to read the Reddit pharmacy forums to learn about this. Most pharmacists who work for big chains don’t even get a 30 minute lunch or dinner break. They’re forced to sit in the back out of the view of customers, taking a bite here and there while also attending to customers.

   Why? Because state (and possibly federal laws?) dictate that a pharmacist has to be present and on-the-clock when filling any controlled substances (and possibly during all hours the pharmacy is open). (Sorry, but I can’t remember which it is. Steve may be able to clarify this.)

   The big chains are too greedy and cheap to pay for two pharmacists to be on-the-clock at the same time and don’t allow the pharmacy to close long enough for a lunch or dinner break.

   Pharmacists who work for large chains (especially ones that are opened 24 hours a day) are also forced to work 12 hours with no breaks whatsoever.

   So not only do we have humans standing on the feet for 12 hours (and longer in some cases) a day filling medications (many with very similar names) with no breaks to rest, but also humans who are hungry, possibly experiencing low blood sugar.

   There are many medication errors that these greedy chains cover up. In other words, if you use a chain pharmacy (or in many cases, forced to use one due to insurance company restrictions and regulations, the medication, which very well could look and sound like many other potent medications, which you ingest is being filled by humans who are already at risk of making mistakes, but also humans who are hungry and tired.

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2. 

   Karl R Deigert, on May 3, 2018 at 5:59 pm said:

   Been going on for decades. I, and many RPh, prefer to do long shifts to reduce number of days per month. I once had an Irani partner that would go home for five weeks at a time. We would swap and cover each other’s and have great flexibilty in scheduling and obtaining time off. Conventional wisdom would predict that long hours would result in greater number of errors; but, I am not sure this is the reality.
   With glut of Pharamcists in today’s market place many of the chains are moving to eight hour shifts and many only hire staff RPh’s as floaters or part-time to avoid benefits. Only Managers get a full salary in many stores these days.

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