Retail Pharmacy Technician Here! 🍋

Ive worked as a retail pharmacy technician with Safeway-Albertsons for about five years now. It’s the longest job i’ve ever kept in my life, but it wasn’t such easy ride through it.

When I first started training , I got thrown into a high volume, fast paced store in Phoenix, and it was a nightmare for someone who has NEVER had any experience or let alone an interest in pharmacy. (I wanted to be an artist 🎨)

When i look back I always thought that it was good for me to get thrown into an insanely busy store with no experience. I was thinking along the lines of “character development” and the high pressure would shape me into a good technician learning at a faster pace. It’s honestly why i’m so great at my job today. But frankly, I wish i could’ve been put at a slower store and actually learn things without being overwhelmed by multiple tasks needing to be done, or hear the patients screaming that they need things at this very moment, telling me “you guys should hire more people.” (oh really i had no idea! 🧐)

Pharmacy is a very fulfilling career path once you nail down skills you need, and learn to deal with the public. But you really need to be able to absorb lots of information and training, handle stress, being yelled at by patients and being bombarded with hundreds of things needing to be done. I can’t even count the number of panic attacks and crying sessions in the bathroom i had within the first year starting from being absolutely OVERWHELMED.

The reality i’ve come to learn is that people are impatient and inconsiderate of retail workers, and some people don’t even consider pharmacy workers to be a genuine part of the healthcare system. Most pharmacies are going to be understaffed and high paced, but there are good stores with a great staff and smaller weekly volumes. If you can land a store like that, hallelujah to you Lemon8r!

But, Is this job really worth it? Is retail pharmacy worth it?

That is a question i ask myself all the time. But there isn’t really a solid answer. It’s all gonna depend on the environment you’re in and what you can handle on a day to day basis. It’s not gonna be golden every single day, but that’s with every job out there. With time and experience you will grow and learn from this career! #pharmacytechnician #Lemon8Diary #pharmacy #pharmacylife #letschat