I hate my new pharmacy tech job! How can I cope with it since I cant afford to quit?

I really hate it...its high stress and awful...today during my lunch break I sat in my car and cried that's how overwhelmed I get with the job...Its my third day...yes day 3 and I'm ready to run for the hills (yes even if I did go to tech school) My stomach sinks in the Morgan thinking I have to be there for 8 Hrs...its a retail pharmacy in a hospital but the staff never technically trained me they just threw me in there. I feel like my mind is going at 100 MPH per hour when the phone in the pharmacy rings, customers in line another call on hold...and yet I have no idea what is going on...I'm always "lost". How can I handle this I'm so miserable I can't even concentrate on anything when I'm off work because I'm thinking about pharmacy. I also can't afford to quit...how can I cope.

This pharmacy has had the same tech for the past 7 years so I don't think they have ever had to formally train a new technician. The technician that has been there for 7 years is always so stressed and aggravated that she stresses me out as well. I have also heard her throw me under the bus for stuff that I asked her for help with. I can't afford to quit even though I get knots in my stomach every time I walk through the door.

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I just have to say... It gets better with each passing day. My first few days in the pharmacy I cried my eyes out in my car because there was no way I was ever going to be able to keep up. But after two months it got a LOT better. You just have to find your niche and groove. You'll find it but you have to give it time and hang in there. I was ready to quit every single day and visibly cringed whenever the phone rang. If you just hang in there every day for a few months you'll get that thicker skin and you'll find that what bothers you know won't bother you later.

Give it some time, my first 4 months were terrible! I work in a retail store pharmacy that is the busiest one in the district. Now that I see where I'm at with the knowledge and certifications it was worth it. Just put on the attitude of "I'm going to ask questions even if you don't like it" always ask questions even if they get irritated! Good luck!

Wow...I also cried my eyes out the first 2 weeks there...literally during my Lynch break I just sat there and cried...I was so overwhelmed...everyday I would think about walking out and never looking back...Also my stomach would sink every time the phone rang...I would wake up angry every morning...but it does seem to be getting easier now that I'm more familiar with the function of the pharmacy...but it still is very stressful...

Does every New TECH have it this rough?...Or does it depend on the training provided by the company/pharmacy?

I don't think training has anything to do with it. Even the highest trained pharmacy technician will have difficulty their first few weeks on the job. I believe it has something to do with the fact that you suddenly realize that you don't really know very much, coupled with the high-stress nature of finding answers, and the addition of the expectations of everyone around you insisting that you know the information. I think this is particularly apparent whenever someone is answering a phone as well as behind the counter because there is NO WAY to plan for what the customer will ask you. You will either know the answer, or you won't. There is definitely an adjustment period. It usually runs between 1-4 weeks at a pharmacy, but once you've made all the adjustments on your end you NEVER have to do it again, and you will NEVER feel like you do right now, and you can be proud of yourself for sticking in there because many people fail at merging themselves into the pharmacy environment. It's like developing natural immunity ;)

Thanks for the advice...I felt like quitting every single day and I just wondered if other techs went through the similar taught process?

I feel for you folks. I am a pharmacist, and I have been thrown under the bus by pharmacy techs many times. The best pharmacy jobs are independent stores. The big chains are absolute salt mines to work in. It never gets better at Walgreen's or CVS. Sorry. My current job is at a nice hospital.
There are better jobs out there in other retail positions. Hell, I would rather sell shoes at Penney's than work retail pharmacy again.
Some hospital jobs are nice to work in.

New Pharmacy Technician in Colfax, Illinois said: I really hate it...its high stress and awful...today during my lunch break I sat in my car and cried that's how overwhelmed I get with the job...Its my third day...yes day 3 and I'm ready to run for the hills (yes even if I did go to tech school) My stomach sinks in the Morgan thinking I have to be there for 8 Hrs...its a retail pharmacy in a hospital but the staff never technically trained me they just threw me in there. I feel like my mind is going at 100 MPH per hour when the phone in the pharmacy rings, customers in line another call on hold...and yet I have no idea what is going on...I'm always "lost". How can I handle this I'm so miserable I can't even concentrate on anything when I'm off work because I'm thinking about pharmacy. I also can't afford to quit...how can I cope.

This pharmacy has had the same tech for the past 7 years so I don't think they have ever had to formally train a new technician. The technician that has been there for 7 years is always so stressed and aggravated that she stresses me out as well. I have also heard her throw me under the bus for stuff that I asked her for help with. I can't afford to quit even though I get knots in my stomach every time I walk through the door.

I am so happy to know that someone was in the same boat as me , I'm still trying to find a job in pharmacy because I have to survive, but its exactly how you wrot e need ajob , but scared when I start to walk through the door.

I have been working as a pharmacy technician for over a year now part time (PART-TIME!) and there has been no end to the stress and misery that has accompanied it. I can say for the first time now I have never been happier...i just gave my two weeks notice. HALLELUJAH! I have absolutely no idea how i even lasted this long because i thought about quitting the first day on the job as well. I attest to everything thats been posted here about the horrendous conditions, etc. I worked at a retail pharmacy chain and literally got NO training....had to figure out absolutely everything for myself. The other pharmacy technician has hated me since the moment i came in. I have done NOTHING to offend her other than occasionally ask for help and yet she looks at me like i'm scum. She is extremely rude and offensive (even to customers!) and people have complained to me about her. Yet, day after day, the pharmacist continues to turn a blind eye. Completely ridiculous. To the others, I agree, answering phones is literally hell on earth. I had a guy yell at me extremely loudly because he wanted to know how much the nose hair clippers were. WTF? That's not even my department! That guy has some serious issues, and i think they are a tad more important than excess nose hair LOL.

frustrated85 in Virginia Beach, Virginia said: I have been working as a pharmacy technician for over a year now part time (PART-TIME!) and there has been no end to the stress and misery that has accompanied it. I can say for the first time now I have never been happier...i just gave my two weeks notice. HALLELUJAH! I have absolutely no idea how i even lasted this long because i thought about quitting the first day on the job as well. I attest to everything thats been posted here about the horrendous conditions, etc. I worked at a retail pharmacy chain and literally got NO training....had to figure out absolutely everything for myself. The other pharmacy technician has hated me since the moment i came in. I have done NOTHING to offend her other than occasionally ask for help and yet she looks at me like i'm scum. She is extremely rude and offensive (even to customers!) and people have complained to me about her. Yet, day after day, the pharmacist continues to turn a blind eye. Completely ridiculous. To the others, I agree, answering phones is literally hell on earth. I had a guy yell at me extremely loudly because he wanted to know how much the nose hair clippers were. WTF? That's not even my department! That guy has some serious issues, and i think they are a tad more important than excess nose hair LOL.

Congrats! I envy your new found freedom...I'm only 3 months in and have already prepared an escape plan...every time I walk into work I just tell myself it's one less day day of my timeline...I'm leaving pharmacy to work as a cashier at a new chain store they are opening up near my home...this summer...so needless to say I have started the countdown...When my co-worker of a witch (lead tech) gives me a hard time and attitude i shrug it off because I know when I leave they will have a very hard time finding a replacement...no one is gonna stay and out up their crappy attitudes. And although they won't admit it...

Scapegoat Technician in Chicago, Illinois said: Congrats! I envy your new found freedom...I'm only 3 months in and have already prepared an escape plan...every time I walk into work I just tell myself it's one less day day of my timeline...I'm leaving pharmacy to work as a cashier at a new chain store they are opening up near my home...this summer...so needless to say I have started the countdown...When my co-worker of a witch (lead tech) gives me a hard time and attitude i shrug it off because I know when I leave they will have a very hard time finding a replacement...no one is gonna stay and out up their crappy attitudes. And although they won't admit it...

Thanks! There are so many things I wish I could have told myself a year ago like "how could you be so naive and think you were actually going to get treated with an ounce of respect?" I also had a problem with my lead tech - what is it about them that makes them think they can talk to us like 2 year olds when all we do is make their job easier? I wish you all the best in your new job. I unfortunately don't have a backup plan but I am convinced the perfect job is out there...and it is NOT at a pharmacy! Never again...

Brand New Pharmacy Technician in Romeoville, Illinois said: Does every New TECH have it this rough?...Or does it depend on the training provided by the company/pharmacy?

I cried my eyes out I quit lol this was so bad ..... there was no proper training at all in this store and that is what counts this is a life death situation not only you can make a mistake the pharmacist could also over look under8stress and make a mistake ...... the solution to this is team work there was not team work they were just running around like fools..... So no one should feel bad about crying retail is very stressful it takes a good trainer to have a good team.......

New Pharmacy Technician in Colfax, Illinois said: I really hate it...its high stress and awful...today during my lunch break I sat in my car and cried that's how overwhelmed I get with the job...Its my third day...yes day 3 and I'm ready to run for the hills (yes even if I did go to tech school) My stomach sinks in the Morgan thinking I have to be there for 8 Hrs...its a retail pharmacy in a hospital but the staff never technically trained me they just threw me in there. I feel like my mind is going at 100 MPH per hour when the phone in the pharmacy rings, customers in line another call on hold...and yet I have no idea what is going on...I'm always "lost". How can I handle this I'm so miserable I can't even concentrate on anything when I'm off work because I'm thinking about pharmacy. I also can't afford to quit...how can I cope.

This pharmacy has had the same tech for the past 7 years so I don't think they have ever had to formally train a new technician. The technician that has been there for 7 years is always so stressed and aggravated that she stresses me out as well. I have also heard her throw me under the bus for stuff that I asked her for help with. I can't afford to quit even though I get knots in my stomach every time I walk through the door.

Find things that are being done in the store in an illegal manner and begin reporting them to the government. Also, your trainer is probably a narcisist. The best way to handle people like this is to scare them by making them think you know something bad about them by making mysterious and cryptic comments. Her own imagination will do the rest to cause her to destroy herself. When someone gives you a bad day give her a worse one, and if you are being thrown under the bus you might as well pull her under with you.

New Pharmacy Technician in Colfax, Illinois said: I really hate it...its high stress and awful...today during my lunch break I sat in my car and cried that's how overwhelmed I get with the job...Its my third day...yes day 3 and I'm ready to run for the hills (yes even if I did go to tech school) My stomach sinks in the Morgan thinking I have to be there for 8 Hrs...its a retail pharmacy in a hospital but the staff never technically trained me they just threw me in there. I feel like my mind is going at 100 MPH per hour when the phone in the pharmacy rings, customers in line another call on hold...and yet I have no idea what is going on...I'm always "lost". How can I handle this I'm so miserable I can't even concentrate on anything when I'm off work because I'm thinking about pharmacy. I also can't afford to quit...how can I cope.

This pharmacy has had the same tech for the past 7 years so I don't think they have ever had to formally train a new technician. The technician that has been there for 7 years is always so stressed and aggravated that she stresses me out as well. I have also heard her throw me under the bus for stuff that I asked her for help with. I can't afford to quit even though I get knots in my stomach every time I walk through the door.

Find things that are being done in the store in an illegal manner and begin reporting them to the government. Also, your trainer is probably a narcisist. The best way to handle people like this is to scare them by making them think you know something bad about them by making mysterious and cryptic comments. Her own imagination will do the rest to cause her to destroy herself. When someone gives you a bad day give her a worse one, and if you are being thrown under the bus you might as well pull her under with you.

The other pharmacy technician has hated me since the moment i came in. I have done NOTHING to offend her other than occasionally ask for help and yet she looks at me like i'm scum. She is extremely rude and offensive (even to customers!) and people have complained to me about her. Yet, day after day, the pharmacist continues to turn a blind eye. ...

Ugh, I feel for you. I worked as a bank teller once...not life and death, but a fast-paced environment with one particularly snotty co-worker. After a few weeks on the job, I looked her in the eye and said, "look, you're gonna drop your attitude toward me or I'll complain all the way up to corporate. I've done nothing to offend you and I'm sick of the way you talk to me and act toward me and you're going to stop now." I made sure to say it loud and clear in front of my supervisor. I've had to deal with too many people like that in my life and I've come to realize they only act that way because a: they are allowed to get away with it; they count on the fact that no one will confront them, and b: they're simply socially inept and it's our civic duty to let them know that. The older I get the less I care what boobs like that think about me. I think you need to put her on the spot and let her know you're not going to be treated like that. Good luck!

I was lucky enough to get hired for a hospital inpatient pharmacy tech position (no previous experience, except for externship) several months ago and they started me off at around $18/hr. When I started, I thought the same things you all were thinking. I'm glad I found my way to this site to hear that there are people in the same boat as me. I am hanging in there though and I'll share how my first couple months went.

First week was overwhelming. I asked a lot of questions and I recommend all you new techs do the same. 3 months in and I still ask a bunch of questions. Take notes when you can, I suggest bringing a notepad to write down how the daily tasks are handled and when it should be done by. Before every shift, I would briefly study my notes and it would help me feel more confident throughout the day.

Since the hospital is open 24 hrs, there are different technician shifts/roles given around the clock. I started off training with the morning schedule, when it's the most busiest, so I got to experience the intense workload. The roles I've learned included answering phones (mostly talking to nurses/transferring to pharmacists for drug related questions), delivering meds/iv's to different units in the hospital (you learn your way around the ENTIRE hospital), operating pyxis machines, and of course pulling/filling. I have yet to do IV, but I will eventually learn it.

Over time, you will eventually learn to handle the workload. You figure out what has priority over what and when things should be done. You are given a mess load of information, but as you work more, you organize it in your brain and you become more efficient. It also gets stressful at times, especially the first few weeks, but you learn to manage it. Hang in there guys! I'll update whenever I can on this site and if you got any questions/comments, let me know.