Pharmacy Technician University

Most of the questions I get revolve around working in retail pharmacy. But, another good choice may be to become a hospital pharmacy technician.
I’ll give you an idea of what you can expect if you decide to go the hospital route – including both the advantages and disadvantages (in my experience).

Advantages of Becoming a Hospital Pharmacy Technician

(1) Deal Less With the Public

I know. I know. When I say something like that it makes me come off like someone who just doesn’t like people. I have to admit — there are some of my patients who I don’t like to deal with. But, when I say that dealing with the public less is an advantage it’s because after years and years of doing it, you can get burnt out.

Granted, not every pharmacist or technician feels that way. But, on the same token, too few also admit that they harbor those feelings for fear of sounding like ‘bad’ people.

I’m not afraid to admit that. If anyone comes and tells you with a straight face that working with the public is all peaches and cream than they either have never worked with the public or are lying to you.

Notice too, that I said being a hospital tech means working with the public less. Not that you won’t be working with them at all. That’s an important distinction.

(2) Less Hectic

In most retail environments it’s an absolute zoo all day. Hundreds of people dropping off prescriptions at the counter. A constantly ringing phone. Upset patients at the counter. Insurance problems and the other litany of problems retail can entail.

In the hospital you tend to have ‘specified’ duties. For example, you may be expected to fill med carts in the AM and then do IV’s in the afternoon. While your job will certainly have problems they tend to be less immediate than what is seen in retail.

Of course, this is where it comes in handy knowing what kind of person you are. Your talents, abilities and aptitudes all come into play and some technicians absolutely thrive in a more intense, fast-paced environment like retail. Others like the interaction with the public.

Whatever the case, what may be an advantage to one person is a disadvantage to another. So it helps to know what you enjoy first.

(3) Utilize Your Skills (More)

By saying something like this it could be misconstrued to say that as a retail pharmacy technician you don’t use your skills. That’s not true. You do use your skills but I feel comfortable saying that in the hospital setting you stay in touch with a wider array of skills. In retail, it’s easier to get ‘pigeon holed’ into just doing a very limited set of tasks each day.

As a hospital pharmacy technician you are generally doing intravenous drug preparation, dealing with inpatient as well as outpatient settings. Hence your exposure to various drugs is broader. Also, most hospitals have ambulatory units, intensive care, neonatal units, transitional care units and the like. It’s a really varied setting that allows you, in my opinion, to keep up and use more of the skills you developed.

(4) Generally Better Coverage

Again, maybe some retail pharmacies are different. But in my experience most retail technicians struggle with having coverage for vacations or sick time because they just don’t have enough technicians. This is also one of the reasons why retail generally pays more (see below).

Most hospitals I’ve worked at or been around seem to have plenty of staff. While that may not seem like a huge deal up front when it comes time for you to take a vacation or miss a day for some reason it’s a big deal for you and your coworkers and boss.

I’ve been on the other side of the fence where you depend on the limited number of technicians you might have and if one doesn’t show up it really puts everyone else in a bind. But, in the hospital setting the whole design allows for more leeway in this area.

Again, maybe this is just my experience. But I have talked to other pharmacists and pharmacy technicians who agree with what I’ve said here.

(5) More Variety

I kine of eluded to this above with your skill set. But, in a hospital you really do have the opportunity to expose yourself to more learning and working opportunities.

For example, there are often anti-coagulation clinics, intensive care, infectious disease, physician rounding and the like. You may not be able to work them all right away but if you show that you are willing to put in the effort and work hard the opportunities for advancement and to work in different areas will eventually come your way.

Disadvantages of a Hospital Pharmacy Technician

(1) Schedule

While this isn’t as big of a disadvantage as it use to be, with the advent of 24-hour drive thru retail pharmacies. Hospital technicians generally have less desirable schedules.

For example; weekends, early morning, late night and evening midnight shifts can and do happen. Also, because there is generally more staff at a hospital you’ll likely start out with the most undesirable shift.

(2) “Clicky”

This is just my experience but because of the usually large number of staff in a mid to large-size hospital – “clicks” are often formed. While this may be something that is inevitable – it is also something that is noticed and shunned by other staff members.

My advice – try to avoid falling into one at all costs. Go to work. Do your job. Try your best to get along with your coworkers. And, from my experience, that is easier to do when you don’t have any alliances one way or the other.

(3) Less Pay (generally)

I say generally, because it won’t always be the case. But, in nine out of ten cases you’ll find that your starting salary is likely lower at a hospital. However, room for advancement to higher pay is generally better.

But, couple the lower pay with usually wider ranging opportunities and less burnout and working in a hospital may suit you better than working in retail.

Like anything, becoming a hospital pharmacy technician has both its good and bad points. In my experience, the good points outweigh the bad points. But you have to also look at your own personal wants, needs, talents and desires before you make the decision.

(1) Number of Pharmacy Technician Jobs are on the rise

While it’s only an estimate, government statistics indicate that the number of pharmacy technician jobs will rise over 30% over the next 8 to 10 years. That’s above average – even for the growing medical sector.
So, when doing any sort of job search keep this fact in mind and don’t think that you have to settle for the first job that comes along. As I’ve mentioned before, if you are – or commit yourself to being – a great pharmacy technician the best jobs will likely find you. But, if you are starting out the surge in pharmacy technician demand should come as a welcome sign.

(2) What will your job description be?

I mention this only because I see too many pharmacy technicians who are a bit disappointed when they finally get into their job and discover they aren’t doing 100% of the things they thought they would be when they took the position.

With any job, you want to be very clear about your employers goals and objectives before you ever sign on the dotted line.

Generally, technicians roles and responsibilities will be pretty cut and dry. But other times you may catch yourself in a job where you are a ‘go-fer’ for the pharmacist or other employees.

While this may be acceptable when you are just starting out this is not the kind of job that you want to be tied to long term.

(3) Ask around about your future employer

Remember, pharmacy is generally a tight-knit community even in the largest cities.

Often times, if you just ask you can get all kinds of feedback on your future employer or even the pharmacist(s) you will be working under.

I will warn you to take what you hear with a grain of salt. Some technicians will find it impossible to be completely objective and will give you a tainted opinion. So try to talk to more than one technician before you become interested in any pharmacy technician job.

What questions should you ask? Simple ones like:

“You use to work for X company (or pharmacist); would you ever take another pharmacy technician job with them again?”

This way you set the question up as a yes/no. The technician can simply answer with out implicating themselves or their former employer and nothing bad is said. If you know the person fairly well it may be OK to ask them to elaborate on their answer. This is where you’ll have to use your best professional judgment.

(4) What kind of salary will you be making?

The salary that your employer is offering can be both a good and bad sign – and not in the way most pharmacy technicians think. Here’s what I mean.

Say the average for a starting pharmacy technician job in your area is $12.00 an hour. Now, you get a call or see an ad in the local paper for a pharmacy technician opening that starts at $13.50 an hour and they will train the pharmacy technician if they don’t have their certification.

Most pharmacy technicians I know would be very quick to jump on a job like this. But before you do it’s important you ask yourself why they are willing to pay over 10% more than their nearest competitor for someone with no experience?

They may pay their technicians more because they like to retain their pharmacy technicians and limit turnover. It also may be because the employer, and the job, is a virtual pit and they have come to realize they have to offer more because of it. It may be because they are desperate for a pharmacy technician and you’ll be flying solo with no backup help or vacation relief. It could be because they don’t offer benefits and make up for it by offering a pharmacy technician job that pays more up front.

That’s where it pays to do your research on any pharmacy technician job you come across.

(5) Speaking of pharmacy technician job benefits…

Do you get any sort of health insurance? How about coverage for you family? How much vacation time are you allotted? Will you really get it? Do you accrue sick time? Is there a flex plan of any type? What is the dress code?

These are just for starters.

Don’t put your blinders on when it comes to a salary for any job. Look at the overall package.

A pharmacy technician we hired had to take a pay cut in her hourly rate to come on board with us. But, after looking at every aspect of the job and the benefits it was clear that she was probably breaking even or coming out a little ahead by moving on. Plus, she was completely burned out on her old employer: a huge, retail job that was a prescription mill.

She figured that what she would save on her health insurance payments at her old job every month would more than make up for the cut in pay. Plus, she was ready for the move.

(6) What will your schedule be?

This, in my opinion, tends to be one of the the most abused areas when it comes to pharmacy. Both pharmacists and technicians are routinely ‘required’ to work longer hours than what they signed up for without any sort of compensation.

I’m a stickler on this issue. If you want me to work over – fine. But you’ll either compensate me in time or money. You should have the same policy. And if you don’t because your scared you could lose your job your employer or supervisor is going to know that and probably take advantage of you.

No, I can’t guarantee that will happen but I’ve worked in enough different environments and for enough different companies to know what will likely happen. Don’t be someone who your employer thinks they can push around on this issue.

(7) Where are you looking?

If you’re looking for a job chances are you’ve got on some kind of job board. Maybe you got on Google and searched.

Can I make a suggestion?

Try going a different route. Most of the best jobs are never advertised.

Not that my techs have the best job in the world but they do stay with us for a long time. As near as I can tell from unofficial estimates, it’s longer than the average in our area. Did we advertise our last technician opening? Nope.

One of our techs new of a person who was fed up with her old job. Had tons of experience. Got along well with coworkers and customers. Was a hard worker and, overall, was a good person to have on our team.

She picked the persons brain a little bit and found out that the technician was looking for a move. A couple of months later we had the papers signed and a new, experienced, hard working technician without having to weed through a bunch of unqualified or psychotic candidates.

I’ve done it the other way before too. Hiring someone that nobody in the pharmacy really knows and it’s always a crap shoot. I don’t like crap shoots when it comes to time and money.

My suggestion: build a network of technicians and pharmacists. When you are looking for a move let it me subtly known that you are just looking. Even better, get the reputation of being a great technician and likely your network will come to you asking you to move – just like we did.

It’s sort of like being a free agent in sports. If you are good, you’ll always find a market for your services.

The last word on pharmacy technician jobs?

Nope. But it should give you a good start and serve as a helpful guide when looking for your next job (or your first one).