Acting out ones frustrations make yours more so. The customer, as you know, often is feeling stressed out. Their day isn't going well. You have three lines on hold. Looks like a ten minute lunch only. The drive through's are in double digits. Triple checks? I doubt it. The more educated the more empirical your trouble? I like the challenge of doing a good job when the rough get's going. Rushing will lead to oversight. That's not always a bad thing though. Some companies are volume oriented. Some are inflexible and complete to the letter of the law. I read 75 to 80% of the pharmacy boards decisions. It takes several DUI's or many times grand theft of thousands of and in some cases tens of thousands of missing medications before they take action. I read arson,attempted murder, and worse. A case of a 19 year old tech withholding a # 90 Valium refill as it's one day early is....well laughable.

RE: Lack of civility,lack of requisite proper manners, waiting your turn,disrespecting the pharmacists intellect. Improper lack of allowing the older patients to be served first. Yes, those days of yesteryear aren't dead,just in a hurry. How about, good morning,how is your day going? Say, have you five or ten minutes to discuss a indication? Are flu shots available? Do you recommend any nutraceuticals? If later would be more amenable,I can return another time. For goodness sake, don't pile on ETOH or a lot of non pharmacy items on the counter.Don't you dislike that! We don't garner enough relegated thanks. It's kind of, next customer please. Sensitive issues demand some sensitivity, does it not. Poor or not, one MUST give a good accounting of respect as you yourself would want.

A Few suggestions to patients and others: We ALL wish for good service and some management therapy from the pharmacy. The fact is: The pharmacist does NOT always have the time to give you precise info on your profile. You may be asked to pay for quality individual treatment management. Be advised,do your homework. Put your questions in writing to your Dr. Ask him/her what your concerns are. Example: Question, Dr. Smith,As you know, I'm taking so and so. The labs are OK,but the medication isn't as effective as before. I have reviewed the references, and included them here. On our next session, could we discuss...so and so. Now, show up early,Dress smart. Be well rested. Get to the point. Ask specific questions and offer possible answers to the question you propose. Don't avoid eye contact. Insisting will get you little but resentment. Cursory exams offer little help. Do NOT discount lab tests and explaining the probable reasons for red flagged out of parameter blood work. If incomplete relief is your issue,consider psychotherapy and possible further research with or without a script. Read issues regarding liver enzymes. They are one of the most important parts of your cytochrome stereo isomer enzymes. CYP 450 is just one. Pain issues are common.The Dr/other wants specific hard answers to indicative incremental CII and even CIV increasing increases.i.e. resistance, exacerbations,diagnosis,lack of life quality issues. Know the reasons for the adjustments. If you request additional pain medications be prepared to drop a benzodiazepine. Offering to eliminate a addictive drug for a non habit forming one will show your willingness to lower the chance of forming a untoward reaction. Psychoneurosis is best dealt without continuous treatment with anxiolytics. NOTE: This is not medical advice. It is common sense suggestions that will likely serve you well with your mentor.

As for common courtesy, it would be wonderful to live in Mayberry. As a senior citizen who gladly contributes assistance where it is most needed -the County hospitals and the Veterans Admin. Some wonder why? Why would anyone put in a M-F day shift without pay? Although only a Tech.,I feel something for these Vets and elders whom fall between the cracks of the health care system. Forgive my bleeding heart. When the Pt. is in protracted agony,I 'try' to offer some solace. Over burdoned and overworked the DR's and nurses, physical therapists and lab folks are inundated. It gives me some feeling of a job well done if I can offer the staff some 15 minutes of rest to gather together enough sanity or company to ease a persons hectic day. The retail level is not so acute. Still, "I just want my pills!" sounds familiar. Navigating the course of therapy for a busy consumer unaware of the perplexity and sheer demands of- a busy pharmacist or tech unable to fulfill the Rx because of insurance companies criteria or duplication or other full speed ahead, damn the torpedoes!ends up a delemnia unhindered with some patients. We all try to do the best we can. Drugs with the most abuse and that Pt with little time to wait is suspect. We all hope and wish that those under treated are treated well. The line gets blurry.

Michelle,
I worked in retail pharmacy for 32 years. I retired and enjoyed my time off. The thought of returning left me with PTSD feelings. Now I am at a point where my husband has retired, and to follow our dreams of traveling, I should return to pharmacy. Unfortunately, because of my past experiences, I will only work part time and as a relief pharmacist.
I am so sad that this is the life other pharmacists must look forward to.
Sincerely

I so agree with you Michele. I think people are just getting meaner and the corporate people just make it worse by promising customer everything under the sun!!! We just had our budge cut again for the 3rd time this year but the corporate people want us to do more, promise more and do it faster than ever but with less help. I have been with this pharmacy 10 years and I have never felt so unappreciated in my entire life. I am now looking for another job but with graduation time here jobs are few and far between.

I worked retail for just short of 3 years. I ran, screaming and crying, from the environment that you just described. That was 22 years ago and I now have my own Assisted Living/Dementia Care consulting firm. However, now that I am the mother to 3 children, I think I could handle the rudest customer with my "mom" voice and look. Even as a "newbie", I could look the assistant manager of the Walgreens in the face and say, every so sweetly, "when you're a pharmacist, you can tell me how to treat my customers". Retail sucks...

OK .... so we all have the same problems with our respective patients/customers ... However the question is..... is it really their fault? If a two year old wants to stay up until 2AM and is miserable the following day is the child or the parent to blame? If pharmacists demanded the respect that a professional deserves it most probably would follow, I know that i do and it usually does. There are always patients and/or supervisors that feel differently and attempt to exert their authority but it is my responsibility to to accept their lack of courtesy or not.
Education does not create respect we do.