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My background check and drug test finally came back and I'm starting on Tuesday. What should I expect? And any advice for new hire like me? I'm so excited and nervous at the same time.
No specific advice from me, as I don’t work in the pharmacy sector or at Kroger. My guess is that you should wear comfortable shoes and be 5 minutes early for your shift.
Congratulations on your new job! I don't work in a pharmacy, but as someone who has used a pharmacy, I'd like to say that I really appreciate it when the staff is friendly and respectful.
I'm sure you will face some rude and stressed out patients in your job. When people are feeling stressed about their health or the health of a family member, it can lead to them lashing out at pharmacy staff when they find out the cost of their medication is much higher than they thought it would be, or the insurance company refuses to pay for it, or the doctor's office hasn't faxed it in yet, or the insurance will only cover a small number of pills, etc.
You will need to learn how to maintain composure at all times, and not take any bad behavior personally. If someone is upset, convey that you are sympathetic to what they are going through. Sometimes all a person needs is to feel that someone has listened and understands why they are upset.
One specific piece of advice I would give you is to learn about the various discount programs available to help people with the costs of medications (such as goodrx.com). Many people are not educated about how their insurance works, and they have no idea that there may be ways to get their medications cheaper through programs like goodrx. If you can be informed about this, you will be in a position to help the person when they are standing there upset because they can't afford their medication. I've observed this exact thing happen more than once at a pharmacy.
Kroger (and a lot of other places) is strict about the time clock, so don't punch in or out too early or too late. Address any scheduling issues immediately. When I worked there employees were not allowed to have a personal cell phone in their hand unless they were on a break.
Kroger (and a lot of other places) is strict about the time clock, so don't punch in or out too early or too late. Address any scheduling issues immediately. When I worked there employees were not allowed to have a personal cell phone in their hand unless they were on a break.
I really hope no pharmacists or anyone handling people's medications are not allowed to be distracted with cellphones! Sheesh!
KittenSparkles had some really great advice for working with patients/customers. Since you're working in a pharmacy, don't be afraid to ask questions! Some medications are very similar in name but treat very different illnesses. While the pharmacist should double-check everything, they are often swamped.
Also, work on reading up on different drugs, interactions, and side effects. It can be dull, but the more familiar you are with the medicines, the better your performance will be and you'll get comfortable more quickly.
Finally, make sure you are absolutely committed to patient privacy. You'll quickly get numb to various medicines, but sometimes there is a Rx filled for a good friend or a significant (local) political figure/celebrity. It's not your business who needs an STD cream, and no one else needs to know, either! I know they'll drill this into you during training, but that is one piece of advice that cannot be repeated too often.
I would second all the advice so far. and, remember to always try to be professional, but caring......personally I will go out of my way to spend my money at places where I feel the customer service is excellent.
The OP is excited about the new job at a pharmacy.
1) Why on earth would you say it sounds boring? Is that what you call encouraging?
2) What on earth about it do you think could possibly be boring?
No specific advice from me, as I don’t work in the pharmacy sector or at Kroger. My guess is that you should wear comfortable shoes and be 5 minutes early for your shift.
Congratulations and good luck.
Most people who work in medical and dental clinics, hospitals and pharmacies, wear running shoes on the job.
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