#3 Bought 2 Lifesavers At CVS And The Receipt Was Almost As Long As My Truck Bed
As of 2024, there were 46,230 pharmacies and drugstore businesses in the US employing more than 340,000 specialists. Upon entering the profession, pharmacists have to swear on an oath to “assure optimal outcomes for all patients.”
However, as we see from the list, that is not always the case, and working conditions are making it almost impossible to stick to their promise.
#4 At My Local CVS, Pushing This Button Announces Over The Pa System To The Entire Store "A Customer Requires Assistance In The Family Planning Department"
#5 Walgreens Stuck Their Stupid Non-Removable Sticker Over The Dosing Instructions For This Medication. Every Box Was Like This
#6 Was Told To “Use Uber” If I Wanted To Pick Up My Antibiotics From The Pharmacy I Was Standing At
The National Pharmacist Workforce Study (NPWS) in 2022 has found that more than 60% of chain pharmacists experienced high levels of work exhaustion, while 80% reported not being satisfied with their job.
This is happening because of the number of tasks they perform at work that go beyond their original job description. Staff shortage additionally contributes to this issue, making pharmacists overworked and overwhelmed.
#8 The Pharmacy Sent Me My Chemotherapy Pills, One Bottle Per Pill. I Fear For When I Get The 6 Month Batch
Due to staff shortage, burnout, and employers’ focus on meeting quotas, 75% of pharmacists felt like they didn't have enough time to safely perform their duties, let alone be smiley and polite to customers looking for professional care.
#10 Walgreens Says To Use Qr Code To Check-In. I Waited 30m And When I Inquired About The Wait, They Said I Need To Check-In In Person As Well
#12 Just Noticed I Have Been Given The Wrong Tablets By The Pharmacist And Taking Them For A Month. Was Prescribed Blood Pressure Tablets (Enalapril). Received Anti Depressants (Escitalopram). Explains Weird Side Effects From Before Xmas
“Pharmacists are so overwhelmed and worried that they’re going to make a mistake. It’s so easy to make a mistake under those conditions,” said pharmacist and labor advocate Shane Jerominski, who has a decade of experience working at chain pharmacies including Walgreens and CVS.
#13 So One Of My Prescription Pills From A Walgreens Pharmacy Turned Out To Just Be A Popcorn Cornel…. Is This Something That Actually Happens In The Real World Or Have I Definitely Slipped Into Some Hysterical Alternate Reality?
#14 Maybe This Isn’t The Best Way To Get Kids Excited About Getting The Flu Shot At The Pharmacy
Their work goes beyond putting pills in the bottle - they have to check the prescription for errors, check if the drug will be used in combination with other medicines, bill insurance companies, and counsel patients on risks. When workers are burnt out and busy, they are more likely to make mistakes in the process. Unfortunately, pharmacists' errors can have dire consequences.
#17 My Pharmacy Uses An Enormous Amount Of Plastic. I Asked Them If I Could Remove The Label And Recycle The Orange Bottles Back To Them And They Said Couldn't Accept Them
“Any simple mistake: the counting of medication, or even issuing the wrong type of medication could have serious impacts and even cause a death,” said Tony Bertolino, a lawyer who specializes in defending pharmacies and pharmacists. “There’s so much pressure on pharmacists to get prescriptions filled and to get patients in and out.”
#20 $300.00 Copay For A Name Brand Meds I Need To Take. This Is How It Arrives! Thanks CVS
