Pharmacy tech jobs, advice

[JohnDaleswife]

I am thinking of quitting my job of nearly 18 years, with Ge (Haier appliances) and go back to school for pharmacy tech. I am 42 and I have two degenerative disks in my back now and I am thinking that I might need to look into another work field.

I know I won't make the money I make at the GE plant, but I feel as though it might be time to look into leaving. Any thoughts, advice, ect?

 

[ThisIsJason]

I guess the first question is: where would you be going to school? The local community college/university or one of those for-profit career center places?

A sister of a friend got a job at Walgreens in the pharmacy as a tech (non-certified) and learned everything she needed to know for the certification and went and took the test. Once she did that she was bumped to full time and was given a pretty good pay raise.

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

As a pharmacy tech you will be on your feet for your entire shift. That may not be best for your back.

 

[JohnDaleswife]

As a pharmacy tech you will be on your feet for your entire shift. That may not be best for your back.

Ya, that has crossed my mind. But I am going to be on my feet for almost anything else I go into. Just wouldn't be as physical as a manufacturing plant. I think I would enjoy a medical receptionist type job as well, but those are oh so hard to come by. You pretty much have to know someone to get one of those around here.

 

[JohnDaleswife]

Sorry, double post.

 

[starry_solo]

Check your state to find out what the qualifications are for pharmacy tech before you choose a school

 

[aejammers]

Are you OK working nights and weekends and not having a set schedule week to week?

 

[JohnDaleswife]

I'm fine with that. I currently work 3rd. I could learn to deal with different schedules.

 

[Madteaparty001]

It really depends on if you want to do retail pharmacy, hospital pharmacy, or mail in pharmacy. All are different, both in their education requirements and duties. Retail is easiest to break into with the least responsibility and least pay. Hospital pays the most especially if you get training in making IVs but requires more education and you may have to deal with unions. Mail in pharmacy is middle of the road but locations are limited. I interned for my pharmacy degree at a hospital and got a job in retail. They begged me to stay at the hospital but my DH and I decided to start a family and I became a SaHM for a few years. Now I work for a travel booking site, a lot of my education is already outdated. If you have back problems the hospital I worked at was pretty much sitting 90% of the time.

 

[SGB13]

We have a tech at our pharmacy that has just returned from back surgery and she is having a hard time. You are either standing and typing on a computer all day or looking down at the counter counting pills. It may be less physical than what you are currently doing, but at our pharmacy we are on our feet all day.
If you decide to go for it, take the class. It does help prepare you for the certification test. You are much more likely to be hired if you are certified. (Math failed some of our techs) Good luck!

 

[JohnDaleswife]

We have a tech at our pharmacy that has just returned from back surgery and she is having a hard time. You are either standing and typing on a computer all day or looking down at the counter counting pills. It may be less physical than what you are currently doing, but at our pharmacy we are on our feet all day.
If you decide to go for it, take the class. It does help prepare you for the certification test. You are much more likely to be hired if you are certified. (Math failed some of our techs) Good luck!

Well I might add that if I go this route I might even look into going into a more part time position. Maybe 24-30 hours a week if possible.

I might add, right now I am having a hard time finding a local school that offers the class.

 

[JohnDaleswife]

I have a sister-in-law that took a quick program for medical assisting last year and got certified as one and got a job doing that here recently. Now I will admit she had a hard time finding a job but finally got one about 50 minutes away.

Even though it is a bit if a drive, it will get her the experience she needs under her belt to possibly get one closer to home in the future. I just wonder how doable that might be for myself. It's a more hands on job than a medical receptionist, so I not sure about that.

 

[powellrj]

I have a sister-in-law that took a quick program for medical assisting last year and got certified as one and got a job doing that here recently. Now I will admit she had a hard time finding a job but finally got one about 50 minutes away.

Even though it is a bit if a drive, it will get her the experience she needs under her belt to possibly get one closer to home in the future. I just wonder how doable that might be for myself. It's a more hands on job than a medical receptionist, so I not sure about that.

Have you thought about doing home health care? I know there is a big need in my area for people, so it's easy to get a job.

 

[JohnDaleswife]

Have you thought about doing home health care? I know there is a big need in my area for people, so it's easy to get a job.

No, not really. I am not at all a nurse type person, so a certified medical office assistant would be absolutely as far as I would go in that direction.

 

[dclpluto]

you do not want to give up your job at ge with having 18 years there. Maybe put in job transfer to a easier job that your are doing now with ge. Job transfer I mean staying at ge just going to a easier department.

 

[kookiekat02]

My sister worked as a Pharmacy Tech for almost 7 years at a local retail store and HATED IT. She kept the job because it worked for her schedule wise and paid better than most retail positions but she was very unhappy her entire time working there. The customers and complaints were overwhelmingly draining as was the politics of being 'low man on the totem pole'. Just something to keep in mind...

 

[JohnDaleswife]

My sister worked as a Pharmacy Tech for almost 7 years at a local retail store and HATED IT. She kept the job because it worked for her schedule wise and paid better than most retail positions but she was very unhappy her entire time working there. The customers and complaints were overwhelmingly draining as was the politics of being 'low man on the totem pole'. Just something to keep in mind...

Right, from what I have heard, CVS is possibly the worst place to work in retail. I have heard that Wal-Mart has gotten better in the past couple of years. But I know there will be days, weeks, just time periods in general that it will be bad, if I go this route. I will admit, at GE, there were good times, there were great times and there were just awful times as well. But I can't say that I have hated it all the years I have worked there. (also I would look forward to working a job that is climate controlled)

 

[Jake&IzzyLand]

If you do an online certification program, just be sure it is with a not for profit school. You could keep your job and take online classes and quit when you are certified and ready to go. Most programs should be a few semesters long. Good luck!

 

[teacup princess]

I'd say don't bother with going to school unless you need to. It would be a waste of money. Just go around and talk to some pharmacies and get your applications in. Getting a job is probably 90% about the timing of applying. At my pharmacy, when someone quits it is so incredibly difficult on the work flow and everyone else. We either go short-staffed and have awful, busy, draining, difficult days or someone else has to pick up the extra hours. Thus, when a position opens it gets filled immediately. We maybe interview 2 or 3 people before hiring. If in retail pharmacy they'll start you out running the register and counting pills while you learn everything else on the job. You are given the materials to study and learn for the certification program during slow times and you have a year and a half to get certified before you lose your job.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Is there a particular reason you're pinpointing the medical/drug field? Have you considered how difficult it might be dealing with ill people and how polite, professional, and empathetic you need to be?