from RN to Pharmacy tech

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi everybody,

I'm an RN for 2.5 years now working on medical oncology floor. The way I see things are done in hospital, and how stressful and disrespectful nursing is, I'm thinking about career change before I get too old. I can't force myself going to hospital anymore. I'm thinking about becoming Pharmacy Technician, because I could use a lot of my knowledge there and not have to deal with patients. Do you know anybody who quit nursing and started a new career and is happy now? What do you know about the job as a Pharmacy Technician?

i've worked as a pharmacy tech for 3 years and if you think its stress free you're crazy. Between the customers that are ****** off at you because the insurance denied their claim, people made at you for making them wait for 20 minutes to get their prescription, all the drug seekers that are always bugging you, and the phone that never stops ringing it is NOT what I would want to do for a career. :down:

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Specializes in Hospice.

I also am a previous pharmacy tech, now turned nursing student. I have 5 years experience working for a retail pharmacy, 2 years for an insurance company, and 3 years for a hospital and after the 10 years combined experience I was making $11.09 an hour. For the amount of stress there is the pay is ridiculous. I got a lot of disrespect from people (even nurses... calling on the phone saying "Is this the pharmacist or just the tech?") I don't know about everywhere but the 2 hospitals I worked for the relationship between nursing staff and pharmacy staff was very strained. Let's not mention the physicians calling upset with the (lack of) speed meds are being delivered, automatic formulary changes, etc, etc. It's hours on the feet (like nursing) and even though everything gets double checked by the pharmacist it's very nerve-wracking making IVs. For example, a few years ago a tech may or may not have ;) drawn up straight KCl into a syringe that was supposed to have been adenosine for a stress test. Then she (may have) passed the syringe with the correct adenosine vial to the pharmacist to be checked. The pharmacist can not tell by looking at the clear liquid exactly what is in the syringe, he or she just has to take the tech's word for it. The syringe gets delivered to the stress testing department and the patient starts getting straight KCl delivered into their veins. It's noticed very quickly that something is very wrong and the infusion is stopped. This hypothetical situation, if it had occurred, is resolved now but the tech actually had to go to therapy sessions mandated by the hospital and the pharmacist placed on probation.

ANYWAY -- to make a short story really long -- I think it's pretty high stress being a pharmacy tech and the money you get paid is peanuts. But I will say that there are so many different areas of nursing that maybe another genre would make you happier, say working for an insurance company in case management or utilization management. But just like somebody else said, the grass is always greener on the other side!

Best wishes to you.

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I would try a different type of nursing before I'd quit if I were you.

Last night at work we were being introduced to the new IV set ups that our hospital is changing to. Two RN's from the manufacturer came to our unit and gave us a small inservice. I was thinking, "What an easy RN job. Little stress, though perhaps boring, just teaching nurses all day how to use products."

I love being a nurse and also love the pay, but sometimes the stress makes me want to find another job besides in the hospital.

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Specializes in Telemetry, CCU.
Thank you all who replied to my thread for your opinion. I have to agree with you all saying that switching from RN to pharmacy tech is a step backward. My unit in the hospital is so short of RNs on nights that many times I'm the only RN scheduled and then I have to be in charge every time ( because I'm the only floor nurse) and of course have patients and work with float nurses or other unit nurses or travellers that I don't even know. That really stresses me out.

But when I think how hard I studied for my license and how hard nowadays is to get into nursing school... and I'm currently working prn and have really flexible schedule and just working 2 shifts per week gives me 50 000$ a year I think I just have to find a better unit and stick with it.

Sounds like it might be time to look for an opening at another hospital.....At a place that actually respects nurses. I'm sorry to hear that you're going through this but don't give up!! There are other nursing jobs out there and you worked hard for your license! Good luck :heartbeat

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Geriatrics.

Pharmacy tech??? Why don't you just work as a nurse in a different area other than acute care? The options for work as a nurse are so many, I don't understand why so many people post about how they hate bedside nursing so now they are going to have to leave the field. You don't have to work at the bedside, you don't have to even work in a hospital especially if you're near an urban area. Just do some research. There's no way in the world, I would quit nursing to be a pharmacy tech.

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I am a pharmacy tech, currently going to school to become a nurse. It sounds like you're really unhappy with your current situation, but I honestly think taking a pharmacy tech position would be a big mistake. Not only would it be a huge cut in pay, I think you would encounter a lot of the same stresses that you are dealing with now. For a lot less pay. A LOT!

There is also the factor of status to consider. Pharmacy tech is not a high-status job. You might one day want to return to nursing, and this would leave a weird gap in your resume. I think employers would really wonder what had happened to make you take such a lower-paying, lower-status job. I have a friend who graduated from law school and failed the bar on her first attempt. Instead of buckling down and retaking it, she decided that she wasn't up for the stress of studying for the exam and working as a lawyer and took a job as a cashier in a grocery store. She did this for several years (really!) and finally came to her senses and took a review course and passed the bar. It was very, very difficult for her to explain to potential employers what she had been doing in the years since she had graduated. I'm sure they thought it was strange to say the least.

I would really recommend that you try a new nursing job before doing anything rash. Some jobs are just plain toxic, and maybe yours is one of them. I hope you figure something out! :)

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Specializes in medical.

After reading your replies with comments I really think that I have to do some serious research about other nursing jobs in my area. I live in metropolitan area of Washington D.C. I really appreciate comments from pharmacy techs since you know the best what's going on behind the pharmacy doors. I'm currently working as per diem and this way I work only few shifts per month, and therefore have more time to explore other areas of nursing. :up:

That example with the lawyer working as a cashier for years really made me think... and is an eye opener.

Good luck to you all

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Specializes in ccu cardiovascular.
Thank you all who replied to my thread for your opinion. I have to agree with you all saying that switching from RN to pharmacy tech is a step backward. My unit in the hospital is so short of RNs on nights that many times I'm the only RN scheduled and then I have to be in charge every time ( because I'm the only floor nurse) and of course have patients and work with float nurses or other unit nurses or travellers that I don't even know. That really stresses me out.

But when I think how hard I studied for my license and how hard nowadays is to get into nursing school... and I'm currently working prn and have really flexible schedule and just working 2 shifts per week gives me 50 000$ a year I think I just have to find a better unit and stick with it.

You just need a new job. I have often thought about doing something else, easier but we have worked hard to get to where we are. There are other areas of nursing less stressful. Take a look on monster or another job search engine I'm sure there are many places you can be feel respected for your expereice.

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Specializes in PICU, CCU, Psych.

Oh my gosh, don't do it! I have never been so disrespected in my LIFE as I was working as a pharmacy tech at Walgreen's. I actually had a customer tell me that he was going to go home, get his gun, and come back through our drive-thru lane and shoot me because I couldn't give him an early refill on a Schedule-II drug. Pleeeeease think twice about this career change. Often, you are the first person to tell someone that (a) their co-pay has increased or (b) their insurance company no longer covers their medication. You get the full blame for this, every time. Don't do it, it's beyond awful.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
Sorry to jump in, but YES! It is and can be a very stressful job. Especially working for a hospital and then a children's hospital as I did. You have to ALWAYS be on your toes and I was responsible for an awful lot. (I say that as I am going into nursing, lol. I am sure that it is 10x as stressful, lol) But again, it's not just about counting pills as people believe....

as far as physical, i was on my feet for 12 hours a day (like many of you) and I worked in under a laminar flow hood imagine working 12 hours with your hands held out in front of you above your waist for 12 hours. In full sterile garb (gown, mask, bonnet, gloves, shoe covers)....that's what I did...not to mention all the lifting of cases of fluids so you could restock....needle sticks from adding meds and electrolytes to bags...

I would say yes. He himself is a would say no, but he is not the norm....lol He has the oh well attitude about alot of things. He does not let things stress him, but I think alot is denial. But he has stated that in no way would he want to work in a hospital because of the responsibilty of doing the IV's. He did say that his former employer was hard to work for with what they expected of the eployees.

I also am a previous pharmacy tech, now turned nursing student. I have 5 years experience working for a retail pharmacy, 2 years for an insurance company, and 3 years for a hospital and after the 10 years combined experience I was making $11.09 an hour. For the amount of stress there is the pay is ridiculous. I got a lot of disrespect from people (even nurses... calling on the phone saying "Is this the pharmacist or just the tech?") I don't know about everywhere but the 2 hospitals I worked for the relationship between nursing staff and pharmacy staff was very strained. Let's not mention the physicians calling upset with the (lack of) speed meds are being delivered, automatic formulary changes, etc, etc. It's hours on the feet (like nursing) and even though everything gets double checked by the pharmacist it's very nerve-wracking making IVs. For example, a few years ago a tech may or may not have ;) drawn up straight KCl into a syringe that was supposed to have been adenosine for a stress test. Then she (may have) passed the syringe with the correct adenosine vial to the pharmacist to be checked. The pharmacist can not tell by looking at the clear liquid exactly what is in the syringe, he or she just has to take the tech's word for it. The syringe gets delivered to the stress testing department and the patient starts getting straight KCl delivered into their veins. It's noticed very quickly that something is very wrong and the infusion is stopped. This hypothetical situation, if it had occurred, is resolved now but the tech actually had to go to therapy sessions mandated by the hospital and the pharmacist placed on probation.

ANYWAY -- to make a short story really long -- I think it's pretty high stress being a pharmacy tech and the money you get paid is peanuts. But I will say that there are so many different areas of nursing that maybe another genre would make you happier, say working for an insurance company in case management or utilization management. But just like somebody else said, the grass is always greener on the other side!

Best wishes to you.

Thank you everyone, I had no idea. I knew it was more than counting pills, but really didn't realize it was so freaking involved. You see, this is why we all have to value each other as team members, including the ancillary staff, because we have to work together for the common goal.

Now a question for about the pharmacy tech that made the error; you mentioned mandated therapy sessions...was it because he was horrified at what happened, or the possibility of what happened? Goodness, you never know, huh?

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

This was SUCH an enlightening thread! I mean, I had no idea of the abuse that pharmacy techs encounter. Like I said earlier, I never believed it was just about counting pills, but I just didn't think that deep because it is not my environment. And it seems that these courses are popping up all over the place!

Is it mandatory that the pharm tech is to be certified, now, or does it depend on where you live? I had thought about encouraging my son to do it as a side job while completing his bachelor's degree in graphic arts. One of the pharmacists at my hospital is a friend of mine and told me if he got certified, he would make sure my son would obtain a position, but, my son declined, saying he has no interest in any part of medicine.

Again, this makes me think...we may not be administering what we think it is if the circumstances are as horrific as you all are describing. Geez...

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Specializes in Hospice.

Now a question for about the pharmacy tech that made the error; you mentioned mandated therapy sessions...was it because he was horrified at what happened, or the possibility of what happened? Goodness, you never know, huh?

It was mandated because she was so horrified by what she had done and the possible outcomes. Luckily (I hate to say lucky in a situation like that) if the patient was going to have potassium injected directly in their veins at it happened in the ideal situation. They already had cardiac monitors out the wazoo for the stress test. I think also she was very embarrassed. Even though the situation was so hush-hush EVERYBODY in the hospital knew about it. I think anybody in that hospital that made a critical/fatal error had to go through the employee therapy deal. My boss liked to hand them out a lot. She made me go to therapy because she heard I was having personal issues outside of work and was afraid that the stress from at home combined with the stress already at work would be causing me to make errors.

You know what really would have helped me more than therapy? Take the money the company pays the therapist, give me a raise so I could have the money to move out of the situation I was in!!!!!!!:angryfire

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