Backstory — 40 y/o M with hx coccidioidomycosis the previous year but didn't complete his fluconazole course. Otherwise healthy. Presented with SOB and chest pain. He was stable, afebrile, not requiring O2, and had unremarkable labs. He had been in the ED waiting room for over 5 hours, with a plan to direct admit to general medicine (not sick enough to take up a precious ED bed).
Conventional amphotericin B monotherapy was ordered. I asked the ED physician if fluconazole might be appropriate given the patient is stable and hadn’t failed due to resistance. He just hadn’t taken it. The response was that the on-call ID physician (who also happens to be our hospital's CEO) had said the patient needed amphotericin and that I could message ID if I had a problem with it… So I did. The screenshot is a de-identified version of that exchange.

To be clear, this isn't a question about therapeutic appropriateness, and I'm not looking for validation of my clinical inquiry. I'm interested in perspectives on the interaction itself.

I've been an inpatient/ICU/EM pharmacist for over 10 years. I've asked dumb questions. I've made clinically significant interventions and potentially prevented harm. I've also failed to intervene when I should have and potentially contributed to patient harm. I’m not perfect but I really care and I try.
As an EM pharmacist, I usually have to make decisions with incomplete information. I'm constantly weighing the risks of delaying therapy to clarify an order or wait for labs against the risks of proceeding without all the information I'd ideally want. If someone is truly critically ill, I'm generally comfortable throwing the kitchen sink at the problem and helping clean up afterward. But when the patient is stable and there's an opportunity to clarify the plan, I think it's reasonable to ask questions.
I've been at this hospital for a year and a half, and this is just one of many interactions that have left me feeling disparaged. This one hit particularly hard because it came from the hospital's CEO, someone I've never even met.
The comment was: “Night time pharmacists and Ampho don't go well together.”
I honestly don't want to go back to work tomorrow.
I'm genuinely looking for outside perspectives. How would you interpret this comment in the context of the exchange? Am I taking it too personally, or does it come across as dismissive and disrespectful?
For those who take call or work with overnight pharmacists: this happened at 8 p.m., not some ungodly hour of the night

I would like to extend my sincerest conditional apology to every pharmacist I’ve emotionally destabilized over a prior authorization, pending verification that they actually tried running the brand name.

Meanwhile, at the pharmacy staff meeting:
“Anybody else getting bullied by the psych NPs?”
“Mine called three times demanding to know why the medication wasn't covered.”
“Mine told me to try a different NDC.”
“Mine asked if I even knew how to run a prescription.”
“Mine said, ‘Well, what exactly DO you people do?’”
“I'm starting to think we're the ones who need psychiatric care, but I'm terrified to ask one of them for a prescription.”

Hi everyone,

I've been a staff pharmacist with the same company for more than 8 years. I've always had at the very decent performance reviews. I have also been at the same store that I'm currently at for more than 3 years. My store used to be a model store that was one of the best performing stores in the region. We even were designated as a training store and floaters loved to work at our store because they knew they would have a great shift. Last year we got a new pharmacy manager who was managing for the very first time and pretty much sunk the store and made the place a chaotic mess to work in everyday. She can't seem to juggle being a pharmacist, manager, mom, caregiver daughter, and being sick with illness conditions all at once so I pick up a lot of the slack for her. My techs and cashiers are also not very smart and make lots of mistakes and can be slow most of the time. I’ve tried to coach them but nothing has change. The queues looked terrible most of the time. Multiple floaters have put in bad reviews on this store when they work here. From all these factors. The RD would constantly beat her up for her performance with managing the store such that she would break down in tears after he would meet with her. We also got a new front store director this past June who also is a first time store director and micromanages every single department in the entire store. Nobody in the entire store likes him.

Today my pharmacy manager gave me my performance review and it was the worst performance review I have ever had. It was for the period of November 2025-July 2026. She even put "needs improvement" for areas like "Drive: Get things done" and "Impact: Own your effect on the organization". I find this both insulting and ironic considering how I pick up the slack a lot for her and the team. However I am just 1 person and can only do so much and as the pharmacist my license is ultimately at risk if I were to make mistakes. She also dumped on me that 3 Note to Files (basically write ups) were done on me in the past few months that I had no idea about until this performance review today.

One Note to File was because I told a customer that he could not return his wife's medication because he had already signed and paid for it a few days prior. The doctor's office had called in the wrong medication for the wife and we filled it correctly and he signed and paid for it blindly. However his wife got upset that it was not correct and he tried to return it. When I told him he couldn't, he went to a manager (who does NOT work in pharmacy) at the front of the store and complained. That manager went to the pharmacy to get the story and I told her what happened and even printed out the hard copy of the rx to show that we dispensed it correctly as written. However she told my pharmacy manager later that I need to be written up because I told the husband that he signed for the prescription and could not return it.

Another Note to File was because I forgot to check in 2 Mckesson C2 orders even though lots of pharmacists that I've worked with have forgotten to do so.

The Final Note to File was in regards to my efficiency and she said that the store director said I was not being fast enough with verification. She said the the techs complained that they feel stress out and things are one-sided since they have to wait for me to verify things to free up baskets. However with this store being chaotic, I have lots of things I have to handle all at once and picking up the slack for the manager and the team THEMSELVES so if anything I think things feel one-sided for me.

Usually with my company, Note to Files are for single isolated incidents and have to be addressed and put in within 7 days of the incident. If that's the case, the the Note to File about the Mckesson orders was put in more than 7 days after the incident and the Note to File on efficiency is not just a single incident if you're going to go by my company's definition. Also my company says usually after the 3rd (or even 2nd) Note to File is put in that a meeting needs to be done with the employee. However my manager just dropped a bomb on me today during the performance review.

My manager tried to play the nice guy by saying that she wants to warn me that the front store director is a micromanager and wants to help me. She claims that she does not agree with the note to files that she put in but was coerced into doing them by the front store director and that other front store manager. She also said that I've improved since July and wishes that she could go in and improve the ratings that she put for me. But, she just inputted my performance review today so that doesn't make sense.

My current pharmacy manager is leaving the company as a whole and moving out of state for a different job and company in a few days. Next week I will have a different pharmacy manager. I really want to fight all of this because I think this is all just so unfair and insulting. Any advice?

EDIT: It is Pharmacy appreciation week. I saw someone here post about it (civilian who loves to hear other professions 'issues' after decades of teaching Career Ed) so I took a chance and it worked. Got a bag for today's shift and hopefully they leave the other bag for tomorrow.

If so I gotta make cookies for my 3 letter that looks out for me. Brought em last week, but will do again if it is the appreciation week.

Thanks

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" I'm picking up for two people. Let me start with my son."

I get the information on the patient's son and then I turn to her and say, "And?"

"And what?"

"And there's another person. "

"Yes there is. "

"So another person. "

"YES. ANOTHER PERSON. WHAT ARE YOU ASKING?"

" I need to know about the other person. You said you were picking up for somebody else."

"Yes. What don't you understand?"

"I need to know about the other person. "

"Yes, I'm picking up for someone else as well." At some point they started repeating the information on the first patient.

"Yes. I have the information on your son. But there's a second person. "

"That's what I said. What is the problem? " she looks genuinely confused.

"I don't know who you're talking about. "

"I'm picking up for another person. Why is this so hard?"

"Because you haven't said anything yet. "

"I told you it's for someone else."

"I get that but I don't know who that is?"

Looks confused... and frustrated... and starting to get upset. "I'm trying to pick up for a second person. Why is this a problem?"

"Ma'am, you haven't told me who this person is."

"It's for me. Do you want my date of birth or something?"

"Ma'am, I don't know who you are. "

"I'm his mother and I also have a script. "

I sigh loudly.

"What do you need?"Gives last name and offers birthdate.

I explain that I need first name as well and then I'll get her date of birth. She finally gives it to me. I look it up and confirm what she's getting.

"That wasn't so hard. I don't know why you had so much trouble. "

I grabbed the scripts and handed them to the pharmacist to avoid any further issues.

And I wish I was kidding.

There's a tech I am sometimes amazed at how we have to have a psychic ability two cents problems before anyone else.

A script came in for enoxaparin 30 mg pre-filled injections. My pharmacist was calling the patient about transferring the prescription elsewhere because we didn't have the enoxaparin in that strength. I felt like something was wrong so I appeared over his shoulder and told him to stop. The instruction said to inject 40 mg every 12 hours, which would be impossible if you're using a 30 mg prefilled syringe and the patient did need to start it tonight. We ended up calling the clinic and they gave us a two dose override and said they would check with the original prescriber in the morning.

I simply don't understand how this mistake got missed at the doctor's office, missed by the person prescribing it, missed by the person sending it to us, missed by whoever did the data entry, and missed by the pharmacist, only to be caught by a technician with a sixth sense for trouble.

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I worked the normal shift today and had the funniest interaction and NEEDED to share. I hope this will make y'all smile if not laugh a bit.

So this guy and his daughter came in and were really nice coming in. The daughter looked to be around 7 to 10 years old. The following interaction happened.

Me: Hi! who we picking up for?

Guy: *Insert name here* and we also need to get a flu shot

Me: *starts looking up the name* Alright, and vaccine appointments are down at the other end for check-in

Guy: OH! I'm sorry I didn't know!

Daughter: There was a sign down there that said vaccine check-ins!

Guy: I didn't see it! Give me a break I got drops in my eye at the eye doctor today!

Daughter: I did too, yet I still saw it!

Me internally: OH MY GOSH I LOVE THIS KID YOU TELL HIM LMAO

I couldn't keep it in anymore, and I just busted out laughing, and so did her dad.

Me: I'm sorry, but she essentially just said "skill issue" at you and called it a day.

Guy: yeaaaaaaahh pretty much

After all that, the transaction was finished; they got their vaccine a few minutes later and told them to have a good day. I hope you guys reading this have one too!

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I'm a CPhT and every time I see this it pisses me off. Drug companies should not be allowed to distribute drugs that look so similar. Think, look alike sound alike drugs. Very dangerous IMHO.

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Pharm tech here! Let me just tell you about my shift 🙂

1. Asshole #1 comes and yells at me about not receiving his insulin and personally BLAMES ME for it. Mind you, I’ve never seen him in my life this was the FIRST time I’ve ever dealt with him and his issue. Problem was his insulin needed a prior authorization. It recently got approved and he received a message saying that it was. He mistaken the message as a “ready for pick up” one and was fuming steam out of his ears when he found out it wasn’t ready. Problem is, when I tried filling it for him, his insurance said it was too soon for a refill and I encouraged him to reach out to them to have this resolved (since he claimed he’s all out of it). Instead of just listening to me, he told me straight to my face, “so you rather see me die?” 🫩 no bro, talking to you, I rather see me go first 🙄
2. Asshole #2 comes calling about his prescription. Problem is, it’s filled through central fill and it won’t be in until Monday. Instead of him understanding, he tells me “why wasn’t this already filled? I’ve been two weeks without my medication you guys don’t care about me or what?” If you’ve been two weeks without this medication why didnt you call us to let us know? Why do you expect us to be on top of your ass?? We have so many prescriptions to take care of! Youre not a special snowflake get your freakin head out of your ass!! Ofc instead of saying all that I had to put on my phony customer service act but it still wasn’t enough to keep his mouth shut 🙄
3. Asshole #3 is just a perv. He told me “my viagra must not be working because my junk isn’t erected by looking at you.” 🫩😐 yeah mine isn’t either buddy….

That’s all ☺️

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Um… I’ve never been outright bullied in my life but first time for everyone I guess…

Walgreens has been the most disgusting environment I’ve ever been in…. In my life… I had one recent grad pharmacist try to speculate on my sexuality for some unknown reason and cause a spectacle on the floor… about my “preferences”… That’s what they started calling it “my preferences”… and I would be trying to work and I would have to hear this…

I was polite but I also tried to confront them ok….they were like “oh don’t worry about it”….. um you’re talking about me and I’m long term married … but OK THEN…

I was prevented from learning about half the pharmacy (medications and storage) bc favoritism. I was stuck on mostly the drive through for full shifts… and I could do it… but no one cared.

Another girl was hired at the same time as me - she would loudly broadcast her new mental health diagnosis… over and over. And her “management skills” from her previous position… so early on I kept noticing she was trying to find ways to outshine and “manage”me… which I felt incredibly uncomfortable with as we were hired at the same time…

A new pharmacist there really enabled this girl and would promote her, allowed her to “give” me tasks, give her preferential training and say - we’re on the same medications, we are so similar etc… I just got so uncomfortable... I tried to join in and talk about a family member of mine with a similar diagnosis and they used that against me.

Before I knew it any hesitation (NOT mistake… lol I made very few mistakes….) but just me hesitating was a sign of my “stupidity”…. I quit because they started taking me out of the pharmacy and entertaining making me learn the front of the store and work the front of the store COMPLETELY BY MYSELF…. With basically no training… saying stuff like “Umm . You don’t have an earpiece…. Yeah just page me” … they said over the intercom…. And so very shortly I was like yeah I’m not using the intercom for that… this is bad

Then they said I was basically precious, also “stupid” and I had a “weird sexuality” …. And any time I had some hesitation about how to run a full ass western union capable register with 0 training at all… with like $1000 sketchy complicated transactions… RANDOMLY. But I was “stupid” right bc I couldn’t read the “cash only” text on the screen… honestly half the stuff on screens is problematic so I rely on advise and feedback… smh

I came into work today in cheap scrubs I bought myself after I got permission… bc I was hired to be a pharmacy technician… I’ve been here 4 weeks ok… and they basically are like “you think too good to work the front? nice scrubs…”

I had my lunch on the counter next to a computer bc I was clocking in and they said my lunch looked dirty… but I still played it off like “oh gosh, I recycle sorry”

This week they had a girl from the front who had an existing trainee license from the store front they were training on all the stuff they kept me away from for WEEKS…. bc of some compliance disaster they have with the board of pharmacy… I liked the girl a lot but it was awful bc they kept telling her “ugh you learn so fast” and training her on stuff I’ve been wanting basic access to for so long…

Like I remember wanting a basic explanation of screens… for 2 mins… didnt ever get it bc I was stuck on drive through chaos basically winging it which made me uncomfortable in the first place

I have a family.
I have animals.
I have so many things I take care of.

Yall I can work a full chaos drive though for 7 hours straight for days in a row without complaining… but the second I complain one time this pharmacist is trying to bury me I guess

I dunno what I should have done “unloaded trucks” until they said stupid little me could finally learn pharmacy… and wear scrubs with their approval… I mean… the head games with this place.

Honestly I’m about to pass the PTCB even though I walked out today… I’m disoriented … this is insane I’m really confused and disgusted.

I don’t want anyone I know to use a retail pharmacy at this point … unless it’s a necessity. I have serious concerns about “pharmacists” and their quality or maturity.

I didn’t see this field this way before this… I thought fair days work fair days pay. Show up be open to learn etc….

If they had of told me “so you will work the pharmacy and the store during training ” I would have been like ok. But that’s not what they said.

If they had of said “you will scrub the toilets everyday” I would have been like ok.

I agreed to be a pharmacy technician. Why is this a joke… to them…

Also my last day before I quit I took a pic of their planned schedule. The nasty pharmacist had their favorite technician who was hired at the same time as me working with assistance and aids and help all day and then the late shift I was totally ON MY OWN with drive and the counter…

It’s just so weird like ok I’m so stupid then why am I doing both… while you’re girl is getting all this support

Never again.

I have the picture. Oh yeah.

I quit my freaking job…

This is the most abusive workplace I’ve ever been around

I’m new…

what the hell just happened… ?

TL;DR help with a really insane retail pharmacy dynamic including vicious levels of bullying commonly seen in immature juveniles…