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Reflection On Working at Walgreens
My journey as a pharmacist intern at Walgreens started over a year ago. It has been a
wonderful and fulfilling opportunity with numerous learning opportunities. It has also
increased my network as a pharmacy professional, as I have worked with many people in this
period. Working there has also given me a sense of what it is like to work in a professional
environment. I have had to learn how to adopt and practice the code of conduct at Walgreens
as an institution. I was impressed that their workplace code aligns with the codes of conduct
pharmacists are expected to have. The conducive work environment has supported my
personal and professional goals by offering numerous opportunities to build my knowledge
and skills.
The most influential person I have worked with at Walgreens is Pharmacist Manager
John. He was keen to ensure I understood how to navigate my responsibilities well and
perform my duties satisfactorily. His mentorship and that of the rest of the pharmacy staff
have encouraged me and motivated me to stay focused and disciplined. Working two jobs
and attending school is not straightforward and has required me to be mentally alert, be a
good time manager, and learn how to balance the two. The staff I work with at Walgreens
have helped me tackle the challenges I experienced. It may be a bit hard to balance all these
demands and responsibilities in my life, but working at Walgreens is fulfilling and gives me
immense joy, which makes all the hard work worthwhile.
Walgreens has become my second classroom in its own right. I get to see all the
theoretical knowledge I learn in class being translated into practical experiences. In many
instances, I have gotten an opportunity to get a practical application for theoretical knowledge
that I had challenges understanding in class. I have also been able to apply knowledge in
areas I need to master to be a successful pharmacist who positively impacts the patients they
serve. For example, after taking the Top Drugs course, John gave me chances to counsel
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patients on different medications. I started by shadowing the more experienced staff. I then
started counseling patients with one prescription. I first counseled patients who only received
allergy medications or antibiotics to hone my skills. Working on interpersonal and
communication skills and emotional intelligence was a great opportunity. Some of the
medications I have excellent details on include amoxicillin, cephalexin, azithromycin,
doxycycline, and levofloxacin.
October and November were particularly unique due to the vaccination season. The
higher demand meant it was busy most of the time. Increased activity meant we all had to
work as a team and ensure everybody worked just enough hours to avoid burnout. In this
spirit, I worked overtime to support the team. The normal shift requires one pharmacist and
two technicians, but with the higher demand for vaccines, the workload was higher, requiring
more labor per shift. Working overtime helped cancel out the effects of combined shifts. The
team recognized my input, and I was given a golden pin inscribed “best teammate ever.” I
demonstrated my commitment to my team by trying to be available on unscheduled days. I
love the pin as it shows they recognize and acknowledge my assistance even if I still need
supervision. Feeling that the extra effort is worthwhile motivates me to give my best.
This semester, the course on Pathophysiology has captured my attention. I enjoyed the
refresher on how the body functions and understanding how diseases disrupt this normal
function. I now have a broader understanding of the stages, symptoms, risk factors, and
disease presentation more profoundly. Although the patients I serve may not understand
complicated medical phrases and terms, what I learn in this class will help me have details to
explain to them in layperson’s terms. I will be more confident when counseling them on
changes they could make to manage their treatments better.
I feel that the knowledge gained in the Pharmacology course will be transformative. It
rhymes well with what I learned in other courses, including Top Drugs and Non-sterile
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Compounding. This harmony extends to my work at Walgreens because the more I learn in
school, the more comfortable, confident, and eager I am to work. I know my work
environment is an extension of a harmonious learning environment. It makes it much easier
to assimilate the new information I learn with the old and be more intuitive and curious in my
duties.
The increase in patient inquiries regarding clinics at Walgreens did not make me
particularly happy. Unfortunately, the 1111 store I work at no longer has clinic services.
Management decided to do away with it because of changing business priorities. It was a
strategic business decision that solved other issues, including those connected to healthcare
partnerships. Our regular customers have felt its absence, especially the old who preferred
coming there for consultations and simple tests. I hope that in the future, the clinic will be reestablished so we can continue serving the clients conveniently. I feel sad when I refer a
client to another clinic, especially when they enquire whether they will see the person they
used to be at Walgreens. I have to keep reassuring them that I have referred them to someone
who will give them quality services. Some are grateful, while others remain optimistic that
the clinic at Walgreens will reopen and they can return to receiving services in an
environment they have grown to love.
The staff shortage is another challenge that has always been there but has worsened
with time. Despite actively looking for suitable staff to join our team, we can never get
enough labor. The biggest challenge is the availability hours of the pharmacy technicians.
Balancing between staffing levels and allocated hours is a challenge. The team I work with is
pressured to work longer shifts. This leaves us overworked, which impacts the services we
render. As a student with two jobs, knowing that I could be requested to cover an
unscheduled shift is particularly unsettling. It complicates my time management by messing
up plans. I wouldn’t say I like this characteristic of working at Walgreens. We strive to
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navigate these challenges as a team because we understand that demand for services is often
more than what available resources can offer in the healthcare industry. We remain
committed to our customers.
The staff at Walgreens also deals with disrespectful or rude customers at times.
Working hard is demotivating, yet the people you serve do not appreciate it. The most
notable incidents happen with customers who frequent the pharmacy on weekends after 6 pm.
They demand swift services as they have other commitments. Most fail to listen to reason on
processes that must be followed to refill prescriptions. We ignore them whether they are in
the store or the drive-through section. It often leaves us and them feeling frustrated. We
prioritize balancing our professional responsibilities, such as adhering to operating hours,
guaranteeing patient safety, and managing the expectations of all our customers, including
those seeking late prescriptions. I have learned the need for professional standards in the
broader challenges I face as a healthcare professional.
My job at Walgreens has a lot of pressure. I ensure I unwind to prevent it from
impacting my well-being negatively. If I am well, my patient is safe, as the probability of an
error is lower. When I have exams or anything interfering with my attention or concentration,
I take an off or change my shifts when I feel better. I value accuracy and patient safety. Each
healthcare institution should ensure its workplace environment is conducive for its
employees. It should create an environment that supports their well-being because this
directly translates to the well-being of the patients they serve. The well-being of a health
professional influences the quality of care they provide.
I will still work at Walgreens until I graduate from pharmacy school because I enjoy
working here.
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