How long have you been a pharmacy technician?

I’ve been a pharmacy technician for a little over a year. I work for CVS pharmacy in North Royalton, Ohio, and I’ve been there since June 2018.

Why did you become a pharmacy technician?

It was an aspect of health care that I had never learned much about, but I was interested in. There was an opportunity near me, so I figured, why not? Let’s go for it!

I like feeling like I was able to help the customer, whether that’s saving them money on a prescription or putting their worries at ease.

What does a day in the life of a pharmacy technician look like?

It’s very busy. We have people walking up to the counter and coming through the drive-through. Every shift is different. Mostly it’s just about helping the customer. That comes first. There are a lot of different things to do.

As a pharmacy technician, I am required by law to direct any customer questions to the pharmacist, even if it’s just something simple like, “How many times a day do I take this?” I think sometimes that comes across as pharmacy technicians not wanting to answer questions, or not knowing the answer. But we really want to help. Customers should know that only pharmacists can answer their questions.

What is the most rewarding part of being a pharmacy technician?

People come in that are very sick or have a chronic illness they are dealing with. They have questions, and they’re scared or worried. I try to greet them with a smiling face and always be welcoming. It doesn’t seem like a lot, but I think it has an effect. I try to make sure that all of their questions are directed to a pharmacist and answered. I like feeling like I was able to help the customer, whether that’s saving them money on a prescription or putting their worries at ease.

What is your favorite moment as a pharmacy technician?

One time I had a guy come in, who had just been at the hospital with his son and wife. He had a lot of prescriptions to fill, and another pharmacy wasn’t able to fill all of them. We weren’t able to fill all of them either. But, I was able to explain to him how the process worked—why certain pharmacies have certain medications, why you can fill some right away, and why you have to order certain things. He was very grateful, and you could tell he felt like he was bothering us with his questions. I told him, “We’re here to help. This is what we do, and I hope your son’s okay.” 

If I take the time to make people feel like their time is important and their questions are important, I think that really speaks volumes.

What does this award mean to you? 

I am very honored to know that I am making some sort of difference. It’s nice for people to say thank you, and to go above and beyond to make sure that I was recognized.