Placement day 3 happened last Thursday, so I'm going to have to test my memory with this log. 4 days ago feels like 400 days ago - I've been occupied with something every day and I'm a bit glad that I split the block with a weekend, because at least work meant a change of scenery/pace.
My ambition on Thursday was to improve my counseling technique. I prepared CMIs for learning and summarising, but according to J, the best way to learn the important information is by reading the AMH. That one's going to be a work in progress. At some point during the day, K did try to get me to counsel him on statins. It was a short-lived venture; the day-to-day duties of the dispensary quickly took precedence.
Thursday meant webster shipping which meant a chaotic rush to have everything packed/ready. All that on top of the usual dispensing. It was mostly stressful and now that I try to remember it, I can't. Having V there to help me dispense was very helpful although I felt bad for bossing her around. I learnt about the 21 day safety net - legislation/the healthcare system is pretty interesting to learn about, I feel like it's important to contextualise the profession. I hadn't really focused on the domains over the first 3 days because while I am aware of its importance in underpinning the profession, it felt more like rules. I feel like learning how to procede in accordance to the rules is more engaging and useful than just learning the rules. Same reason why they dont make us memorise/quote specific legislature??
As an aside, I finally met A! We go way back; he was the first person at the pharmacy to receive my papers and pass them to John. It was good to finally meet him again and to see him work. He's a very task-oriented person and although he only drops by once a week apparently, he picks up the work smoothly and efficiently. He also likes to keep the dispensary clean, which makes 2 (bless P).
Anyway that was a long ass day.
3 days off later - 2 x work + 1 x housewifeing - I return with a mild-ish vigour but a rested mind. I am ready to work.
The day peaked quickly and I was swamped with long ass scripts early on. Things of note:
- I had to interrupt a LONG script to rush a 2nd script because the patient returned early. In this situation I should've bugged someone else to do it instead of trying to do it on my own. By the time it was finished with me (yep) I was just totally confused by where I left off on the first script. FOCUS IS KEY.
- Endone is kept in the safe, and that HM/SPA are fairly reliant on each other for spare stock. Also Erskine Park. HCP relationships are important, not to mention all the phone calls John keeps making. Medicine swaps and compounding and prescription appropriateness are all topics conversation between the pharmacists.
- Some patients are patient and willing to come back the next day for an order. Some are not. I'm endlessly surprised by people who are willing to come back tomorrow for an order, especially old immobile people. What's stopping them from visiting another pharmacy to buy the medicine?
No specific lesson was taught today but I did talk to J/K about what motivates them and their thoughts on my patent vs royalty theory. I feel like I need to push the first question a bit further. They said money and family, which then got twisted into money anyway. I want a bit more substance. What is money a means for? Family is a wonderful, humbling answer and I have much respect for K for being motivated by his family. I want to know what money is a means for. Wealth? Comfort? Where does patient care come into this? I want to know what is important to a person who is a pharmacist.
Personally I think I want to do good. Simply to do good, and if reading and learning about the system so that I can change it or working with patients who are a part of it means that it will help them in their lives, then I will try my best to do that. Finding out today that I didn't get the position at the pharmacy was a bit soul crushing though; I'm more sad than angry or spiteful... Having spent weeks there, I'd hoped to get a leg up on the job, but in the end I doubt I was even considered. I didn't even get a call for an interview; I didn't get the chance to fight my case in front of F and even be considered. Honestly this is demotivating and it makes me feel like there is no room for me to contribute to this field. It's only an assistant job and as much as they talk it down, it's a step closer to where I want to be. How am I going to get there? I've eaten 3 consolation pancakes.
More notes in the domain booklets.
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