I can't believe I let this go so long! I have so much to say and so little time/motivation to say it!
To start, shortly after my initial post on "Operation Chocolate", something kinda big happened. I was working and two women in white coats came in the pharmacy asking for me. Now, I know what you're thinking... finally two white coats tracking me down in the hospital! Ha!
They had been up on a nursing unit when a nurse received a piece of chocolate from me with my customary note "something to sweeten your day - from Pharmacy". This nurse had been having a really awful day and she was almost in tears that somebody she had been so rude to (that would be me) would respond by sending her chocolate. So these women came to give me a pat on the back.
When they found me they started talking about how great I am (giggle) without introducing themselves so I was trying to figure out who they were. One looked familiar, the other did not. They must have caught that I was trying to read their name badges because they finally introduced themselves... one (the familiar one) was the CMO (chief medical officer!) of the hospital!
I really wasn't looking for any kind of recognition when I started this, but I'll take it!
At your service,
The Happy Pharmacist
PS... I will try to be better about posting. I promise.
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Thursday, August 23, 2012
7 - Operation Chocolate
A lot of things come up at work that I can't figure out how to share without violating privacy or company policy. This makes blogging more challenging than I had anticipated, but I do have a few topics cooking and I hope to find time to share them soon. Meanwhile....
I just celebrated my 1-year anniversary at my job and had my first annual review. It went well. They are keeping me. I'm still immensely grateful to have my job. I love my coworkers. I love that every day has a new challenge.
Even so, lately I've been feeling like I'm losing what I think is one of my best assets: my positive attitude. Stop laughing! If you know me well you are thinking of my penchant for snark. True as that is, I have always been able to internalize the sarcasm when necessary and project sunshine in spite of inward eye-rolling. But lately...
This week, after being bitched at by the 150th nurse of the night for not sending (insert completely NOT urgent medication name here) fast enough although I sent it twice already and it's probably sitting in the patient's med cubby or wandering the halls in the hands of another nurse looking for the nurse who is on the phone with me and she probably hasn't even LOOKED she just thinks it will drop from the sky in to her lap AND ANYWAY it's in her freaking pyxis (medication vending machine thingy for you non-hospital types) I had an epiphany....
Beginning last night, any nurse who is either pissy towards me or seems as though she's having a rough night (and the occasional nurse who gets less than the best from me on the phone) gets a piece of Dove (that's right no cheap stuff!) chocolate sent in a baggy with a note "something to sweeten your night (smiley face) from Pharmacy" in the tube with the med.
The first night of Operation Chocolate was a success! Two nurses made phone calls just to thank me. One of them said that it was the only good thing to happen in her entire 12 hour shift and I said yeah I have nights like that too and we laughed.
At the very least, I hope these nurses will be compelled to act a little nicer the next time I answer the phone. What I am really hoping for is that over time, nurses (at least the night nurses... one girl can only work so much magic) will move away from "pharmacy is slow and a pain in the ass and why can't they get anything here on time" and move towards "give them a break, their job has it's challenges just like ours does". It's a lofty goal... I'm wondering if Dove can work miracles? Maybe I need to step it up to Godiva?
At your service,
The Happy Pharmacist
I just celebrated my 1-year anniversary at my job and had my first annual review. It went well. They are keeping me. I'm still immensely grateful to have my job. I love my coworkers. I love that every day has a new challenge.
Even so, lately I've been feeling like I'm losing what I think is one of my best assets: my positive attitude. Stop laughing! If you know me well you are thinking of my penchant for snark. True as that is, I have always been able to internalize the sarcasm when necessary and project sunshine in spite of inward eye-rolling. But lately...
This week, after being bitched at by the 150th nurse of the night for not sending (insert completely NOT urgent medication name here) fast enough although I sent it twice already and it's probably sitting in the patient's med cubby or wandering the halls in the hands of another nurse looking for the nurse who is on the phone with me and she probably hasn't even LOOKED she just thinks it will drop from the sky in to her lap AND ANYWAY it's in her freaking pyxis (medication vending machine thingy for you non-hospital types) I had an epiphany....
Beginning last night, any nurse who is either pissy towards me or seems as though she's having a rough night (and the occasional nurse who gets less than the best from me on the phone) gets a piece of Dove (that's right no cheap stuff!) chocolate sent in a baggy with a note "something to sweeten your night (smiley face) from Pharmacy" in the tube with the med.
The first night of Operation Chocolate was a success! Two nurses made phone calls just to thank me. One of them said that it was the only good thing to happen in her entire 12 hour shift and I said yeah I have nights like that too and we laughed.
At the very least, I hope these nurses will be compelled to act a little nicer the next time I answer the phone. What I am really hoping for is that over time, nurses (at least the night nurses... one girl can only work so much magic) will move away from "pharmacy is slow and a pain in the ass and why can't they get anything here on time" and move towards "give them a break, their job has it's challenges just like ours does". It's a lofty goal... I'm wondering if Dove can work miracles? Maybe I need to step it up to Godiva?
At your service,
The Happy Pharmacist
Monday, December 5, 2011
6 - Do you believe in miracles?
http://www.azcentral.com/video/1308332544001
I am so proud to call the people who worked so hard to save this precious child's life my coworkers.
At your service, and with happy tears,
The Happy Pharmacist
I am so proud to call the people who worked so hard to save this precious child's life my coworkers.
At your service, and with happy tears,
The Happy Pharmacist
Saturday, September 10, 2011
5 - What I do all day
I write this blog because my husband was shocked to learn that I sit at a desk for a large part of my day. I don't know exactly what he thought I did at work? I figure if HE doesn't know what a hospital pharmacist does, then it might be worth educating the blogosphere.
None of this will come as a surprise to my fellow pharmacists. My other friends may have no idea that pharmacists are anything other than the extremely frazzled and mistreated white coats behind the counter at Walgreens. No disrespect - those folks work hard - but I'm a hospital pharmacist and therefore that's what I blog about.
Hospitals have pharmacists, usually 24/7 on duty. Every single thing you take at a hospital, whether it's aspirin, an antibiotic, or morphine, is reviewed by a pharmacist. And believe me, you want it this way.
Physicians are physicians and pharmacists are pharmacists. Just as I am not an expert on diagnosing, physicians are not (for the most part) experts on medications. We must work together. And for the record, many pharmacists are "Doctors".
We make sure that the drug that gets delivered to your body is the exact same as what was ordered. This may seem like a no-brainer, but with thousands of medications - many of them just varying doses of the same thing - this is a huge part of our job.
Pharmacists make sure that the medication isn't something you're allergic to (refer post #3). If it is something you're allergic to, we discuss options with the doctor.
We make sure that the dose ordered by the doctor is appropriate for your weight, your kidney and liver function, your age, etc. Again, we discuss with your doctor as needed.
We make sure that the drug and dose ordered is appropriate for what ails you.
We make sure that the drug ordered doesn't interact with any other medications you're on.
We make sure the doctor isn't giving you IV when you could be taking pills - this saves you money as well as discomfort.
We make sure the doctor is appropriately monitoring your response to medications.
We review your case to see if medications you take might be causing some of your symptoms (it's amazing how often this happens).
We often consult with your doctor to help select the right medication in the first place. We love doctors who ask our help in this. It saves us trouble down the road, and it helps you get better more quickly when the medication is right the first time.
We might visit your room to teach you about a medication, especially if it's something you need to continue to take after you go home.
Fellow hospital pharmacists - am I forgetting anything?
At your service,
The Happy Pharmacist
None of this will come as a surprise to my fellow pharmacists. My other friends may have no idea that pharmacists are anything other than the extremely frazzled and mistreated white coats behind the counter at Walgreens. No disrespect - those folks work hard - but I'm a hospital pharmacist and therefore that's what I blog about.
Hospitals have pharmacists, usually 24/7 on duty. Every single thing you take at a hospital, whether it's aspirin, an antibiotic, or morphine, is reviewed by a pharmacist. And believe me, you want it this way.
Physicians are physicians and pharmacists are pharmacists. Just as I am not an expert on diagnosing, physicians are not (for the most part) experts on medications. We must work together. And for the record, many pharmacists are "Doctors".
We make sure that the drug that gets delivered to your body is the exact same as what was ordered. This may seem like a no-brainer, but with thousands of medications - many of them just varying doses of the same thing - this is a huge part of our job.
Pharmacists make sure that the medication isn't something you're allergic to (refer post #3). If it is something you're allergic to, we discuss options with the doctor.
We make sure that the dose ordered by the doctor is appropriate for your weight, your kidney and liver function, your age, etc. Again, we discuss with your doctor as needed.
We make sure that the drug and dose ordered is appropriate for what ails you.
We make sure that the drug ordered doesn't interact with any other medications you're on.
We make sure the doctor isn't giving you IV when you could be taking pills - this saves you money as well as discomfort.
We make sure the doctor is appropriately monitoring your response to medications.
We review your case to see if medications you take might be causing some of your symptoms (it's amazing how often this happens).
We often consult with your doctor to help select the right medication in the first place. We love doctors who ask our help in this. It saves us trouble down the road, and it helps you get better more quickly when the medication is right the first time.
We might visit your room to teach you about a medication, especially if it's something you need to continue to take after you go home.
Fellow hospital pharmacists - am I forgetting anything?
At your service,
The Happy Pharmacist
Monday, August 29, 2011
4 - The Drowning Pool
This summer, a small child was found unconscious in a pool. 911 was called and the ambulance came quickly. They were able to regain a pulse, but he was brain dead.
This happens MORE THAN ONCE EVERY SINGLE SUMMER IN ARIZONA! People! Watch your kids! Put up a fence (which is required by law)! Don't ever assume even for one second that somebody else has an eye on your kids. They are YOUR responsibility.
At your service,
The Happy Pharmacist
This happens MORE THAN ONCE EVERY SINGLE SUMMER IN ARIZONA! People! Watch your kids! Put up a fence (which is required by law)! Don't ever assume even for one second that somebody else has an eye on your kids. They are YOUR responsibility.
At your service,
The Happy Pharmacist
Sunday, August 21, 2011
3- Allergies
From Merriam-Webster Medline Plus Medical Dictionary - the definition of "allergy"
1: altered bodily reactivity (as hypersensitivity) to an antigen in response to a first exposure <his bee-venom allergy may render a second sting fatal>
2: exaggerated or pathological reaction (as by sneezing, respiratory embarrassment, itching, or skin rashes) to substances, situations, or physical states that are without comparable effect on the average individual
In a serious healthcare situation, we pretty much only care about the first kind of allergy. Medications that cause these reactions should and will be avoided (with a few exceptions which I won't get in to here). If you have allergies of the second kind, we'll try to avoid those if we can but if those medications are the best choice then we may use them anyway and just keep an eye on you.
There are two points I hope you you take from this:
1- When your doctor asks you if you have any allergies to medications, s/he asks because s/he wants to avoid killing you, not because s/he wants to avoid giving you an upset stomach. Therefore, please do not tell your doctor that you are allergic to codeine because "it makes you want to puke". On the flip side, please DO tell your doctor that you are allergic to penicillin if it makes your throat swell closed. Note that no where in the above definitions is "upset stomach" considered an example of an allergic reaction.
2- When your doctor asks if you have allergies, please tell the doctor WHAT the reaction is so that your doctor can decide whether or not your reaction is a true allergy and whether or not a situation might warrant using the medication anyway. Do you want your doctor to hesitate giving you pain medication because s/he isn't sure if your "allergy" is a true problem? Do you want your doctor to hesitate to give you the best antibiotic for a life-threatening infefction because s/he isn't sure? If you don't tell us which of the two kinds of allergies you have to a medication (or if you call something an allergy that really is not), then we kind of have to assume it's the worst kind and avoid the medication.
At your service,
The Happy Pharmacist :)
1: altered bodily reactivity (as hypersensitivity) to an antigen in response to a first exposure <his bee-venom allergy may render a second sting fatal>
2: exaggerated or pathological reaction (as by sneezing, respiratory embarrassment, itching, or skin rashes) to substances, situations, or physical states that are without comparable effect on the average individual
In a serious healthcare situation, we pretty much only care about the first kind of allergy. Medications that cause these reactions should and will be avoided (with a few exceptions which I won't get in to here). If you have allergies of the second kind, we'll try to avoid those if we can but if those medications are the best choice then we may use them anyway and just keep an eye on you.
There are two points I hope you you take from this:
1- When your doctor asks you if you have any allergies to medications, s/he asks because s/he wants to avoid killing you, not because s/he wants to avoid giving you an upset stomach. Therefore, please do not tell your doctor that you are allergic to codeine because "it makes you want to puke". On the flip side, please DO tell your doctor that you are allergic to penicillin if it makes your throat swell closed. Note that no where in the above definitions is "upset stomach" considered an example of an allergic reaction.
2- When your doctor asks if you have allergies, please tell the doctor WHAT the reaction is so that your doctor can decide whether or not your reaction is a true allergy and whether or not a situation might warrant using the medication anyway. Do you want your doctor to hesitate giving you pain medication because s/he isn't sure if your "allergy" is a true problem? Do you want your doctor to hesitate to give you the best antibiotic for a life-threatening infefction because s/he isn't sure? If you don't tell us which of the two kinds of allergies you have to a medication (or if you call something an allergy that really is not), then we kind of have to assume it's the worst kind and avoid the medication.
At your service,
The Happy Pharmacist :)
Saturday, August 20, 2011
2- Why I'm so happy
I didn't give college much thought when I graduated from high school in 1990. I spent a few terms at a community college and figured I was secretary-bound. I went to work for what was then Norwest Financial (now Wells Fargo) and there I stayed until 2007. I worked full time and part time through the years. I was a supervisor and a peon. They were mostly good to me.
When my kids were little, I started thinking about going back to school some day and getting my business degree. I was thinking I would stay at Wells Fargo forever, and the degree would give me more opportunity there. When my youngest entered first grade, I took a few classes while I continued to work part-time.
During that first year, a math teacher asked me what my major was. I told him business. He said "oh that's too bad". He said that with my math skills I should consider a profession where they can be put to use. He planted a seed in my head. He retired after that term but I still think of him. I'm sure he wouldn't remember me now, but I'll remember Paul Porch forever.
OK typing out the details I realize it's a pretty boring story. The upshot is that I had a mid-life crisis and decided to become a pharmacist. And so here I am, a new pharmacist at age 39! I feel so incredibly blessed to have this opportunity. I landed a dream job. In my dream location. Heck yeah!
So I want to share a bit of my good fortune by spreading some worth while knowledge around. I'd be happy to take requests if there is something you're wondering about.
When my kids were little, I started thinking about going back to school some day and getting my business degree. I was thinking I would stay at Wells Fargo forever, and the degree would give me more opportunity there. When my youngest entered first grade, I took a few classes while I continued to work part-time.
During that first year, a math teacher asked me what my major was. I told him business. He said "oh that's too bad". He said that with my math skills I should consider a profession where they can be put to use. He planted a seed in my head. He retired after that term but I still think of him. I'm sure he wouldn't remember me now, but I'll remember Paul Porch forever.
OK typing out the details I realize it's a pretty boring story. The upshot is that I had a mid-life crisis and decided to become a pharmacist. And so here I am, a new pharmacist at age 39! I feel so incredibly blessed to have this opportunity. I landed a dream job. In my dream location. Heck yeah!
So I want to share a bit of my good fortune by spreading some worth while knowledge around. I'd be happy to take requests if there is something you're wondering about.
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