Leap Year: September 2013

It's been little over a year since I have started my career.... and I have began to contemplate whether this was the right profession for me? Do I love being a pharmacist? Is it rewarding?

I won't lie, I have had my tough days where I had to put in numerous $5 into this jar....

The concept of the jar was to limit myself from venting about work for more than 5 minutes. Each time I went over 5 minutes, I had to put $5 into the jar. If I got to a certain amount I had reconsider if I should continue with my job. Well good thing, I never reached that amount :)

To answer the questions, I don't regret becoming a pharmacist & it is truly rewarding. I do have to say it's not always easy and it comes with its challenges and frustrations.

Looking back, I got into the professions, because I wanted to help my grandmother out with her numerous amount of medications. It was overwhelming for my parents & aunt/uncles, because English was a 2nd language, and thus Medical Lingo a 3rd language for them. My grandmother passed away during my 2nd year of pharmacy school, before I was able to help her with any of her medications.

Thus, I constantly find myself treating my patient as if they were my family members. For instances, I will never forget a few patients that have taught me a few important lessons:

1) A retired pharmacist who passed away a year ago taught me {Humility}. I remember I used to explain to her the drug drug interactions & dosing of her medications. Later, I read in a palliative care notes, that she was a retired pharmacist. I asked her why she didn't just tell me, she stated that she didn't mind & that she was helping me learn. I smiled and thanked her. I still remember the day I read her death note and cried, just to quickly realized that she was no longer in pain.

2) A deaf patient who taught me {Patience}. My usual 20 minute initial phone consult turned into a 90 minute in person consultation with an American Sign Language Interpreter. On future office visits, he taught me patience as I attempted to use my medical sign language I learned for him along with writing certain items down. At the end of one of the conversation, he signed to me "improved" & "thank you", which really made my day, because I knew I had made a difference.

3) A difficult to managed patient taught me {Compassion}. I attempted to give her instructions over the phone like my other patients, but she never understood the instructions. Lastly, I resorted to having her bring in a pill box for me to fill. On her 2nd visit, she brought me these:

Two toy flashlights along with her pillboxes. She said "Thank You" for helping her with her medications & that she wanted me to have it! On the way out she gave me a hug and said "I appreciate you for all of your help". I was kind of shocked and had no idea she was going to hug me, so I stood there like a deer in headlights before I realized to say "Your welcome"

These are just some of the examples that have touched me during my year of practice.

So the title of this blog is Dandelions. Why? I love dandelions, because I associate them with making a wish & having hope.

So today, I wish to be a better pharmacist & that my patients get well soon :)

This is a card I made for one of my sick patients with a LIVESTRONG bracelet.