Pressure. Pressing Down On Me

I read an article the other day that talked about the stress that all pharmacy employees face in their day-to-day work environment. The article mentioned that after a stressful situation it is best to take a break because the pharmacist or other pharmacy employee is a lot more likely to make a mistake after the confrontation. It also mentioned that not taking a break can lead to job un-satisfaction. Most of my experience has been in a retail pharmacy environment. Since I started there I have developed a set of tools to prevent stress, and in the unpreventable times, a way to prevent it from getting me down.

To Prevent Stress:

1.   Ask questions! So many errors that lead to stressful situations can be prevented if we all ask questions. I ask my co-workers first for insight into my problems, and if they cannot help me solve it I will ask the Pharmacist. 
2.   Let it Go. If a confrontation occurs between my fellow co-workers I will be the first to forgive and move on. Letting things continue to boil is bad for the entire work environment and affects all staff, not just the two involved. Most pharmacies are in very tight quarters and there is no avoiding people, the longer the argument, the more awkward it becomes. 
3.  Don't bring work home, and home to work. It’s as simple as that.
4. Don't rush. When the pharmacy gets really busy employees tend to get a little on edge and push for faster filling and imputing. Everything seems to get a little chaotic. These are when mistakes occur. Mistakes result in more time pushing everything back further, it is important to work quickly but maintain accuracy, once you lose that accuracy it won't matter how quickly you can fill a prescription. The one medication that was inaccurate may end up costing someone their life. 

In stressful situations:

1. Do not lose your cool. I have been yelled and cursed at, but remain stoic. The moment you escalate your voice to that of a customer, you are officially in deep water. Arguing with the customer can result in the loss of a job, and even a career in that field. It is important to be patient and just allow the customer to express himself or herself. 
2. Do not take the confrontation personally. The escalated conversion may be the result of any combination of things. Most patients are coming to the pharmacy in order to get medication to help them feel better, when we're sick we often times feel grumpy and upset. It is important to be empathetic and realize it is not aimed directly at you, but rather the situation you are apart of.

Don't forget to smile and realize that you have one of the most rewarding jobs in the world! :)

Pharmacists to Get A New Title

I don’t usually keep up with politics but the world of pharmacy has some exciting stuff on its horizon. A bill has been introduced into the US Senate that would designate pharmacists under Medicare Part B as healthcare providers. This would allow pharmacists to have an expanded role in communities where health services may be very limited especially to those with Medicare coverage. Additional services they could provide include immunizations, cardiovascular screenings, self-management education, diabetic screenings, and behavioral screenings. This would only be allowed in states where pharmacists have the right to practice these items. I was unable to find the full manuscript of the bill to post but I will once it is released. I believe that pharmacists should be regarded as health professionals, they have so much knowledge that goes beyond just dispensing medication. Pharmacists are at the core of healthy nations.

the waiting game

Is there ANYTHING worse than waiting for big news? No. Since December 31 I have been patiently waiting for the letter that may very much change my life. The first phase of acceptance into pharmacy school. It is all I can really think about, and the only thing my pre-pharm friends and I seem to talk about. Its so nerve-racking that the crew in charge of all of this went through my application and decided if I was good enough. That sentence alone is enough to put me into my panic mode. Lately I've been doing everything I can to AVOID thinking about this letter. Crafting is my current vice, but I'm fresh out of things to create. The letter will not arrive until next week. Its like having an angel and a devil on your shoulders. One side tells you not to get your hopes up, this may not happen, while the other is planning an outfit for interview day. I still haven't picked a side. All I know is I have no plan B, I only have plan A. I want this.

New Generic

The FDA has approved the first generic form of Nexium (esomeprazole). Esomeprazole treats GERD, which is gastroesophageal reflux disease that affects children and adults. While it is great news that this generic has been approved, Nexium is already available without a prescription and for less than $10 dollars at most retail locations. Depending on the coverage of the patient's insurance company, it might be better to continue buying it without the hassle of a prescription.

Me.

I never properly introduced myself, so allow me too.

My name is Ashlyn Riedesel and I am a Pre-Pharmacy Student at NDSU with a minor in Business Administration. Does that sound exhausting? It most definitely is. When I'm not in the library I hang out with friends, watch lots of movies and take an excessive amount of pictures of my dogs :) 

I chose Pharmacy at age 6, seriously. I was watching my uncle and grandpa count medication at their local pharmacy in ND and I knew I wanted to be right there with them. Fast-forward a few years and nine year old Ashlyn dressed as a pharmacist for the what I want to be when I grow up play. There’s a picture out there somewhere (I think). When I reached high school I wasn't so sure about my career path. I thought about architecture, can't draw, marketing and PR, solely based on the movie How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, and nursing, because of the natural girl/nurse stereotype all high school girls have. When it came time to apply for college I actually chose Nursing as my major, I wanted to work with babies in the Neo-Natal ICU. Then I started health occupations. My high school offers the program health occupations where students can work in areas all over the clinic and hospital to see which field they like best. It was there that I fell back into love with pharmacy. I followed around the hospital pharmacist Jesse and got to help him with his everyday tasks. I was constantly being challenged mentally and I loved it! He would ask me if I wanted to leave early and I consistently said no, I wanted to learn every thing he had to teach me! I had never seen the hospital side of pharmacy and it was so exciting. So, the day of NDSU orientation I marched up to the table and declared pharmacy as my major, and haven't looked back since. Okay, that’s a lie. When the going gets tough I joke that I should just become a baker instead. But with all honesty, I cannot wait to have the title of Pharm. D. after my name. Goosebumps! 

The Year of the Robot

A pharmacy in Texas is now using a robot to count their prescriptions. The EyeCon will scan the NDC code on the stock bottle, a technician pours out the medication onto the EyeCon and the EyeCon counts the required number of pills and the technician removes the excess. When counting C-2 medication the EyeCon has the ability to take pictures of the pill count to ensure that the correct amount of medication is dispensed. This picture can be viewed again later incase patients are questioning the accuracy of their dispensed medication. It is a pretty neat tool to have in the pharmacy and it is increasing productivity and allowing for fewer technicians.

Voice Your Value!

One of my favorite videos that relates to pharmacy that was made by my organization APhA-Academy of Student Pharmacists. It is so funny and I laugh every time!!