Day 8 & 9 (is it? lol) – Community

The regular Pharmacist is on her vacation this whole week.

So, I have been working with another pharmacist. He is quite funny and just like any other pharmacists, very intelligent and knowledgeable.

I love when I’m able to work with different pharmacists because I can always learn something new. and in fact, I thought I have learned a lot last week but I have (already) learned a lot this week as well…!

One thing I have realized by working at the pharmacy is that all the pharmacists are SUPER nice people. I’m not sure if it’s the company or what, but so far, I’ve met about 10 pharmacists and they are all really nice. They are also really fair and have a good moral which I am glad to see because those things are extremely important in my life also. So I can really see myself working in this field for a long time. 🙂

I did a lot of things today for the first time, this pharmacist wanted me to (or didn’t mind me to) do lot of things and I was very happy and excited to take that challenge. after today, I feel 10X more confident.

I have dealt with couple of very unhappy customers today. They were mostly unhappy because the regular pharmacist who knows everything about their medications wasn’t there to talk to them. and I totally understand it is very frustrating trying to have to explain everything to a new person especially when they are taking 7 or 8 medications (and the fact I am new)….so, I felt bad, but at the same time, I knew all I can do is try my best to help them. So, I kept apologizing for the inconvenience and I told them I am trying to do my very best to help them. She yelled at me quite few times but at the end, I think she realized that I was trying my best to help her and she became nicer. The important thing is, I did it through, and I felt a huge accomplishment at the end. I stayed calm, and tried not to take it personally. and it really helped for me by just focusing on what I can do to help her.

Things I did today:

– phoned and communicated with other pharmacies

– took refill requests over the phone, processed and filled.

– printed out re-fill auth. form and faxed over to the doctor when it was necessary

– phoned doctor’s office to confirm with patient’s Rxs

– prepared Rx for delivery

– Put Rxs on hold

– dealt with unhappy customers

I took tomorrow and the next day off this week 🙂 I will be working at my other job…I am a Marketing Manager for one of the English school in Victoria as well. I will talk about this job in the future if I feel like it too…! 😉

Back to the pharmacy on Friday!

Night! 🙂 🙂 🙂

Day 7 – Community

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!

Today was another great day at the retail pharmacy. I am really liking this job which makes me very happy. 🙂 Going to school not knowing 100% if this is what I want to do was very scary but now I know for sure that I made a right move and I am happy but also relieved that the fact I didn’t waste all that money I paid to go to school. 🙂

I am always craving for more knowledge, and I think this occupation is perfect for me because of that reason. There’s always something new that I can learn. and everyone who works for this pharmacy is super nice…I would love to work for them in the future…!

Today, I finally learned how to use the till. So I felt a lot better being able to help customers  and not making them wait.

I have received and processed a few prescriptions today. I forgot to ask for allergies couple of times….:(  I know I just need to do it few times and I will be able to get into my own routines. I will try very hard to do everything perfectly next week. The key is to pretend that I am very confident and NEVER PANIC. I am quite good at it but I will do a lot better next time because of today.There’s always a way to fix things as long as you are providing the right drug and dose. The most important thing is obviously the accuracy(right drug, dose, route, time & patient) so I am always paying strong attention on that.

I feel like I have gained a lot today. and I am very thankful for that!! I am very thankful that my practicum host is really trying to give me the best experience as possible…I am such a lucky girl…I have had a wonderful experiences in the world of pharmacy so far and I can’t wait to see where I will end up….!

I am off tomorrow so have a great weekend every one!

Day 4&5 – Community Pharmacy

pharmacy

On Day 4, I had a chance to work with another Pharmacist which was good. different person can teach me different things or their way of doing the same things so it was good. I have answered phone called few times on day 4.

On Day 5, I am yet allowed to use the till but other than that, I feel like I have seen most of things done here and I feel pretty confident of being at the Pharmacy. At this point, I just cannot wait to actually start making $. As much as I’m enjoying working at the community Pharmacy, I am already looking forward for my hospital practicum…! I hope I can learn more and more this coming week…!

I love learning and challenges…! Bring it on!!!! 😉 😉 😉

Day 3 – Community Pharmacy

Today was a great day! 

The Pharmacist told me that I have been doing a great job so far…! 😀 That made me really happy because I have been really trying to focus on the tasks I have been given. And as I have been saying, surprisingly, I haven’t been nervous at all. It’s strange but I act so confident and calm. I am starting to really think, this is the right occupation for me.

Working at Retail Pharmacy is simpler than I thought so far. I think it’s because I came in here knowing pretty much everything. I mean I had to even study how drugs work in the body but in real life, Pharmacist does all the consultations and to be super honest, I have been feeling like I want to take more responsibilities…! I want to do more!!

 

I would love to get into the Pharmacy Program at UBC….It’ll probably take me 7 years to get there but I am going to start upgrading soon…my goal is to finish upgrading everything by around this time next year…! I have realized that I love learning and I want to continue learning throughout my life!!! 🙂  Anything is POSSIBLE guys and I will prove this in 7 years hahahaha Wish me luck 😉 

  

 

Day 4 – Long Term

Just finished my day 3.

I can’t believe tomorrow is already my last day…! So sad!!! 😦
I am so amazed how quickly I became comfortable and familiar with this place.
I feel like I’ve been working here for a long time…
I think it was because of all the wonderful people who works there…!
I keep saying this over and over but it’s the truth…! They made my experience so wonderful and unforgettable.
But at the same time, I am very proud of myself because I wasn’t nervous at all going in.
And nothing was surprising to me. Everything that was explained to me, I could understand fully because I’ve already had the knowledge from the school.
So, I was really glad that I went to school for this. If I didn’t know anything, this was probably
too overwhelming.  So, if you are thinking about becoming a Pharmacy Tech, I definitely recommend my school “Insignia College” Here is the link to their website.

Check it out 😉 www.insigniacollege.com 

 

Tomorrow is my last day so I should go to bed and get my energy charged!! 🙂
I’m starting my next practicum at Community Pharmacy on Monday!
Meeting more awesome people!! SO EXCITING!!!!! 🙂
I LOVE LEARNING and working with Intelligent people!!!

Day 2 – Long term

Had another great day with awesome people. I really like this place. Everybody says “good morning” to each other and I can feel full of “positive energy” in the room. 

In the morning, I did some blister packaging again. then we had several orders of creams. So I had opportunity to do the compounding! 

Cream #1: 
Camphor, Menthol with meta cream.
As I have done this at school, I had no problem with compounding this one. 😉

After making cream #1, I was feeling really proud & good…then I had to do

Cream#2:

Dicrofenac in Flo Gel

One of the girl told me that “that’s a fun one” with sarcastic tone of voice…
I still thought I could do it just fine…
I started to mix and mix…..aghhhh it doesn’t mix!!!! 
I was trying to mix it for about 25 mins…my hand aching, sweating away. (ew)
when I was almost done and I was getting excited, one of the Pharmacist came up to me and said “this is no good Lena. it’s too runny”. Then I was like “oh…really…? :(” She said that for some reason, sometimes the gel becomes too runny…it looked almost like a pancake mix….(when it’s runny). 

Anyways, long story short, at the end, we found out that was totally fine. we left that runny product on a counter and it hardened up like it should. But I used 95% of my energy of the day doing that lol This really made my day though. haha

After compounding, I learned how to do Tech-Check-Tech.They have the fancy Automated Dispensing Machine, all the medications for one patient comes in a strip in a sequence (Day and time). Basically, tech checks if all the medications are correct(right drug, doses, strength), in good shape, and also making sure no medications are missing. when you are done, you just roll them up and initial on a paper. 

At the end of the day, I have also learned how to put back returned medications in the bottles. 
it’s a simple task, but it was nice because I could become more familiar with medications. After today, I am able to recognize some medications just by how it looks. 🙂 

Oh and throughout the day, I am learning how to operate their computer system as well. 
I am still excited about Day 3! I hope this continues until the end!!!!
It’s 10pm! I better go to sleep!!!!! 🙂 Have a good night everyone!!
 

 

Long term – Day 1

This is the e-mail I wrote to the director of my school yesterday:

 

First day report from Lena! 

I had SO MUCH FUN at XXXPharmacy today. 

So weird…but I wasn’t nervous at all…I was very excited…

There were about 13 people there but they were all so amazing…

They were so welcoming and kind…

I felt so “natural” and “relaxed” being there. 🙂 

 

I did blister packaging all day today and I am pro at it now 😉

so I am hoping to learn more things tomorrow! 🙂 

 

My Online Practicum Journal as a Pharmacy Tech. Student

I’ve decided to start a blog. Well, who knows how long it will last but at least I’d like to keep my practicum Journals here…I would like to share my life experience with everyone. Facing challenges, sadness, struggling in difficult situations, going through changes in life, excitement, happiness & joy…and all kinds of real life experiences. I want to keep this Journal as “Real Life” journal.

I will talk about my past in the near future, but first, I will talk about my current life situation.

I’m just finishing up my Pharmacy Technician Program and as a last part of my study, I am currently doing my practicums and that will be completed in couple of months. 

Today was Day2 doing my practicum at the long term care pharmacy.

I will be writing my journal here and sharing on facebook as its very convenient.