Should I have become a REAL doctor?

After hearing the same old line time after time, I start to wonder, should I have become a REAL doctor?   You know the line, "hey I know your not a doctor but...."

       Well check your references, because I technically am a doctor!!

  So why is it that our profession doesn't bear the coveted salutation (unless you are in an academic setting of course)? I mean Lou Holtz is holds the title  Dr. Lou from receiving an honorary doctorate degree in Football.

Are we too nonchalant to request that respect, or did we join the game too late to receive the honor? I guess the dentists joined early enough to insist on being called doctor. I mean it's not really a big deal, in fact when I graduated I didn't think twice about not being called doctor, but after a phone call from my friend I changed my mind. This friend and I haven't spoken in a while, and he was telling me about his mom's health. He said that her blood pressure was really high and the doctor's were having a hard time figuring out the problem.  However, before he told me this, he started the conversation by saying "I know you don't know nothin' because you're not a doctor but...."                               Hmmm.....

Okay, I admit, this is the same friend that tries to get me to tell him how much I make everytime we talk. He is also the same friend that would always want to beat me in everything when we were growing up. Unfortunately he has had some troubles in his life that lead him down the wrong path, and I pray that he makes it through, but you see my point. (Read this LINK at Student Doctor Network)

This just makes me wonder. Are we over trained for what we do, so that we really don't deserve the title? Also, is what we do really just a high paying dead end job? I don't know, I guess time will tell, but it is discouraging to hear about all of the money making opportunities the REAL doctors have (i.e. investigational studies, promotions, TV shows, etc...).  Especially when we are rewarded by being unknowingly ridiculed by those that use our services. Oh well, at least we get to go home at the end of our shift, and aren't married to our job like the other guys.

The Buck.... Never EVER Stops Here

Hospital pharmacy is really awesome. I am so glad that I made the switch. However, there is one big issue that I have noticed lately, and it is the fact that everyone passes the buck. If there is some kind of communication error or any kind of error, each department will try to escape any responsibility, and will pass the buck on to the next department. It wouldn't be so bad if it happened every once in a while but it is the FIRST thing that is done 100% of the time.

Example - Someone didn't receive their med
Doctor - "Nurse, why wasn't this med given"
Nurse - "Well pharmacy only sent one dose this morning, and thy take it twice a day."
Administration/nurse - "Pharmacy, why wasn't the second dose sent?"
Pharmacy - "No one ever called for the second dose"
Nurse - "We NEVER call for a second dose"
Pharmacy- "You ALWAYS call for a second dose"
Etc... Etc... Etc...

At what point does someone stand up and say, "I don't know why, here is the dose, and it won't happen again."?

Whats really sad is that pharmacy tries their hardest to pass the buck. The reason is that we constantly have to justify our position in healthcare provision. It's annoying to me that we are quicker to throw our hands up in the air to abdicate responsibility than we are to try to solve the root problem. We're to worried about looking bad, because then the doctors won't listen to our drug recommendations. That would mean all of the "clinical pharmacists" will have to verify orders. Oh no!

I guess it would be easier to take the blame if the nurses weren't so adamant that they are right about everything. Then there's the doctors, and I really don't want to get started about the doctors.

So now what...

Now that I have found a job that doesn't make me want to put a screwdriver through my eye everyday, I have found myself in a predicament.  No one wants to hear about how "perfect" my life as a pharmacist may turn out to be, but I have yet to find a reason to vent about this job.  I know that I can't continue to vent about retail pharmacy, as I have left it's evil clutches and have no intentions on ever turning back.  So what do I blog about?  You can be sure that I will use this tool to unleash my frustrations as they come about, but in the meanwhile, what should I do with this platform.  I guess only time will tell (with help from any possible suggestions), but I will definitely put some effort in finding something to talk about.  Hopefully things are going well for you, and if they aren't you can always listen to some Bone Thugs -N- Harmony as they always seem to have something to get me through.  (Listen to Don't Worry).

I almost... almost feel bad

It continues to amaze me that I was blessed with this opportunity. If you dislike your job or the people that you have to deal with. I would strongly advise you to look into hospital pharmacy. When I was in school, you would not have been able to convince me that I would enjoy being in the closed door pharmacy of a hospital (I'm technically not in the basement). I wanted to see and help the people, but I truly thank the good Lord for what he has given me here. So, I almost feel bad that I truly enjoy not having to deal with them.

That being said, it makes me realize (even more so) that it wasn't as much of the people that bothered me as the corporate structure. I wanted to help and counsel, but I knew that my timer would go red on me if I did. So, everyone that came to the consultation box made me mad, but it wasn't really their fault. Anyway, I suggest that you find your way out of whatever mess you're in and have faith that it all works out. Thanks again to all who comment (special thanks to the redheaded pharmacist).

First Day

The first day of my new job was amazing.  You actually get to sit down and you don't have to deal with insurance.  I can't believe that people in the world of pharmacy make almost as much as retail pharmacists, yet get to work in this kind of environment.  Retail pharmacists should have their salaries doubled for putting up with all that they do, but as for right now, it is what it is.  Anyway, just a quick update, more to come.  Thanks for reading.