Monday, July 18, 2011

Truly, A New Direction

When I started this blog, I wanted to write because I was so interested in how "Web 2.0" was changing how we interact, and I was excited to think that this could generate some extra income (still waiting on that income). As I wrote, I tried to find my voice and/or angle from which to create a niche. As I took this journey, I started to feel comforted reading other blogs and finding out that others dealt with the same situations daily. Soon I found out that writing was very therapeutic, and that it made things better by venting about them.

I began looking for a light at the end of the tunnel. I was very frustrated as a community pharmacist, and was hoping to find others that had some real insight. I will say that I have found some with insight, some with a lot of rage, and some with insight mixed with a blind loyalty to our profession. That being said, I feel that being involved in blogging helped a lot, but most of my anger truly subsided when I got a job in a hospital. A better fit for me.

I feel like I should apologize, though. There was a lot of bitterness in my early posts, and still some today. I was so eager to blast people for their selfishness and ignorance, that I lost sight of any humility or gratefulness. I have been truly blessed, and I am truly grateful. I have a wife who is pregnant with our first child, a home that I enjoy being at, and a job (not to mention a good one).

I'm saying this because I feel called to go down a different path. One that is driven by my faith in Jesus Christ. I plan to continue blogging, and to continue blogging about pharmacy, but in a different light. However, I cannot do this and be credible to this purpose without addressing the previous posts. If I didn't address the other posts, I would be a hypocrite, instead of one who is trying to be changed.

I feel that it is appropriate to tell you that I could not have this peace without answered prayers from the Lord. He helped me get out of retail, He got me into a less tumultuous situation, and He guides me today. I thank Him for all I have and can give, and I hope (and pray) that you will come to know Him as well!

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Battles

As pharmacists we are in a unique position to fight battles daily. In the retail setting we can choose whether or not to dispense a pain med to someone who may be showing signs of dependency. In the hospital setting we may have to call to change a dose of medication due to renal function. As all pharmacists know, these choices are not always met with openness. In fact, people usually look at us as some sort of pharmacy police.

For example, I had a patient come in with a lortab prescription. He had recently filled another, and had been filling an alarmingly high amount in a short period of time. I told him
That I was not going to fill it. He told me that the doctor said it was ok, and I let him know that based on my professional judgment, that I would not fill it. After our conversation, he commenced to call his physician, who then called me. Now this was no nurse practitioner or PA, this was the doctor calling, and after hours at that. I told him that I couldn't fill it without something being different, and he said that he changed it from every six hours to every four to six hours. So, he had me....

I then told him, "ok I'll fill it," to which he responded, "yeah, I don't know why he's taking so Many." Well I think I figured out why, and that was because the doctor kept giving it to him. Now, I understand that the guy must have been driving the doctor crazy, so I get it, but I still felt strongly about the issue.

These are the day to day battles that we fight because of our beliefs, and they are worthy battles (though exhausting). But what about our other beliefs? I mean there is no way that I can separate my faith from work, because without the Grace of God, I wouldn't be here, abd the meaningful things that I do at work are driven by this faith.

That being said, I feel that it is time for us to allow our Faith to ignite and move us to take a stand for religious freedom like we take a stand for other things in life. I believe that we should no longer allow ourselves to be too comfortable to prevent us from starting a revolution! To not take such comfort and refuge in our paychecks, titles, homes, and sofas to stick our necks out there and do something we in which we believe.

One great example to consider is the Nativity Scene. Special interest groups raised such a fuss about them that Wal-Mart took them down from their stores, and fire houses were forced to remove them. Now isn't it time to stop letting these people take away the Christian traditions and beliefs that made this country what it is today? After all, that story is what Christmas truly is all about. We really need to boycott stores that are afraid to take a stand for Christian beliefs.

By the same token we need to remove officials from office that care more about money than morals. The Bible says to be in debt to no one, yet that is the American and American Government's way of life! When will we take a stand? Will it be too late?

Monday, July 4, 2011

Nostalgia Anyone?

While there are some parts of this video I can do without, you have got to watch the Kings of Leon video "Back Down South." If you didn't grow up in a rural area, you may not appreciate it, but if you did, this video is sure to take you back.

Another song that is more fitting to the season is "Chicken Fried" by the Zach Brown Band. One of the best parts:

"Thank God for my life, for the Stars and Stripes, may freedom forever fly, let it ring. Salute the ones who died, the ones that give their lives, so we don't have to sacrifice, all the things we love."

Great lyrics. Hope you had a great Independence Day. God bless you and God bless America!

Saturday, July 2, 2011

Ancillary?

When I started thinking about going into pharmacy, I really couldn't tell you what a pharmacists' role in health care truly was. You could have told me that we are the most integral or the least integral, and I would have said ok. Once I started school, however, I felt as if we were the next best thing to physicians. Now that I have been working, I have come to realize that we are similar to mid-level practitioners with regards to scope of practice, and, for my situation, I would say as far as knowledge goes as well.

That being said, I have learned that we are looked at as ancillary in the medical field. Just like lab and dietary, we perform a service that supports healthcare. Our particular service is largely product based. While we are performing knowledge-based services more and more, in the form of consults, we still bear the title "ancillary." I witnessed this first-hand as one of the Officers of our hospital was walking high school students around, and stopped in to tell us that the student was being shown the ancillary departments.

I am fine with this notion, now. I mean, we have clinical duties associated with our services that are fulfilling, and at the end of the day we simply go home. However, as a recent graduate, I willl say that I wasnt always ok with this.

The point of writing this is to let future pharmacists know that what you see is what you get. Don't think that something changes once you get the degree. If you work in a pharmacy or have seen what goes on in one, be aware that everything stays the same, except for the paycheck. Now, is that good or bad? I guess that all depends on your goals!

Friday, July 1, 2011

A little strange

It's strange how the media portrays a picture of an America that is in so much trouble, yet it is left standing as if they are saying "how dumb" instead of "let's fix this." It's strange that when I do watch the news (which isn't often), all that I see is problem after problem with little in the way of offering solutions. When political dirty laundry gets aired to the American public, there is no outcry. I'm not talking about Weiner's photos or the selling of Obama's seat, but rather the leveraging of the American way of life to ensure that some CEO gets to live in his dream world (bonuses after bail out).

Funny how the politicians make little headway in finding solutions to the big problems facing us today, namely the economy, yet they manage to cater to special interests groups. For example, I heard that using God's and/or Jesus' name in prayer at public funerals for fallen soldiers is now banned (despite their beliefs?) The government has found the funds to remove God's name from court houses and monuments, but hasn't found a way to create more jobs. It's really sad that special interest groups get more attention than the general public, and I'm sure that it's because their pockets are deeper.

Well, just to let you know, when I went into the pharmacy in the retail setting, I prayed before my shift. When I go to the hospital now, I pray to Jesus before my shift. When I am making drips, I pray to God that they remain sterile. I pray before I do most everything, and God has blessed me. I wonder if our nation started praying again, if some of these problems would turn around.

So to all you members of special interests groups out there, if you have been to my hospital or pharmacy, God was consulted in regards to your meds. I'm sure that you actually take comfort in that, but work to reject his name.