knowing where you stand

[medical6969]

The new pharmacists are going to be starting in a few weeks.

I remember when I started, I was totally unaware about when I could simply refuse to do an action, for fear of getting into trouble e.g. refuse to dispense a script or refuse to serve a patient.

e.g. if you are handed a community tray to check with none of the accompanying boxes that they came from, you should simply say 'No', plus a good reason e.g. 'It's unsafe for me to say all the medicines in this tray are correct, when I don't know which boxes they came from. I'm not going to check it.'

So in what situations do you say 'No'?

[Defblade]

That's too open a question. The answer is "it depends" and it's the sort of thing that only really comes with experience.

If you're taking over as a manager somewhere, they're going to have to expect changes (I'd advise waiting a while even with a poor system to see how it works there before fiddling with it, and then suggest and discuss changes rather than going "MY WAY. NOW." - even if that's what is going to happen anyway ).

If you're a locum, it may depend how long you're there, for a start. Even then there are ways and ways of asking.... presenting it as a request and favour as you're newly qualified and nervous may come over better than slagging off the way they've worked for years!

(NB bringing a pack of chocolate bisuits to share always helps the first day )

[dizzyb23]

That's too open a question. The answer is "it depends" and it's the sort of thing that only really comes with experience.

If you're taking over as a manager somewhere, they're going to have to expect changes (I'd advise waiting a while even with a poor system to see how it works there before fiddling with it, and then suggest and discuss changes rather than going "MY WAY. NOW." - even if that's what is going to happen anyway ).

If you're a locum, it may depend how long you're there, for a start. Even then there are ways and ways of asking.... presenting it as a request and favour as you're newly qualified and nervous may come over better than slagging off the way they've worked for years!

(NB bringing a pack of chocolate bisuits to share always helps the first day )

Great advice...

[WindsorLR]

Re: knowing where you stand
Originally Posted by Defblade
That's too open a question. The answer is "it depends" and it's the sort of thing that only really comes with experience.

If you're taking over as a manager somewhere, they're going to have to expect changes (I'd advise waiting a while even with a poor system to see how it works there before fiddling with it, and then suggest and discuss changes rather than going "MY WAY. NOW." - even if that's what is going to happen anyway ).

If you're a locum, it may depend how long you're there, for a start. Even then there are ways and ways of asking.... presenting it as a request and favour as you're newly qualified and nervous may come over better than slagging off the way they've worked for years!

(NB bringing a pack of chocolate bisuits to share always helps the first day )
Great advice...

I wholeheartedly agree

[El-loco]

The new pharmacists are going to be starting in a few weeks.

I remember when I started, I was totally unaware about when I could simply refuse to do an action, for fear of getting into trouble e.g. refuse to dispense a script or refuse to serve a patient.

e.g. if you are handed a community tray to check with none of the accompanying boxes that they came from, you should simply say 'No', plus a good reason e.g. 'It's unsafe for me to say all the medicines in this tray are correct, when I don't know which boxes they came from. I'm not going to check it.'

So in what situations do you say 'No'?

So it's sod the patients - just cover your back?
Defensive, defensive, defensive - oh and did I mention be defensive. About right for the role of a pharmacist nowadays. And all because we have received NO support from our (alleged) professional body, no support from the (gestapo) inspectorate and no support from those (wnakers) we elected to the council.

I can't blame you with your "I'm not going to check it" but something has to change. Hey guys, this September it just possibly might.

[medical6969]

It's no just about covering you back and sod the patient.

If an airline pilot was told that the 'pre-flight' safety checks had not been done by the engineers, but 'you have to fly these passengers to their destination anyway' ...and he said 'No' ...I hope you wouldn't claim he was just covering his back, and sod the passengers.

Rather it's in the interest of both the pilot and the passengers that he says 'No. It's unsafe for me to fly this aeroplane. I'm not going to fly it.'

[bleepholder]

i think we have to be defensive in this age of compensation culture!!

[Pharmanaut]

It's no just about covering you back and sod the patient.

If an airline pilot was told that the 'pre-flight' safety checks had not been done by the engineers, but 'you have to fly these passengers to their destination anyway' ...and he said 'No' ...I hope you wouldn't claim he was just covering his back, and sod the passengers.

Rather it's in the interest of both the pilot and the passengers that he says 'No. It's unsafe for me to fly this aeroplane. I'm not going to fly it.'

So we could say that the RP legislation has put each pharmacist in the position of the pilot....
Instead of taking a hard line on the standards we have to put up with, we have rolled over like kittens and are told when to sign on/off and when we can take a personal break. So instead of complaining lets use the RP laws and get things changed... at least while we have the legal means to do it.

[Nimrec]

In all fairness the RP guidelines are still only a half written book. They were intended as a stepping stone to remote supervision but god only knows whats going to happen now. I'm about to hopefully become a newly qualified so a thread like this is handy.

[El-loco]

If an airline pilot refused to take off because of safety issues he would not lose his bonus, face disciplinary procedures and be criticised and bullied. He would also have support for his decision from government, the public, his union and the media.

Non of these are true of a pharmacist except for the support of his union if he is a PDA member.

That is the whole point!

And if RS comes in he won't even be aware of the conditions.