What Kind of things do you need to consider on your first week at work

[jzd4rma]

Hey guys I'm going into the big scary world of responsible pharmacist so I was wondering what kind of things I need to look out for in my first week?

[Pharmanaut]

Hey guys I'm going into the big scary world of responsible pharmacist so I was wondering what kind of things I need to look out for in my first week?

Obvious stuff first.
Get the right amount of sleep. (Go to bed early if necessary)
Get to work early so you don't feel, well you know 'that feeling you get when you are late'.
Dress as smartly as you can.

Professionally.
Don't be rushed into making a decision.
Check the PMR when your are dispensing - it shows up things that are new to the patient and might need 'a word'. (Dose change/strength change/new medication); especially maintenance doses of drugs where the patient shows no initial dosing or titration. (Including opiate analgesia)
If you spot an interaction - as the patient if the doctor has discussed it with them. Most interactions are mitigated by stopping a drug temporarily eg Erythromycin + Simvastatin.
If you have senior dispensers ask their opinion if a customer is unfamiliar and wants an emergency supply etc.
Don't be frightened of checking a dose in the BNF etc.
Be careful about talking to the patients representative about medication matters.

Can think of more but - I'm tired.

[pre-reg trainee]

I like the reply to the above. On Monday it will be my 6th working day of pre-reg year and for the last 5 days I felt lost and lacked confidence. The place is busy and there is no time to do studying or practicing therefore seeing such posts helps a lot. What a shame there are no more replies to the thread. Anyone?........

[jzd4rma]

Pharmacynault thank you for your reply!

Pre-reg trainee I agree with you I thought people would flood in with advice I guess there is not much you can do about that!

[Tony Schofield]

If you are newly registered surely you have been doing a pre-reg so should have a damned good idea of what to expect. Just what do you want from people here? Recipes for different coffee beverages, Mcdonalds v Subway, fuel consumption of various cars you may be considering acquiring?

My own, back in the dim and distant, recollection was of feeling very vulnerable and knowing that staff in the Boots stores I was on relief at, knew damn well I was newly qualified. So I would add something about respecting the opinions of others, not being afraid to say "I don't know but I'll find out" (no matter who to), delivering that which you undertake, serving without being servile and knowing when to take a stand and say "enough"! This latter point will have diofferent grades of threshold depending on the challenge. eg a technician refusing to let you check her work as she has been doing the job longer than you (happened to me) can be dealt with by phoning head office and asking to speak to the superintendent whilst passing the phone to the individual indicating "if it's alright with the superintendent it's ok with me". A patient flapping a prescription in your face and demanding it's immediate fulfilling can be disarmed with a sweet smile as you firmly indicate that there are others ahead of them.

You will screw up a lot. Don't let it get you down and keep a sense of humour in everything. See the screw ups as learning opportunities and be prepared to admit when you get it wrong. Once people start to respect you it will get better.

[Nik]

not being afraid to say "I don't know but I'll find out" (no matter who to),

I was asked this week by a nurse how to give IV ondansetron to a lady who was due her first dose and whether it needed diluting, rate etc. I didn't have the absolute foggiest, but told her that I'd have to find out and get back to her. Ran down to the pharmacy dept to get my IV guide and went through it with her back on the ward. Have also been asked whilst as a pre-reg about IV teicoplanin and IV aciclovir. Sometimes I think that nurses think we know how every IV drug is given !

[johnep]

Well, there was a case where the hospital administered IV Epanutin Syup. Cost them 2 mln. Also IV injections have been given into the spine.
johnep