Thoughtful comment. 100th post. More farting?!

Posted by The *Angriest* Pharmacist as --Not Pharmacy--, Disgusting, Update, Work Sucks

I received the following comment from Mary A. who identified herself as a pharmacy student. I am going to break the comment up and address things one by one.

I’m imagining that this blog forum has been useful as an alter-ego, but I can’t imagine that the work as a pharmacist is so mind-blowing that venting on such silly topics is useful in ‘taking one away’ like the discussion of laser pranks, intestinal gas, drunkenness, etc. Hey, I mean, coming to work hung-over is grounds for being fired in some jobs, notwithstanding the dereliction of ‘duty’. Doing pharmacist work requires mental wherewithal to carry out on to the best of one’s ability.

This is what differentiates you from me. You are a student, not a pharmacist. You’ve not actually worked 40 hours a week holding the ship afloat. Sure, you’ve worked and counseled some old bitty on metamucil, but you’ve never been the captain. At the end of a 12-hr day, where you filled like there was no tomorrow, you are drained — physically, emotionally, psychologically, verbally, and any other adverb you want to add in there (semenally?).

When I started this blog, it was to vent. Now it’s to vent and make myself laugh — perhaps some others get a few laughs out of this as well. I like making people laugh, and I’ve even considered doing an open mic night somewhere telling pharmacy jokes to the commoners. It’d take a shit ton of work, but I think I could pull it off. The blog is allowing me to feel out what is funny and what is not (based on hits to that post, emails, comments, etc). And it’s not an alter ego. If you personally knew me and read my blog, you may not realize it was me. The second I told you, the connection would be made and you’d be embarassed you didn’t see it sooner. I am the same person on and off. I’m a dick. I’m sometimes funny. I tell fart jokes. I make fun of people that are different from me, and I am always right.

I don’t know what world you’re living in, but as long as I’m capable of doing my job, and not still drunk, hungover is not against the rules. Just like being tired is not against the rules if you stayed up all night taking care of your sick kids. They can’t prove I’m hungover anymore than they can prove I have the flu. Either way, I can’t call in sick. So, I might as well bitch about it…Did I mention that I function just as well hungover? Yes, I did. There’s no way someone’s going to fire a pharmacist in this day an age for being hungover. Perhaps if you are a drunk, stink like Wild Irish Rose, or show up late they might can you. But, we’re worth to much to the business to dismiss. I’m sure they’d just have a word first. Finally, stop using big words. It doesn’t make you sound smarter. Especially when they are archaic…”wherewithal”? Honestly?

What are some personal reasons for embarking on a career in this profession? How long have you been in this career choice? Do you feel as if you’re in a corner with no other choices in carrying out your job? No matter how old a person is, there are always options to improve one’s lot and opportunities for improvement. Sure, there’s a lot wrong in our society and pharmacists that show up to work regularly tend to be on the front-line (to see it and bear the brunt). Because of the complexity of the job, there is plenty of room for disenchantment. Sarcasm and carping can be a hilarious way to cope, but surely there’s something redeeming about your chosen profession (other than the lovely lolly that pays bills).

I went to pharmacy school because I could. I worked in a pharmacy prior to that sweeping the floors and sometimes helping in the prescription process. I just thought it was easy, and I was good at chemistry. To an 18-year old, that seemed like enough. I’ve been in pharmacy for longer than you’ve been graduated from high school — we’ll put it that way. I’ve already outlined what was wrong with society here. I’m more disenchanted than what one would think. My posts are the best way to cope. The only other way would be to find a new job where I can write blogs about pharmacy, or something else I know, and get paid nearly $50 an hour to do so. Or, find a pharmacy that’s willing to let me rule with an iron fist — a pharmacy where I call the shots and the customer is not always right — a pharmacy where if you raise a stink, I’ll just tell you to find a new place to trade. Right now, the money ain’t hurtin’.

The blog on the patient needing a liver transplant or too sick to get one was classic. Bring on some more, rather than digression into silliness.

I’m very proud of that post as well. It’s not too often I’m able to make those connections, however. Why is that? It’s because of the shit that I talk about in the first link. How can I fully understand every aspect of a patient’s care when I only see them on a Sunday evening for a Vicodin script? Let’s not beat around the bush. It’s the regular patients that get the best care. You develop a repore with them. You know them and their meds. You know that their daughter had surgery last month. You can really make the connections there. I can’t make any connections on the Vicodin script you got filled if I never see you again. People are too transient — trust all pharmacists — but pick one to be YOUR pharmacist. Your outcomes will be better…I promise.

I was in a VA situation where everything was done to someone with HCV enrolled, physically prepped, into the operating theater, and transplanted with some accident victim’s liver, and within 2 yrs out, the organ wasn’t being properly cared for, and the docs were saying, no way, no how, were they going to invest the medicine necessary to retain it, if the patient couldn’t take better care of it, and himself.

Mental health and sociological issues. This society has a lot of people in it with them, and we see a lot of it. Pharmacists see a lot of it. We’re not prepared to change society. We don’t always know how to deal with it in a helpful way.

I don’t really know where you were going here, so I can’t respond. Either way, I appreciate the comments, Mary. I’ll try to throw in more hardcore pharmacy posts…but, there’s no way we’re getting rid of the silly. That’s my bread and butter.

-=+=-

THIS IS MY 100TH POST! Please go back and read them all…and rate them all! If you can’t rate them, it’s because you still have the cookie from the first ratings system that I ditched (it didn’t display properly). Clear all your cookies and you’ll be able to rate them again if you so choose. Once I get a plethora of ratings, I’ll compile some sort of list of my most popular/best posts and put them on the sidebar.

So, I’m not the only pharmacist-written blog that likes to write about farting out there. The Angry Pharmacist analyzed the shart and how to effectively hide the mishap should it happen. Whereas, I go into *explicit* detail on how to THROW a fart. If you’ll notice, my post predated his (in this instance) by about 2 weeks…:-)

Final Note — I’m changing the way I handle comments submitted to me via the form at the top of the page. No longer will I display your email address, IP address, or location. I will merely share your name, title, and the message if I choose. The disclaimer will be updated accordingly. I’m doing this to facilitate more comments and questions for me without fear of spiteful repercussions. I’m changing my evil ways…

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