it's never too late to change course if you're still thinking about what to apply. If you ARE studying pharmacy, welp, too late for you.
If you're training to be one, all i can say, IT WILL END SOON. trust me, one year will pass by quickly because you will be super busy, packed and have little to no life. Maybe some, if you sacrifice the non-working weekends.
as a junior fully registered pharmacist, if you get supportive and kind colleagues, work will be A LOT less stressful. Mondays would be blues if patients come non-stop. Life would be great if you make fewer mistakes.
as soon as you could make time for yourself, learn slowly on how to be an adult. I am among the people who believe that there should be a 3months course on How To Be an Adult. The should cover topics on financial planning, taxes, cars related topics, insurance topic, paying loan, cooking classes, how to style yourself better, skincare, hair related etc. Then, when you're certified, you should have a trial phase. Yet, we are expected too much as soon as we start working. ok back to the pharmacy thing.
This career is a career with a continuous learning process. You can never be master at it all at once. For an example, in my previous facility, it was not compulsory thing to know how to teach patient on how to use n!cotine gum and patch, in my current facility, i must know. Besides that, learning to adapt. Urgh, as much as i hate adapting, it's a survival thing. You MUST learn to adapt. You can't give excuses on being unable to do certain things especially when most of them could do it. So, learn to be a multitasker. It is important if you get into smaller facility. One person holds a lot of roles. The higher you climb the latter of seniority, the more you need to do.
Try to be positive. If you're having a bad day, make sure you rise up for the next day. Not all patients are kind. I know it. I faced them 8 to 5 for 5 working days. Know that, most of them are grateful for us.
Being mistaken as doctors, this one. I'm not sure how to brush it off. When i was a student, i would ignore them calling me as doctors. I would confess im a student if they asked me doctor-related things. Now as a working pharmacist, most of my patient knows which is which because the doctors must order their prescriptions in the system. If any mistakes happened, i just told them we needed to confirm with the doctors and it will take some time. yes, doctors make mistakes. Pharmacists are the last line.
if you want to be the best version of a pharmacist, always keep updated with the latest guidelines, join conferences to update your knowledge, and always read all kinds of stuff. Knowledge is definitely a key besides having a good working ethic (very professional).
if you're doing the bare minimum, don't beat yourself up. you are surviving. you don't need validation on everything. just do your job as best as you could and don't cause any problems.
ive been scolded during my days,
i cried during those worst days
i laughed on happy days
i starved on busy days (lost 4kg during first 6m prp but gained back after prp)
i enjoy working so far
oh, have a solid plan at least on your final year as a student. it's very important to have a solid foundation on where and what you want to be. what kind of pharmacist? in this country, if you don't explore your opportunities, it will seem limited. i got a friend working in a huge company but they only hire 1 trainee pharmacist. so yeah, plan your pathway.
life is never easy, yet, as long as you're trying, you're doing it right!
