Pharmacist Qualities
There are certain qualities you’ll need to possess if you want to become a pharmacist. I’ll mention the major ones. If you don’t possess these qualities does that mean you shouldn’t become a pharmacist? No. I think there are always exceptions to the rule. But, these should serve as a sort of cautious guideline.
Anal Retentive
You’re going to be checking hundreds of prescriptions a day. Each prescription needs to be checked in detail.
Do you have the right patient, the right drug, dosage form, directions and strength?
You have 5 patients in line. Are all the prescriptions separated so as to not get mixed up?
In short, it’s a complicated environment and it helps if you are a detail-oriented person. Most pharmacists I know take the detail-orientation to a new level: anal-retentiveness. In the context I use it, it’s a compliment.
I’ve been told by my co-workers I’m a shining example of anal-retentiveness. Thank you very much.
Serve, Don’t Submit
I should really look for a better term, but this was the first thing that popped into my mind. And it’s usually the right word.
As a pharmacist you are first and foremost serving the patient. Then you serve a doctor and sometime even a nurse. Then you serve, in most cases, your employer. Finally, you serve insurance companies.
When I started in pharmacy I was OK with all of this. But as I’ve become older (and probably a little hardened by doing it day after day) I’ve found it to become – at the least – drudgery. And, even unbearable at times.
I’m becoming more and more independent with each passing year. If you don’t like ‘serving’ others constantly, pharmacy will be tough. At least retail pharmacy will be. I suppose another way to put it would be that you need to be a people person.
When I was younger, I thought I was a people person. Then, through the school of hard knocks, I discovered what was required of a people person. I now realize I was wrong.
Speaking of submissive, I already discussed how pharmacists – in general – are pushovers when it comes to standing up to their employers who take advantage of them.
Too often pharmacists are just nice people by nature. They take the serving thing too far though and then become submissive. Some even become doormats and welcome poor treatment by others.
Microwave
I once worked with a pharmacist who was the epitomy of a nice person. But, she let customers take advantage of her.
One time, a patient came up with a subway sandwich and asked it the pharmacy had a micro-wave. She said they did and then he asked her to heat his sandwich back up.
Would you go to your doctor and ask him to do that? Of course not, he’s a professional. The same with lawyers.
Well, I got news for you. As a pharmacist you’re a professional. You earned that title and respect. Act like it and make your patients act like it.
I would have simply smiled at the guy and politely told him no and not said another word. I’m a pharmacy not a subway shop.
But, she did it. And the guy didn’t even ask please.
Your Decision
In the end, the decision on what the true definition of a people person is is open for debate. But, there’s a fine line between helping people and being a pushover.
I still serve, but I also learned to pick my battles.
Concerns Over Abuse
I once read that pharmacists are second in line behind anesthesiologists when it comes to substance abuse on the job.
While no one talks about this, I’ve had potential students come to me and inquire about careers in pharmacy.
One student, who I knew years ago, was into illicit drug use. After he cleaned up years later I saw him and he asked me about pharmacy school.
At the time I knew it was a pipe dream for him because he didn’t have the drive or grades to make it. But, if he had, I would have had some serious reservations because of his history.
Of course, that doesn’t mean someone couldn’t overcome former addictions and make it happen. I know former drunks who are now bartenders. So, I’m sure it’s possible. But I think that would be the exception, not the rule.
Being an ‘addictive’ personality in pharmacy is a dangerous combination.
Honesty
By and large, pharmacists are honest people. Which probably explains their high ratings, historically, on the ‘most trusted professions’ ratings by the public.
When I was in pharmacy school professors were fond of mentioning the amount of trust the public had in pharmacists. I suppose it was a sense of pride of most pharmacists.
Of course, in February 2002, Robert R. Courtney pled guilty to 20 counts of drug tampering, admitting he diluted over 100,000 prescriptions and chemotherapy drugs to save money.
That, understandably, shot the whole honesty thing to hell for a while. But, all-in-all, pharmacists are generally honest, conscientious and like to serve.
Chemistry
When you are in school the bulk of your classes will be either totally committed to chemistry or have a chemistry component.
Could you become a pharmacist if you don’t like chemistry? Sure. I could become a nail technician if I tried hard enough. But I’d be miserable every step of the way.
And, if you don’t at least have some enjoyment for chemistry I’m sure going to school to become a pharmacist would be miserable for you.
The study of pharmacy is based on the sciences. But, of any, chemistry is the big dog.
Unique Ability
Dan Sullivan wrote a book under this title where he popularized the idea that everyone has an area or areas where he or she shines with very little effort.
In short, it’s your Unique Ability.
The trick is finding it though.
My best advice is to listen to those close to you and who know you well. I’d also recommend not flat-out asking them but simply listening to comments they make.
For example, people usually respond to me that I’m a great teacher (their words, not mine). They also tell me I’m good at writing. This are commonplace compliments I get.
The thing is though, I would have never known this had a taken some sort of aptitude test or popular skill test.
In high school I hated English. It was one of the most unbearable subjects I ever had to sit through. So how in the world could I be a good writer then. Because the type of writing people actually reading isn’t the type of writing they teach in English class.
I write like I talk. And it wasn’t until I got out of the classroom long enough to do it did I realize it.
You probably have similar skills or talents that you may not be aware of. Pay attention to the compliments that people pay you. And I’m not talking the fake compliment stuff. I’m talking real, out-of-the-blue, “wow” kind of compliments.
That should tip you off to your strengths.
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