... and you'll get a job interview offer! Well, not from the devil literally, its from Kuldip! I talked about him yesterday and today the first thing I saw on my groupwise was an email from him to come interview for the position of a pharmacy supervisor. How exciting!

Like a better hospital, they will be taking care of airfare and lodgings which the hospital in DC did not do. Anyway, its a known fact that most of the hospitals in DC can do with more money. He also asked me to let him know if there were any places I would like to see while I was there. Hmm ... did somebody say Disney?????

The issue now is when do I want to go. I no go lie, last week's interview left oh girl with a coldsore and scared the bejesus out of me. The grilling was intense. And that came from a third rate hospital sef. This one that is a topnotch hospital will probably skin me alive. Well, I'll fix it for the 3rd week of February.

Maybe a long weekend, interview on Friday and come back on Sunday. I don't want to interview on Monday, the whole week will be messed up for me. Anyway, I'll decide later.

posted by lala @ 11:26 AM 3 comments

True Lies

Monday, January 29, 2007

I guess one of the things I have always heard and believed about myself was that I am a laid-back person. I don't really stress out over things and I'm not a drama queen. That much is true, I think but something I have just decided to be honest to myself about is that, I don't deal with stress effectively.

Guess what I do when I'm stressed? You guessed right the first time around! I eat. A soda, cookies and anything sweet. Thats not a very good way to deal with stress my body tells me. So how then should I deal with stress? I hate yelling at people cos I feel so, so guilty afterwards. I hate panicking and running around in circles but I don't know good practical ways of dealing with stress.

Of all the people I have talked to in a while, Kuldip is somebody I will remember for a long time. Kuldip is an assistant pharmacy director in one of these sunny states. He also accepted a management position right after his residency. I remember asking him how he felt on accepting his first position considering he had little personnel management previously. He admitted it was tough but one thing he said stuck in my mind. "You have to get yourself ready mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually." I know this sounds dramatic, but I see where he's coming from.

Its no secret that lots of people bring their personal problems to the job. The expectation from the people that report to you is extremely high, it takes so little for you to lose your respect with them. I would like to bring energy to any department I work in because I truly believe in pharmacy. I love the fact that I am helping people get better. I also truly believe that people give more if they are appreciated for their efforts. Or am I just an idealist? Only time will tell I guess. I wish I had a mentor I could talk to.

I guess this interview I came back from just opened my eyes to the gravity of my new responsibilities and also the fact that I'm a little in the dumps today.

posted by lala @ 1:58 PM 0 comments

Back in Barbeque Town

Sunday, January 28, 2007

Yeah, I'm back! I had fun in the Chocolate City, now its back to business as usual. Not quite looking forward to work tomorrow but ...thats a necessary evil. I hate checking my groupwise when I'm not at work cos I'm not at work but something tells me to check it so there will be no surprises tomorrow.

I really had fun in DC. Did not quite realize how much I had missed it. One thing I not miss though was the snottiness. In Memphis, all it takes for a conversation to start is eye contact. Omo, while at the African store stocking up on goodies, I smile at somebody when we made eye contact, man the stony stare I got back in return almost made me jump out my skin. I was like, "girl, u are no longer in Memphis, so keep your country act to yourself."

Next week, I will be starting with DKS who is a director at another hospital and I'm not really as excited as I thought as I would be. I think its because I have a lot of work to do and I don't want to be gone for so long.

But I remember Camille (my best resident) felt the same way last year when she had to go to ASHP in Bethesda, Maryland. Well, she tried to wriggle out of it but the lady at ASHP was like "but I've already planned our month together" so she had to go. Well, the month went by really quick cos I saw her one day and was like "you're back!" and she was! Sporting a huge engagement ring that almost blinded me cos her baby had proposed to her as they drove down to Maryland. I love that story. Can't wait to go to the wedding in March!

I have this huge cold sore on my lip. I get cold sores when I'm stressed so its because of that interview ... I think. Can't find the Blistex, really don't want to go to Walgreen's to get one. I guess I have to.

posted by lala @ 6:45 PM 0 comments

Friday Five: Hardly Working

Friday, January 26, 2007

A lil' more about me
1. What do you do for a living?
I am a "baby" pharmacist - no more a new grad fresh out of school but still testing the waters in many areas professionally

2. Would you characterize yourself as a hard worker?
Nope, but I think I work SMART. I know what I need to do, sometimes I don't want to do it but if I have to, I will do it.

3. If you have you ever had someone work for you as a subordinate or have lead a project, do you think you were a good boss? Why or why not?
Yes I have had people work for me or with me on projects. I am a good boss but I respect them well enough to let them do the job on their own but at the same time, I will stay on top of things.
4. If you could have any job in the world, what would it be? Why?
Writing comes to mind, followed by teaching kids. Writing is soul-baring activity, its almost like having an out-of-body expression. You can see yourself from an observational point of view. And teaching kids, what can I say, kids are absolutely adorable ... well sometimes

5. What job do you think most prepared your for the working world?
My job now as a resident - I'm the weird position of being between two spectrums of activity. After this period in my life, I will be one or the other so this has been an opportunity for me to see many varied opinions
****************************************************
Update on my interview
What can I say? I was thoroughly grilled by everybody. It was an all-day affair. Well, let me back up a little. My trip to DC was pretty uneventful. Immediately, I got to my friend's house, I started working on my presentation which was incomplete.

First yawa, my friend's PC did not have Microsoft powerpoint, it only had this Corel stuff that is so unfamiliar, well it did not even have Corel presentations, which is like powerpoint. I lugged out my laptop which by the way has Corel too so I rarely ever use it for my presentations.

Well, I had to this night ... so I worked on it, worked on it, then I lost my work ... which I had not saved properly! It was 3am in the morning, I hadn't slept, nothing. I seriously thought about rescheduling this damn interview but was like, I'm already here, I have to be done with this.

So I started again and finished by 6am. Took a shower, went to HU computer lab, pretended I was a student (you know, flashed my old ID at them)got in and did some final revisions. Then I took a cab to the hospital by 9am and had some time before my day commenced.

Wow, after the HR person spoke to me about benefits and stuff, it was on!!!! The director told me point blank, "I think your biggest challenge will be proving yourself to the pharmacy staff" Wow! so on that note, we talked a bit and then I met the nursing staff leaders, they too grilled me ... me I answered well too, I don't know if my answers were the kind they were looking for but me sef, I talk abeg. I have been around the block a few times, I know what the deal is.

Then I went to lunch with the director, then I cam back and did a 20 minutes presentation and after they had asked me all the questions in the world about my presentation, we got started on the interview. They grilled me no be small (the director said my face was red when she came to get me haha, blackie like me turning red, you can imagine but I hung in there)

Then the last stop, "ndi ama-alas" thats igbo for the owners of the place popularly known as the technicians came in for the final grilling. Guys let me tell you something, the techs can make or break you. I assure you. Them guys will fuck you up if you are not careful but they didn't know they are dealing with the original sweet talker. I have all the techs in my hospital wrapped around my finger. I'm not kidding.

And that was my day in a nutshell.... hmm I left out the part where I boarded a cab at Rhode Island metro to go to my friends house which was not too far (it was really cold) and I got this drunk idiot for a driver. I did not really notice he was drunk but he did not have change when we got to my friend's house so we drove to a liquor store, I got some change ... and some smirnoff ice and hopped back in the cab.

Yeye man demanded his money, I gave it to him cos I was so tired. Then as we were going the fire trucks blocked 2 streets, the idiot now refused to take me home. I said abeg use another street now, he was so drunk he was just slurring all over the place. I saw a police car and I got out the cab and went up to them. To cut a long story short, lets say Driverman will be cooling his heels in jail tonight and I got my money back.

And stellagirl walked home.

posted by lala @ 10:45 AM 3 comments

Race And The African

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

This morning while I was going to get some hot water in my office, I decided to browse through some journals. This article in Annal of Internal Medicine caught my eye. Basically it discusses the impact of race on physicians of African descent. I know, I know ... thats old news. I admit I'm not a physician, I'm a pharmacist but as I browsed through the article, I saw many issues that were applicable to me.

Firstly, the difficulties in identifying and engaging role models and mentors. To digress a bit, I have often wondered why 90% of african pharmacists worked in retail settings. I mean, thats not necessarily wrong but its pretty much a dead end career (in my opinion) because you could work in that store for the rest of your life. After more than 5 years in such a setting, hospitals are reluctant to hire you because there is little clinical skills used in the retail setting and to work in a hospital, you have to be really careful as many of the patients are acutely ill. On graduating from school, I decided to pursue an administrative track so I had to complete a residency (or two).

The funny thing is that, there are so few african pharmacists in any administrative positions and its not so easy to talk to these other people because they really don't understand where you are coming from.

An editorial on this article summarizes it thus
"In brief, the physicians who participated felt that race permeated their experiences in the workplace, shaped their interpersonal interactions, and defined their institutional climate; their responses to racism ranged from minimization to confrontation; that the healthcare workplace is often silent on the issue of race and that these experiences can result in "racial fatigue," with personal and professional consequences."

One of the interviewees states "Race influences the personalities of Americans much more deeply than for Africans or other people not born in this country. As an african, my primary mode of identification is not race, still most people see me and for them its race."
How apt.

Many of the recurrent themes, I found very familiar: pride expressed by only patients of colors during encounters, feeling invisible at work, isolated and lacking of supportive mentors, frequently omitted from information networks and social situations, undervalued work and involuntarily "cast" into race-based roles in the workplace.

I guess the only thing I did not quite like about the article was the fact that only 5 of the 25 participants came to the United States as adults, that to me being the core Africans (no disrespect meant to anybody) I just wonder what difference our thicker accents etc would make to the results.

posted by lala @ 10:17 AM 0 comments

A Free Lunch, Many Questions Asked.

Monday, January 22, 2007

Today was another day of tour guide duties. Two potential residents were interviewing. The girl was really working my nerves. Had something to say about everything. Luckily, I did not have to do much with her so I basically concentrated on the other candidate who was really sweet.

Thank God he did not have too many questions for me at lunchtime cos I would have told him to shut it! (just kidding) And as for me, I wasn't really in the mood for that tour cos I had just got fussed at. So it was short and sweet! Anyway, wetin man go do now

DC will have to be a road trip. I want a scenic journey. Eat and sleep all day. Cos when I get to DC, I start running around again. Long hours but I'll be fine, I think. But this people na wah, they haven't sent me an itinerary, nothing. I have no idea what my day is going to be like. I really have no idea either what I'm supposed to know. This is crazy.

Worst thing, I'm not really qualified for the position I think but if they want to interview me, I'm fine with that. I did tell them that I was just about to complete a specialty residency in administration but that hardly qualifies me for an "assistant director of pharmacy" position but the lady assured me it was just a name change and formerly it was titled "pharmacy manager" so I guess its the same thing.

I have sought advice from my mentor P.W. Strong woman she is, she's about the only A.A director of pharmacy in this area. I will have a rotation with her in March and hoepfully, I can get to know her better.

Still in my office. I will be staying late today to work on my presentation. I really hope it goes well. Wish me luck.

posted by lala @ 5:37 PM 0 comments

Tour Guide Day 2 and A Few Shenanigans

Sunday, January 21, 2007

I always try to blog about today, not previous days but today I am just going to just go for it and talk about whatever. Firstly, this whole tour guide thingy is not really working for me. I have become better at it (I always tell myself, if I ever decide to have a change of career, hey, I can always be a tour guide!)

But I had to laugh at myself on Friday about my behavior. Well, I told the secretary to include the other resident A so we could tour together. She did that but A's oga came to me, all smiles (you know this fake type) telling me A had to go on rounds etc so I should do it alone.

Omo, I cussed her out (... in my mind) but I agreed. She now gave me the resume for this prospective resident, I saw DC on it, I immediately perked up and was like "oh nice, he's in DC" And that was how I got excited about taking him around our pharmacy areas.

Two of his co-residents are HU grads like me so it was cool. We talked about things, I think I gave him some cool advice and you know, we will see after the marching program if he will come here or not.

Of course the best part is when we have to rank them according to who we want to come her, we all take a vote and talk about them, its so funny. All the current residents are thinking, "wow, was this how they were discussing us last year before accepting us?" I mean, its not like we say mean things or anything but we comment on their recommendation letters, their personality etc. Its really funny.

I have 2 people to tour next week and I get to go to lunch with them too. That part is fun I think. They get to relax a bit after being grilled (or lightly sauteed with butter as one of them would say) by the rest of the interviewers. Then they get to ask us questions and see if they want to come here or not.

By the way, I need to email the guy from DC to see if he had a safe trip home. Clearly he made an impression on me. :)

posted by lala @ 6:37 PM 0 comments

Friday Five: Shop-A-Holic!

Friday, January 19, 2007

Knowing me a little more ....

1. What are your five favorite stores?
Nordstrom Rack, Macy's, ShoeBuy, Sephora's, Target

2. Is there any store you absolutely hate going to?
Hmm, I'm not a big fan of all these stores that sell only really small sizes

3. Do you pay with cash, credit, debit, or something else?
I pay with cash, credit, debit. Anything I have on me, I pay with.

4. Do you prefer to shop in person or online?
Online! Makes my life so much easier

5. In the last six months, what single purchase has been the most important to you?
My Nissan Sentra

posted by lala @ 5:11 PM 0 comments

The ChickenBone Journalist Of The Year

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Ok, not exactly an awe-inspiring award but guess who got it in 2006, our very own Uche Nworah. As I was taking care of business yesterday (surfing the web) I saw this short story by him. Extremely engaging story. I have also seen a lot of his work on NigerianVillageSquare and I think he's a very remarkable writer. Well according to the Chickenbone Journal, his new book will be coming out in March of this year and I think it will be an interesting read. Let's go out there and get copies of his book

posted by lala @ 11:26 AM 1 comments

Its Official. Your Girl's A Tour Guide.

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Chai! I don suffer. I opened my groupwise this morning and saw 6 or 7 appointments for me to accept. WTF??? When I peruse this appointments, they want me to take prospective residents on a tour of the hospital especially the pharmacy areas.

Whats irritating me the most is that I don't have any business with some of these prospective residents. Why can't the present resident take them on those tours? I guess they have seen the jobless one.

As far as I'm concerned, if you take them out to lunch, then you should take them on a tour of the hospital areas. I already have 3 administrative residents to take on tours and to lunch.

That makes sense because I am an administrative resident so I can answer their questions about the residency from a resident's point of view but I know jack about the goings-on in cancer so why am I taking the prospective Oncology resident on a tour????? Omo, I am calling A. who is the Oncology resident now to ask her why she did not take the prospective resident on the tour. Nonsense and ingredient!!!!
***********************************************
I have just found out that I have to give a 20 minute presentation at my job interview next week. Man! I did not quite expect that. The topic is mine to choose but it will probably be a good idea for it to be about management. Hmmm

I got a call from Walgreen's Memphis district manager and when I told him what I wanted he says "we might have something for you" I almost burst out laughing. Might? More like "when can you start?" if you ask me.

posted by lala @ 10:05 AM 0 comments

Big Booty Judy!

Sunday, January 14, 2007

Yeah, thats me. I mean, what can I say? It is true. Just a little while ago, I wrote something about weight loss and I backed off again. Well I did start using my expensive cloth hanger (treadmill) again which is good. I used to say "I don't have time, I don't have time" but lately I have realized that I spend at least 2 hrs or more reading (drumroll please) blogs. Yes, very very good use of my time but what can I say ... its addicting. I'm knowing more about people than I ever wanna know sometimes.

So back to exercising, its interesting how it gets a little easier to be on that treadmill with time. First day, I cursed at Mickey D's, IHOP, Wendy's and Mama Twins Faze 2 in DC for leaving me with the huge booty I have now.

You know, I'm not talking about 5 -10 vanity pounds, I'm talking about she-looks-like-she's-five-months-pregnant, thunderthigh, how-can-anybody-be-so-big kinda pounds. So I am working on it and I'm pretty sure I'll meet my January goal of 5 pounds.

Roland, my personal trainer has given up on me. I must have gone to only 2 sessions. I have to start back up again. I'll much rather get the trainer that will come to my apartment. I looked into that and they asked for $1,500 up front. Damn this residency!!!! So anyway, its a new year. I'm gonna go for it. Yes thats a lot of money but its for a good cause, my health and you guessed it ... the MAN!!!!!!

Time to work that out. Stay blessed.

posted by lala @ 2:13 PM 3 comments

Work It Out Baby, Work It Out

Saturday, January 13, 2007

This is for all the up and coming members of the U clan living away from home. Now I hope y'all know Big Brother's delegate known as Big Sis is watching y'all. Now you know I love y'all, respect y'all and cherish y'all.

I have a piece of advice for you though, its your time, make the best use of it. Now I know that sounds very trite, you've heard it a million time. Well maybe there's a reason people keep repeating it. Because its true!!!!

Lil' mama talking about going to Med school, you've been in a community college for 3 years .... you need to work it out

Young playa, congratulations on your engineering degree. Whats that you say about Med school and Ph.d? You need to make up your mind on what direction you want to take ok? Like I say, work it on out!

Hey Red! You haven't seen the inside of a classroom in ages. You are only 17. Baby, I know there are a lot of issues with your dad but in the long run, its gonna be you bearing the consequences of these bad decisions you are making right now. Honey, I need you to work it out

J cutie, I see that anger and resentment in you. Best believe, it ain't about nothing. He can only hurt you if you give him the power to. You need to reconsider these steps you are taking right now. I know the ladies won't leave you alone and you don't have to be a monk either but please go ahead on and work it out

C-Boy, I must admit I was disappointed when you dropped out of college. I'll give you the fact that I haven't asked you whats going on but you have to work it out. You have to!

The rest of the A-team, you know yourselves, taking 3 credits every semester isn't gonna cut. You need to work it out.

Now, don't get me wrong, you must not have a formal education to make it in this life but you have to have a plan and a passion and be ready to push it!
Its a new year, Big Sis will come swooping down very soon. You need to stay prepared. You need to work it out!!!!!!!!!!!!!

posted by lala @ 9:42 AM 0 comments

Friday 5: Ultra Positive!

Friday, January 12, 2007

In what way is today better than yesterday?
Its a day nearer to the end of my residency program
In what way is this year better than last year?
This year is better than last year because I have figured out the answer to a question that had bothered me for a very long while
In what way are you better than you were six months ago?
I am more pro-active and more organized than before
Besides technology (because that’s so easy), what’s better about the world today than the world you grew up in?
The world today is better because I have more freedom to express myself, to indulge in activities that please me
In what way will you make (or have you made) someone else’s day better, today?
I made the long awaited call to a loved one

posted by lala @ 10:50 PM 0 comments

Success Is Laudable But Oh! The Journey To Get There.

Thursday, January 11, 2007

I guess something I do that I find interesting and I guess other people do it as well is to gloss past people's struggles and only focus on the success part of it. For example if I meet a rich surgeon, that last thing that will probably come to my my mind is what it much have felt like to go through all those years in school and residencies, fellowships etc. I immediately think, "Wow, that guy must be making a fortune!" Which he probably is but that's besides the point.
I thought about this today when I heard somebody I knew had quit his job after being there less then 6 months. Interestingly, this was the same person that was like "Don't quit, don't quit" when it was becoming unbearable for me. Now, don't get me wrong, he did the right thing by encouraging me. I would have done the same thing if I were in his shoes. But how come he's quit his first job as a pharmacist when he was the one doing all that encouraging? Now to cut him a little slack, the place he was working at, very very snotty. You had to look a certain way, live in a certain part of Memphis, and talk in a certain way. He neither looked, talked or acted the part. So they made his life miserable. Also it could be because he could afford to pick and choose but right now I don't have much of a choice because if I walk away, I don't get my certificate. However, it still stings a little when people are flippant about your situation.
"Oh, you can do it" they say "Its not a big deal."
"Yes, it is a big deal" I feel like replying or even screaming
Its not easy to put yourself in someone else's shoes, I've realized. Hopefully, from now on I can learn to empathize more with people instead of being quick to say something flippant when they narrate their stress to me.

posted by lala @ 3:46 PM 1 comments

Help! I'm A Nigerian ... Get Me Out Of Here!

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Okay, I admit I have been known to have many pre-conceived notions (I merely consider them strong opinions) but I think this one I'm about to share is valid. As far as I'm concerned, many Oyinbos suffer from obsessive compulsiveness. I mean, there is such as thing as too much detail! The new storm brewing in my world is our upcoming transition to Computerized Prescriber Order Entry (CPOE). In a nutshell, this means physicians instead of writing their orders, enter them directly into a computer. Then the medication orders come to us etc. Well, this means there has to be a lot of uniformity across the system cos different health care providers have different meanings for same things. So somewhere along the lines nursing leaders decided that medication should be input to be given at the next hour. They were warned that meant nurses would potentially have to be administering medications to adults every hour of the day! They insisted. Now we are about to go live and its going crazzzzzzy, I tell you. To me, Oyinbos are always going for perfection. They drill down into every minute detail. Don't get me wrong, detail is good. That is a quality I feel I as a Nigerian, I don't have enough of but gosh, the detail I see here is huge. We take months and months to solve issues. A single question always becomes a project and so forth. Wish me well, my phone will be going off the hook from next week but it will die down ... eventually.

posted by lala @ 3:05 PM 0 comments

To Bidil Or Not To Bidil?

Tuesday, January 09, 2007

I must admit there are days, many, many days I hate my job. But some things happen that make it a little worthwhile too. Take this case of the big fight over Bidil at my job. Now Bidil is a combined product antihypertensive. It is made of isosorbide 20 mg and hydralazine 37.5 mg.
Bidil became famous when it was shown in a drug study to be more effective in African Americans (it was effective in all patients but a subcategory African American showed the most benefit)
Now we have all heard how hypertension in African Americans is more resistant to treatment so this finding was quite a bit of a big deal. Bidil however is not carried by my hospital pharmacy and we usually substitute isosorbide and hydralazine when we get an order for Bidil.
The problem however is that the strength of hydralazine in Bidil is not on the market so we substitute hydralazine 35 mg for 37.5 mg. One of the medical directors threw a big fuss over it and brought it to the pharmacy and therapeutics meeting for it not to be substituted. Well, the pharmacists in the meeting were angry cos Bidil is expensive for patients to buy and what some of them will do is not buy their medications and when they are ill, they will come to the emergency room. The MDs were like "out our business! what we prescribe for our patients outpatient is not your problem. Let us deal with that."
So pharmacy was outvoted and Bidil was added on. The next month, it was discoverd that this medical director was a paid speaker for Bidil so it was brought up at the next meeting (as well as many backup ... that 7am meeting was the most attended I have ever seen til date)
Now its not that you cannot be a paid speaker for a drug company but you have declare it beforehand. So he apologized and the discussion began. Needless to say, oyinbo tore into him trying to humiliate him. He was outvoted this time.
I thought that was wrong but .... wetin I fit do? So now, we are still substituting for Bidil which is ok, not a big deal in terms of effectiveness but that meeting na wa. Things get as them be oh for this obodo oyinbo.
Now let me get back to stuff. Stay blessed.

posted by lala @ 4:16 PM 0 comments

"Excuse Me, Am I Good Enough To Be Me?"

Monday, January 08, 2007

Just this morning my oga sent me a mail about the self-evaluation forms she had asked me to complete by Friday. I must admit I just hate, absolutely hate, hate, hate those self evaluation forms. Talk about vagueness, subjectivity and wordiness! Oh my God! Those forms were designed specially to punish me, I believe.
Well anyway, I'm filling them out (most of them I checked "satisfactory progress" ...its my world, best believe it!)and I realize I do not understand many of the concepts and in less than 6 mths, I'm supposed to be a specialist. Every line on the forms had me going "hmm, did I do this, have I participated in this?" Honestly, I have no idea.
But then again, I guess the point is for me (... and my oga) to see very clearly what objectives I have yet to met. Haaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!! Life!!!!
I can remember a resident complaining about these damn forms when I interviewed but I guess I did not really understand what he was trying to say but anyway, what cannot be changed must be endured. I guess its my time to endure. Peace out!

posted by lala @ 1:58 PM 0 comments

Hook Me Up, Please!

A few weeks ago, I was on my favorite website when somebody mentioned SOS Husband so Stella girl got to work. Called up fellow Howard University alumni. Never mind that some of them I hadn't spoken to since we graduated and I asked if they were dating. Ok, I know you want to know what business I have (being single myself) with hooking somebody else up ... well none but it was fun. Thought it would be fun to yank somebody's cord.
I guess I got a taste of my own medicine when 2 of my girls decided to hook me up! I'm seriously gelling with one, the other ... hmm the jury is still out on that. But Ntefon and Vincentia, what can I say? Good looking out girls!
Anyway a word about my favorite website. Be warned! It is tres addicting. Don't say I did not tell you. Stay blessed!

posted by lala @ 12:51 AM 0 comments

"What Do You Do All Day?"

Thursday, January 04, 2007

I got asked that question today and I realized I have no idea what I really contribute or the impact of what I do to the organization. While this question was asked in jest, I can understand why nobody but me (and my ogas, hopefully) can understand how I spend my day.
So what do I do all day? It all depends ... on my mood, the deadline and if I am interested in the project or not. You see being a management or administrative resident is really different from when I was a pharmacy practice resident. My day was really defined. In the morning, I come in, pick up the most current patient list and look through the medications the patients are getting especially the new admits. I check their labs and stuff to make sure we are not adding to their misery but putting them on a medication that can worsen things. I go on rounds with the team (lasts for 2-3 hrs, oh my poor feet) then I go back to my office to do a few things before meeting with my preceptor in that afternoon. I go over all the patients with my preceptor, get asked a lot of questions (which I never know the answers to) and then solve some medication problems on my patients if my preceptors finds any I did not see. Sometimes, I have topic discussions with my preceptors if not, then I get to go back to my office to do more stuff (there is always one project or another)then go home and read a little (emphasis on little)
Now as a management resident, my oga (any one to all five of them) give me projects and a deadline. Then I am left on my own. I try to meet with my oga like 3 times a wk oh but sometimes I can't.
Well the end result is that it can be hard for me to prioritize my activities. I have learnt to make daily notes and put things on my task list so I will remember to do them.
So Ms. O, thats what I do all day. Today, I worked on loading a medication list for our mental health facility's automated medication dispensing machine. Later I met with a fellow resident who I am working with to start a protocol in our emergency room where pts who with suspected pneumonia get one dose of Zithromax within 4hrs of them coming to the emergency room. I also attended a 4 hr meeting with the Pharmacy Directors of all the hospitals in our health system.
You know what? I think I did a little work today. I actually did. Pat on the back for me by me. Stay blessed y'all.

posted by lala @ 3:58 PM 0 comments

Steppin' my game up!

Tuesday, January 02, 2007

My man Joe told me last week "Stella, I'm gonna quit messing with you by the end of this year"."What?" I screamed "And you are just telling me? I only have a week to step my game up!" "Yeah, that right" he replies gloatingly "only one week to step your game up." "Jeez, this is serious" I said to myself. So I did bring him a gift today. Hopefully I have stepped my game up enough for him. I really need Joe in my life. As a matter of fact, everybody need a "Joe" in their life.
Who is Joe? Joe Hill is one of the kindest people I have met in my life. When I first stepped into the pharmacy, a brand new pharmacist; Joe was one of the first people to put me at ease. When I had no idea if we mixed Azithromycin in normal saline (salt water) or dextrose water, Joe was there to rescue me. Who showed me the East wing, Tower wing, Sherard Wing and Thomas wing of the hospital? Joe.
Who taught me how to open up the narcotic vault to dispense narcs? Joe
Amost everything I learnt and other residents learnt were due to Joe. Though a pharmacy technician, Joe is as smart as they come. Never wanting to see us rookies embarrass ourselves, he always anticipated our problems and solved them before we even asked. I am so grateful to him for making my shifts in the central pharmacy a blast. Staffing only 4 shifts a month makes it hard to do order entry because there are all kinds of twists and turns, rules and regulations to remember. And the nurses and doctors calling to ask all kinds of questions doesn't make things any easier but its a necessary evil.
So you can see why I needed Joe. Now, the residency is winding down but I must comment that the pharmacy technicians here are really the best. Last week we were doing the "chicken noodle soup" dance. Thats how comfortable I feel with them. When I'm on call, I get so much love from them. No call ins, they take care of problems. I really respect their maturity. Though I'm younger and less knowledgeable about the workings of the pharmacy, they never ever backtalk when I ask them to do something. And in return, I never disrespect them. I love them to death.
Who is your Joe Hill?

posted by lala @ 6:01 PM 0 comments

Happy New Year

Monday, January 01, 2007

I love the first day of the new year. It feels like everything and anything is possible. That new job? Check! That new man? Check! That new attitude? Check! Check! Check! Oh, its on now. This year, I entered it swinging. I hope I will keep swinging till the very end.
I really wanted to go to Beale Street (Memphis' smaller version of Bourbon street) but it was too cold. Looked in my closet, looked at my bed ... the bed won. I had the best of sleep. Got a wake up call from Baby love in ATL. Haven't heard from him in mths. We exchanged new years greetings and I got up. Now whats a new year without breakfast at the International House of Pancakes (IHOP)? Not as much fun if you ask me. But the place was jammed with people so I got my pancakes to go. Hmmm, I started my day off really nicely.
I still haven't made new year resolutions oh. I need to have something in writing. I will get a Covey organizer. That organizer has a lot of helpful tips. I need most of all to work on a budget. I need to put aside some money. Maybe I should call Walgreens or Super d and pick up some shifts there. But it is kinda hard to moonlight in a residency. I'll call Walgreens on Wednesday. I can think of better things to do with my time but I may be able to swing it since I am going to be at the VA Hospital for a mth. Hmmm, oh well. I'll think about that later.
By the way, Happy New Year y'all!!!!!

posted by lala @ 5:51 PM 0 comments

About Me

Name: lala
Home: Memphis, Tennessee, United States
About Me: I'm an introvert. I love challenges and the "path less taken". I have discovered that life more of a journey than a destination so I try to enjoy each day. And if you've never failed at anything then you haven't tried anything outside your comfort zone. Right now, I have a love/hate relationship with Memphis. I love the city because the people are very friendly but careerwise, this place will be a dead end for me.
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