A few ?s about role

[OKgirl]

Do pharmacists ever have to give shots or actually handle needles (other than boxed for insulin and things like that)?

Do you ever have to deal with blood?

Being around sick people, what extra precautions do you have to take to make sure you aren't sick all the time?

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[cinnamoroll12]

I guess being around sick people or not, you should still wash your hands very often.
And yes, pharmacists can give shots.

 

[confettiflyer]

yes, pharmacists (with the proper cert) administer shots and whatnot. in fact, there's talk of pharmacists being the first line of mass inoculations in the event of some pandemic.

no, you usually don't have to deal with blood....unless the bloody patient gets blood on the Rx, then usually the techs deal with that.

Wash your hands, keep fair distance from the patient during counseling, exercise, eat well, stay hydrated, etc...

 

[cinnamoroll12]

During my volunteer shift at the hospital, I wash my hands every 5 or 10 minutes for 4 hours. But yea, wash your hands after every single patient contact.

 

[kattster]

I have a friend who goes to USC SOP and she told me there is a class they have to take where they learn to give shots. They all practice on themselves first and then on fellow classmates which the professor watches to judge whether they are doing it properly. I also know that many pharmacists give flu vaccinations so yes, pharmacists definitely can give shots but of course, after the necessary training as the previous posts have mentioned.

I volunteer in a hospital pharmacy also and have not noticed myself getting sick more often. I wash my hands at the end of my five hour shift or if I'm going to go eat something and an extra time that one time someone came in for a prescription to treat scabies. After looking scabies up though, I probably didn't even need to do that since it's not that contagious. Plus that's what our immune systems are for! Oh, but we do have anti-bacterial all over the place and they taught proper hand-washing techniques during the volunteer orientation so the usual precautions with trying not to spread germs is very important in trying not to get sick or getting others sick. I think nurses and doctors with a lot more direct patient contact have to worry about it more.

I have had to hand out a couple of plastic bags or buckets to people who needed to vomit though!

 

[OKgirl]

I have a friend who goes to USC SOP and she told me there is a class they have to take where they learn to give shots. They all practice on themselves first and then on fellow classmates which the professor watches to judge whether they are doing it properly.

Please tell me thats a joke! How could you give yourself shots until you get the technique? Wouldn't that be bad to do? Geez....

Ok so baisically you have to be certified to give shots or else you don't do it. I suppose giving shots wouldn't be that bad because you don't have to find a vein, but I still really would not be able to do that. I'm really hoping that my school doesn't require that course!

I just realized that my question about staying healthy cam out wrong. What I meant is do pharmacists have to get extra vaccines/TB tests and things of that sort?

 

[cinnamoroll12]

I know if you work or volunteer at the hospital, you MUST get your TB test done once a year.

Not to scare you or anything, but I heard a story of a P1 student who accidently had the needle hitting her bone when the other student was training to give shots on her. She almost fainted though.

 

[OKgirl]

I know if you work or volunteer at the hospital, you MUST get your TB test done once a year.

Not to scare you or anything, but I heard a story of a P1 student who accidently had the needle hitting her bone when the other student was training to give shots on her. She almost fainted though.

Whats the name of the class where you learn how to give shots?

 

[cinnamoroll12]

Actually I don't know the name, but it's one of those workshops on the weekends I think...

 

[OKgirl]

Actually I don't know the name, but it's one of those workshops on the weekends I think...

Oh please let it be optional. I thought pharmacy was going to be perfect--no needles, blood, bones popping out, no feeling all over people...

Now I'm REALLY freaked out about it

 

[cinnamoroll12]

Haha, I think you scared some other people on here too! Florio just posted a similar thread on here. Like I said on that thread, I don't mind giving other people shots, but I don't want to be a pin cushion.

 

[OKgirl]

Yeah that seems like the worst part (i don't know which is worse-giving yourself one or trusting classmates). Now that I think, actually giving the shots wouldn't be too horribly bad....just keep the needle away from me

 

[OKgirl]

I have another question--do pharm schools actually require the cadaver anantomy course? I know my school doesn't even offer it

 

[Knickerbocker]

I have another question--do pharm schools actually require the cadaver anantomy course? I know my school doesn't even offer it

I was told that some schools did it long ago, but not these days.

 

[OKgirl]

Ok good!

 

[nerv12345]

I was told that some schools did it long ago, but not these days.

that's unfortunate--i think that would be an interesting class to take!

 

[labrat024]

that's unfortunate--i think that would be an interesting class to take!

My undergrad anatomy class had cadavers. It was pretty cool. They actually looked like beef jerky (muscles). They also didn't have something covering their faces, so we got to see their eyes, teeth, tongues, and they all rocked out a buzzed hair do! I wasn't too fond of the genitalia either, especially from an 85 yr old dude

 

[confettiflyer]

i like working on cadavers...you can mess up and they won't talk back to you!

but yes i'm not a fan of the smell so much...

...you squeamish people are funny. You're going into healthcare where needles and death are as common as vibrators and asian porn in an adult bookstore.

 

[OKgirl]

I think it would be neat to see, but I would feel like one of those I-killed-someone-and-cut-their-body-up-and-now-I-am-going-to-do-weird-things-with-it people if I had to actually dissect it. Maybe if their wasn't a name and face to it, it would be easier. I heard that cutting bones smells like fritos. It would be awesome if you could actually see the effects of meds on the body.

 

[Farmercyst]

Please tell me thats a joke! How could you give yourself shots until you get the technique? Wouldn't that be bad to do? Geez....

Ok so baisically you have to be certified to give shots or else you don't do it. I suppose giving shots wouldn't be that bad because you don't have to find a vein, but I still really would not be able to do that. I'm really hoping that my school doesn't require that course!

I just realized that my question about staying healthy cam out wrong. What I meant is do pharmacists have to get extra vaccines/TB tests and things of that sort?

The class is called Pharmacy Practice (at least at USC) and you don't give yourself shots, you give them to your friends.. The course incorporates the APhA immunization certification in addition to our other modules (Basic life Support aka CPR, Triage, etc.) I don't think anyone in our class of 190 had to give more than the required 3 injections. (2 intramuscular and 1 subcutaneous.) We practiced on oranges first and then did our supervised injections. They were all just saltwater injections. As far as hitting bone goes, I've been told you feel the syringe stop before the person your injecting has a clue what's going on. They say it doesn't hurt and is quite commonplace on older patients who have thin skin and low muscle mass in the upper arm. I wouldn't know about that though. I've done 10 immunizations now, but haven't hit a bone yet.