Have you ever been asked a question that...

[shaq786]

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As a pharmacist, have you ever been asked a drug question that you did not know the answer too or that you were not sure about in the early pharmacists days of your career?

If so, how did you respond? And did you try to improvise a logical and sound answer to satisfy the angry patient who demanded an answer?

 

[KARM12]

As a pharmacist, have you ever been asked a drug question that you did not know the answer too or that you were not sure about in the early pharmacists days of your career?

If so, how did you respond? And did you try to improvise a logical and sound answer to satisfy the angry patient who demanded an answer?

You are going to get questions you do not know the answer to. It is part of the job. The most important thing is that you should NEVER make up an answer if you aren't sure. It is okay to tell a patient that you want to check a reference first. You might get the "What you don't know?" But still, NEVER make up an answer. That will only come back to bite you in the ass.

 

[piyi]

As a pharmacist, have you ever been asked a drug question that you did not know the answer too or that you were not sure about in the early pharmacists days of your career?

If so, how did you respond? And did you try to improvise a logical and sound answer to satisfy the angry patient who demanded an answer?

Yeah, the pharmacists I work with get questions all the time that they don't know the answers to. Sometimes it's a diagnosis question, like the patient will say they have this and that and do you know what it is; then the pharmacist will refer them to their doctor. Sometimes it's a legit medicinal question, and then if they don't know it they will look it up on this computer reference program that CVS has. So, don't worry, I'm sure you'll get questions that you don't have the answer to right away, but it's okay to tell the patient that you need a few minutes to look it up.

 

[tussionex]

i agree. it's more important to know where to look for the answers. you will never know everything, but if you know where to find just about anything, you will be well off.

 

[sdn1977]

As a pharmacist, have you ever been asked a drug question that you did not know the answer too or that you were not sure about in the early pharmacists days of your career?

If so, how did you respond? And did you try to improvise a logical and sound answer to satisfy the angry patient who demanded an answer?

To answer your first question - yes, many, many times I was asked questions I wasn't sure about the anser. When I responded, I gave whatever answer I absolutely knew & found out how to contact the individual (prescriber, pt, nurse, etc..) if I needed to give further info & I was sure to follow up - even if I had nothing further to add to my original answer (some questions have no ABSOLUTE answers).

The angry patient, IMO, usually doesn't want an answer - they want to vent. I NEVER improvise - I am always sure I come from a position of knowledge, understanding & clarity about the situation of an angry patient -even if I have to delay an answer to obtain further information.

I let them vent....

then - I give them options - an explanation, apology, education, alternatives - whichever is appropriate at the time. Sometimes it is only a direction to the door out....😛

Whatever my decision is - I document, document, document!!!

 

[All4MyDaughter]

It happens all the time. I'll never forget the night I was working and a man came in with a script for Tarceva. We filled it and he had lots of questions. The pharmacist had never heard of it, so I researched some info for him to discuss with the patient. The pharmacist just admitted to the patient he wasn't familiar with the drug and asked for a few minutes to read up. The patient went and bought something for his wife while he waited. It went fine.

It was over three grand for a one month supply, but I guess if you need a drug like that and you have the means, any time you can buy yourself is worth it. 🙁