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Sensitive types and Pharmacy
Started by PrePharm1980
You have to remember , community pharmacy is not the only setting you can work in as a pharmacist. There are closed door pharmacies, mail order pharmacies, drug information centers, hospitals, consultant pharmacy, nuclear pharmacy, working for a PBM and lots of other options. If pharmacy is something that interests you but direct patient care does not then look into these other options.
You also learn to deal with difficult patients with more experience in direct patient care. You will learn how to dissolve situations and how to not let things get to you and you will learn to say when enough is enough also.
You also learn to deal with difficult patients with more experience in direct patient care. You will learn how to dissolve situations and how to not let things get to you and you will learn to say when enough is enough also.
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Sensitivity is a necessary personality trait in any health care field.
I think I know what you mean though. I have a very sensitive personality and am easily hurt, but even I have learned to compartmentalize when patients yell at me despite doing my very best to care for them. You have to learn that the end result you are seeking isn't to have pleased them (I am a huge people pleaser so that's personally what I faced,) but that the end result you should seek is caring for the patient in the best way possible. This way the reward is present even if they patient walks away totally pissed off and cursing your name.
I think I know what you mean though. I have a very sensitive personality and am easily hurt, but even I have learned to compartmentalize when patients yell at me despite doing my very best to care for them. You have to learn that the end result you are seeking isn't to have pleased them (I am a huge people pleaser so that's personally what I faced,) but that the end result you should seek is caring for the patient in the best way possible. This way the reward is present even if they patient walks away totally pissed off and cursing your name.
No matter what people will say, it's better to be sensitive than insensitive.
No one likes a jerk! My pharmacist was a total jerk tonight. People groan when they have to work with him.
Just for kicks, this Youtube video is for you:
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaSDEUITIfk[/YOUTUBE]
No one likes a jerk! My pharmacist was a total jerk tonight. People groan when they have to work with him.
Just for kicks, this Youtube video is for you:
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaSDEUITIfk[/YOUTUBE]
And you think it's all a bed of roses when you don't have direct patient contact? You can end up with a mean boss, a sucky co-worker or pushy customers (be it patients, MDs waiting for your reply, or anyone who is the reason for your work) in any setting. And in almost any job, pharmacy-related or not. Academia is fraught with catfights and lots of arguments over every penny spent. Industry is full of bosses and co-workers pulling you in ten different directions until you are ready to scream. Hospitals... MDs and nurses aren't always nice. Managed care - simply everyone hates you. Long term care - some patients will be mean without even realizing what they are saying/doing.
Basically, my point is, world isn't going to care about your sensitive personality, so it is generally a good idea to try and grow thicker skin while you can. It will help you wherever you go. 🙂
There's a difference between being sensitive and having no spine. Be empathetic to the needs of the people you are providing service for (patient/clinician/boss), try to understand what they're asking for and why it's important. Do what you can for them, but when you can't do anything, don't let them bully you. Easier said than done, I know, but if you know your job and you've done all you can, there's really not much more they can expect. If you can show that you've done what you can within the limitations you're given (insurance, regulatory, job constraints) generally people are willing to overlook the fact they aren't getting exactly what they asked for. (If they got exactly what they asked for there should be no complaints anyway.) The one's who can't are generally fewer and farther between. Hopefully none of them become your boss.
I'm incredibly sensitive/cry easily and am going into pharmacy. So far, I haven't cried at work, but I expect one day I will. It will be humiliating, but I'll survive.
I think it's important to be somewhat sensitive/empathetic in the health care business. I would rather really care about the customers and feel sad when they are sick than have them say "I have terminal cancer" and me be all "Oh. That'll be $50 for your pain meds. See ya!"
Also, I'm sensitive but not a pushover - I won't do my job wrong to please people.
I think it's important to be somewhat sensitive/empathetic in the health care business. I would rather really care about the customers and feel sad when they are sick than have them say "I have terminal cancer" and me be all "Oh. That'll be $50 for your pain meds. See ya!"
Also, I'm sensitive but not a pushover - I won't do my job wrong to please people.
I'm *quite* sensitive. I avoid conflict whenever possible. When I have to deal with conflict I tend to unintentionally shut down emotionally so it doesn't hurt as much. In that way I suppose I have tougher skin than some but it's still not really enough. This is going to sound way corney but my biggest issue is that I care too much. I care and I get hurt easily. For some reason being sensitive and being a push over seemed tied together as well. I admit it, I'm a bit of a push over. BUT I can stand my ground as well. I had this awful experience at my first job. I got this job working as a grocery bagger at a store and it was my first day. I was only working 4 hours that day and it was literally like the 2nd hour of my shift. This woman comes through the line and wants her groceries bagged in paper sacks. And she wanted to tell me how to do it. Um I knew how to bag the stuff! Anyway though she was a real pain in the @$$. She yelled and moaned and huffed and puffed and all the while I'm standing there like "m'am, I'm doing the best I can, what can I do to make you happier?". She was having none of it, although it was super hard I stayed calm (my heart was literally pounding) and afterwards the manager came up and gave me the "job well done" talk. 
Anyway, my point is simply that it's ok to be sensitive, just make sure that you keep a level ground with it. Who wants a robot for a doctor or pharmacist? Sensitivity is only a bad thing if it's so severe that you can't handle anything. Running out of the store crying and blubbering would never be a good thing, while staying calm and just detaching a bit is.
Anyway, my point is simply that it's ok to be sensitive, just make sure that you keep a level ground with it. Who wants a robot for a doctor or pharmacist? Sensitivity is only a bad thing if it's so severe that you can't handle anything. Running out of the store crying and blubbering would never be a good thing, while staying calm and just detaching a bit is.
