During my freshman year in high school, my science teacher assigned us to interview people in the community about how they use science in their careers. Although I don’t remember most of the people I spoke with, I can tell you that I spent meaningful time with a local community pharmacist who changed my life.
What I saw was a man who loved his career and truly cared for his patients. In an instant, I knew that I wanted to become a pharmacist, and I never wavered from that goal throughout high school.
Knowing what you want to be when you grow up at age 14 is unusual, but it is very liberating. I simply had to work backwards to figure out how to achieve my goal of becoming a pharmacist.
After high school, I chose to attend Ohio Northern University (ONU) because it had a unique pharmacy program. Rather than attending college for 2 years and then applying to the pharmacy program, ONU students were admitted to the College of Pharmacy from day one.
Although it was expensive, being in pharmacy school from day one and avoiding the risk of rejection made it worthwhile for me.
In college, I spent a lot of time in the library. Although the classwork was difficult, I did well with one exception: organic chemistry.
I did fail organic chemistry—a notorious “weed out” course—but I successfully retook the class over the summer and graduated on time with the rest of my classmates. Failing a course is a difficult stumbling block, but I stood strong and persevered.
Today, I’m thankful for the wonderful pharmacy profession for so many reasons.
First, I’m thankful that community pharmacists are the health care professionals most accessible to the public. If my local pharmacist wasn’t accessible to me, then I likely would have taken a different career path.
Second, I’m proud of the work we pharmacists do, the diversity of our career options, and the relationships we share with our patients and fellow health care providers.
Pharmacy is a profession that makes a real difference in people’s lives. It certainly has made all the difference in mine.
Pharmacy | Salt Lake City, UT, USA | Right | June 20, 2012
(Pharmacy law in Utah says that it’s up to the pharmacist’s discretion if they want to sell insulin needles/syringes without a prescription. Our store has the policy that the patient either has to have a prescription for the syringes or for an injectable medication on file.)
Customer: “I need to get some syringes.”
Me: “Okay, I need your name so I can look up the prescription.”
Customer: “Actually, they’re not for me. They’re for my mom.”
Me: “Okay, what’s her name?”
Customer: “Well, not my mom. My best friend’s mom who’s like a mom to me.”
Pharmacy | Salt Lake City, UT, USA | Right | June 19, 2012
(I’m at work on a Saturday with a clerk and a pharmacist. I notice the clerk speaking with an elderly woman out front but don’t think much of it. A few minutes later, the clerk comes back with a strange expression on her face and tells me I have to go help the woman.)
Me: “What can I help you with?”
Customer: “I’m looking for a vibrator.”
Me: “A…vibrator?”
Customer: “Yes. I had one, but I used it too much and it wore out.”
Me: “I don’t think we have anything like that. Where did you buy the first one?”
Customer: “At another pharmacy, but I want one with a long handle so it can reach better.”
(At this point I’m biting the inside of my cheek in an effort not to laugh.)
Me: “What kind of vibrator are you looking for, exactly?”
Customer: “You know! One of those that rub your feet!”
Me: “OH! Sorry, we don’t have anything like that.”
Pharmacy | Salt Lake City, UT, USA | Right | June 15, 2012
(It is a very windy day during summer, and a power line has blown over in the field behind our store.)
Me: “Hello, [pharmacy] how may I help you?”
Customer: “I need to see if you have [hemorrhoid cream] in stock.”
Me: “Alright, let me check…”
(At this point, I put him on hold to check our stock when a fireman walks in. He tells us they are evacuating all the buildings in the area, and that we have 5 minutes to get out. I go back to pick up the phone so the customer isn’t on hold forever.)
Me: “Sir, we do have it in stock. However, I can’t help you right now. I’m being told to evacuate the building.”
Customer: “Does it have aloe vera in it?”
Me: “I don’t know. As I said, I need to hang up. Please call back tomorrow.”
Customer: “Can you see if you can order it for me?”
Me: “Sir, there is a field fire right behind the pharmacy and I really can’t answer your questions right now. I was told by the fire department to evacuate. Please, call back another time.”
Customer: “Well, fine then. I’ll just get it somewhere else!” *hangs up*
Me: “So, your total is going to be of 30 thousand colones (60 USD). Here you go, and have a nice day.”
Customer: “Oh, you’re so nice. Thank you, too. I was wondering if you could do something else for me?”
Me: “Sure, what is it?”
Customer: “I was told at my church that they needed more members, and I was asked to bring a few. Would you mind to come?”
Me: “Well, I apologize, but I wouldn’t like to.”
Customer: *gets defensive* “Why? Don’t tell me you think we’re all cultists that don’t care about God!”
Me: “I’m sure you’re not, but I don’t want to go.”
Customer: “Why the h*** not, then? I already told you we’re nice people, so why don’t you go?!”
Me: “Ma’am, if I offended you I apologize, however I don’t want to go. It’s not because you’re nice people or not; it’s because I’m an atheist.”
Customer: “So, you don’t believe in God, is that it? Well, f*** you! You’re going to Hell! What are you going to tell me next, that you’re a f***ing queer?”
Me: “In fact, I am a homosexual, but—”
Customer: “That’s all I needed to know! Being gay is a sin!”
Me: “Ma’am, I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
Customer: “F*** no! You’re kicking me out because I’m a Christian! That’s illegal, and it’s bulls***!”
(At this point, a man behind her speaks up. Note that he is a police officer in full uniform.)
Officer: “No, he’s kicking you because you already paid and you’re disturbing the peace. So, I’m going to give you my recommendation: Leave now, or I’ll arrest you.”
Customer: *suddenly pales and leaves without saying a word*
Me: “Thank you very much, Officer. Now, how may I help you?”
Officer: “Actually I didn’t need anything. I was just patrolling when I heard the conflict. However, now that you mention it…” *he blushes a little* “…I need to ask, would you go out in a date with me?”
Me: “…Of course!”
(The officer and I have now dating for nearly half a year.)
Pharmacy | Roselle, NJ, USA | Right | July 10, 2012
(I am watching my girlfriend’s two-year-old sister near the counter while she does her shopping. Her sister is learning to talk in Spanish, so I’m quizzing her with colors. While we’re playing, a seven-year-old girl approaches us and asks to play because she takes Spanish at school. Everything is fine until the girl’s mother comes.)
Mother: “Leona, what are you doing? You know not to bother people.”
Me: “Oh, she’s not, ma’am. She just asked to play with me and my girlfriend’s sister.”
Mother: “Girlfriend?” *thinks for a few moments* “Oh, a close friend! Sorry, I was thinking you meant a girl you were dating.”
Me: “I did. I am dating a girl. This little girl is her sister and your daughter was just playing with us. She wasn’t bothering us.”
Mother: “What?! Leona, you were playing with a homo?!? Come over here, right now!”
(In tears, the girl slowly approaches her mother, who yells at her about how she knows better than to interact with “h***-bound sinners” like me. She then chides me for “sinning” around such a small child, referring to my girlfriend’s sister. While I’m speechless, a man comes up, who I assume is the girl’s father.)
Father: *to the mother* “I got the rest of the stuff. What are you yelling about?”
Mother: *to her daughter* “Tell Daddy what you did!”
(In hysterics, the girl tells her father what happened, ending her telling by clinging to his leg and apologizing over and over. I’m feeling dreadful and very guilty and am near tears myself. But to my surprise, this happens.)
Father: *to the mother* “Are you serious?! What is wrong with you?! I don’t even know why I came out with you! Just go wait in the car! Sheesh!”
(The mother, now apparently embarrassed, exits the store. The father calms his daughter down and apologizes to her and me before leaving. Right after they leave, my girlfriend comes up, having seen the whole thing.)
My Girlfriend: “I actually know that family. The father moved in next door to me two weeks ago. That girl’s parents are divorced and her parents have joint custody of her, but today is her birthday and she wanted to be with both of them together. They said yes to make her happy, but I don’t think that’ll happen again.”
(A few weeks later, my girlfriend tells me the father got full custody of his daughter. Now, she and my girlfriend’s sister play together on a daily basis, and I occasionally help her with her Spanish homework.)
Pharmacy | Newton, NJ, USA | Right | July 10, 2012
(I work in a store in a small town where most of the customers are elderly and sweet. If a price doesn’t come up, I will generally trust a customer if they say they know the exact price.)
Me: “Oh, there’s no bar code on this.”
Customer: “Well, it was $39.99, but I guess that doesn’t help you.”
Me: “Well, I can enter it manually. You’re sure it was $39.99?”
Customer: “Actually, it was…$19.99.”
Me: “Sir, do you really want me to call for a price check and make you and all the people behind you wait ten minutes for someone to come up here?”
(If a customer gets regular medication from a pharmacy, they can have a Medicine Use Review (MUR). It’s basically talking through their meds with a pharmacist. I answer this call from a sweet elderly caller.)
Me: “Hello, pharmacy.”
Customer: “Um hello, someone just delivered my medicine. The bag has a sticker on it that says “Patient eligible for MUR.” What it is MUR?”
Me: “It stands for “Medicine Use Review,” which involves discussing your medicines with the pharmacist. However, those labels are meant for our reference, so I apologise that it’s been put on your bag by mistake. Sorry if it caused confusion.”
Customer: “Oh, that’s alright, dear. I just thought MUR might be short for murder!”
Me: “Er no, ma’am! Don’t worry, no one is going to murder you!”
(I am a pharmacist working at 24-hour pharmacy. This takes place on a late Sunday evening.)
Female Caller: “Hello, um… I… um… you know the morning after pill?”
Me: “Yes, certainly. What would you like to know about it?”
Female Caller: “Is there an anti-morning after pill?”
Me: “Sorry? An anti-morning after pill?”
Female Caller: “Yes. You see, this guy, he came around today, and he brought some flowers and everything, so now I’m kind of regretting taking that pill. So is there an anti-morning after pill I could take?”
Me: “No, I’m sorry, there isn’t such a thing.”
Female Caller: “Oh, that is a shame. Do you think they will make one?”
Me: “No, I’m sorry, but I really don’t think they will.”
Female Caller: “Really? Oh, that is a bummer.” *hangs up*
Pharmacy | Ontario, Canada | Working | August 25, 2012
(A customer pays with a fifty dollar bill. Spotting it, the pharmacist on duty grabs his wallet and asks the cashier to give him the fifty for two twenties and a ten.)
Coworker: “I can’t do that!”
Me: “Why not? He’s giving you $50 for $50.”
Coworker: “But my till will be wrong!”
Me: “How? You take out the fifty, and put in two twenties and the ten. The totals are still the same.”
Coworker: “But I won’t have the fifty, and the register will KNOW!”
Pharmacy | New York, USA | Right | August 15, 2012
(My coworker at the pharmacy has been working with a customer who seems to be having the worst day. Unfortunately, my coworker is the victim of the customer’s mood, and he has reduced the poor girl to tears. Behind this customer is a young father in his mid-20s and his three sons, aged probably six, two, and less than a year old. The young father is clearly upset with the behavior of the customer in front of him, but, probably for the sake of his children, is keeping his mouth shut. Out of nowhere, his six-year-old son speaks up.)
Six-year-old Son: “‘Scuse me, sir? I think you’ll probably get what you need easier in life if you’re nice to people. You’re making the pretty lady sad and she didn’t do anything wrong.”
Customer: *clearly shocked* “Didn’t your father here teach you to mind your own business, son?!”
(The young father is actually grinning proudly, and reaches over to high-five his son.)
Father: “Actually, I taught him not to raise his voice at good, honest people.”
Customer: *clearly embarrassed, pays and leaves quickly*
Six-year-old Son: *to my coworker* “Can I give you a hug? If anyone gives you trouble, call me!”
(My coworker was very impressed by the brave little boy’s actions, while his father proudly teared up. I doubt the family will ever have to pay at our pharmacy again, and my coworker has a new best friend!)
(It’s currently flu season, and we are offering flu shots.)
Me: “Alright, sir. We got you all set. Have you gotten your flu shot yet?”
Customer: “Ah, no. I don’t get a flu shot. I don’t get the flu, sweetie.”
Me: “Wow, you must be lucky.”
Customer: “You want to know my secret, dear?”
Me: “What’s your secret, sir?”
Customer: *leans in close* “You see now, chickens, cows, pigs: they get the flu. So, if you don’t eat them, you don’t get the flu! You remember that now!”
Pharmacy | Ontario, Canada | Working | November 22, 2012
(I’ve just come from the emergency department of the hospital, with instructions to fill two prescriptions immediately. I’m obviously sick and having difficulty breathing. It’s about 9:30 PM, which is 30 minutes before closing.)
Me: “I have a severe corn allergy, so can you please double-check the ingredients on those before filling them?”
Pharmacist: “No.”
Me: “…Pardon? ”
Pharmacist: “Almost all medications are made with corn starch, you know. I don’t think I can fill them.”
Me: “My understanding is that very few prescriptions meds have corn in the them. Can you check them please?”
Pharmacist: “No. I don’t have the ingredients.”
Me: “Aren’t they on the bottle?”
Pharmacist: “No.”
Me: “Can you look them up somewhere? Online or in a compendium?”
Pharmacist: “No.”
Me: “I really need these medications immediately.”
Pharmacist: *sighs* I guess I could leave them for someone tomorrow, and they could call the company.”
Me: “I need them tonight. I’m not sure what to do.”
Pharmacist: “I’m sure you’ll be fine. There’s only a little bit of corn starch in a pill.”
My Husband: “NO! Didn’t you hear her? She’s ALLERGIC!”
Pharmacist: “Well, there’s nothing I can do tonight. I guess I can keep these until tomorrow and someone else will deal with it.” *wanders off*
(I called another pharmacy in the same chain, and they were able to check the ingredients immediately. We retrieved my prescriptions from the unhelpful pharmacist, and my husband made a complaint the next day. It turned out he was a temp and was fired.)
Pharmacy | Portland, OR, USA | Right | January 29, 2013
(I’m at a chain company pharmacy/mini-stores getting a bottle of water. As I pass by the pharmacy, I witness an exchange between a very burly, muscular customer and a short, skinny female clerk.)
Customer: “I need to refill my prescription.”
Clerk: “Well, I’m sorry, but according to our systems, you have no refills left. You’ll need to contact your doctor and get a new prescription.”
Customer: “What?! I want my pills. Give me my pills!”
(The exchange continues for a while, with the customer getting more and more agitated. The clerk appears to be frightened and close to tears. The commotion is drawing the attention of the people around.)
Customer: “You dumb b****, are you f***ing stupid? Give me my pills or there will be a problem.”
(At this point, I step between him and the clerk behind the counter.)
Me: “Look buddy, she already said that she’s not giving you pills and told you what to do. So you better just listen to her, leave, and stop making an a** of yourself.”
(For a moment he looks like he is going to hit me, then just stomps away swearing under his breath.)
Me: *to the clerk* “I’m sorry you had to deal with that.”
Clerk: “It’s alright. Thank you for that. Here, that water is on me, okay?”
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