I am back to school

I haven't written any for a while; just was back to school from placement out of Brisbane this week, somewhere that I needed to commute to by train, each way took me two hours, contributing to somewhat waste of time on the train for four hours every day, sometimes I did read something, at the same time, with tiredness, though!
Of course, I could hardly have chances to do other things but works at the placement site, serving, dispensing and counselling with the patients.

The one that I did for my placement was a busy pharmacy. There were six computers able to work for dispensing altogether, at least two pharmacists on duty, two Pre-Reg pharmacists and six pharmacy assistants. However, there was not enough space for customers walking around, I mean, that was just like a typical, small grocery in Hong Kong in the 80's.

Over six hundred or more prescriptions on average every day...I have never, ever seen the ones like that in the past...mostly, they would only have a hundred and two or so. Therefore, I had been busy all the time, and non-stop working there during the day.

Overall, I think I did well there, but in fact, my preceptor blamed me from time to time, for the minor mistakes, careless (in his opinions) and not looking after the customers at the pharmacy well. Since one thing always happening to your boss or supervisers is true, they regard the ones working for them inferior or something, or never show their appreciation but requests as babies needed to do something in order to get attention by their parents. It is somehow not worth doing, or if I looked at the other side, and then I would feel better and able to please myself in some way, or being dull and down for the rest of the day. "It was still good to me, anyway I am a student who has to follow instructions given by the others." I reckoned. They want more and more from you; you may feel frustrated, collapsed or not bear it any longer one day while they keep throwing high expectation in you, but who knows!

But although all I said above seemed to make kind of complaints or something, my preceptor is still a good person to work with. By the stress and nervousness he had given to me, I might, therefore, improve and concentrate more on what I needed to achieve in a short period of time. That would be the way to win the customers' trusts and appreciation, and further that I gain confidence in pharmacy, the program I have been doing over the last few years. Being in Brisbane these years, certainly, something can be easily observed is that the people there have worked inefficiently, no matter whatever you tend to apply it to, that is the Australia lifestyle you will expect and see. As I have been there for years, adjust myself to this new environment was the first thing I looked at; however, I failed, every now and then I missed the people and things in Hong Kong. And there it was, first, the place where I was able to work as I did in the past. Second, it might suit for my learning process as a new gradute at the end of this year, who is looking for more and more challenging things in the year to come.

If possible, I may like to work with my preceptor after graduation though I still look for some other opportunities in somewhere else.

What's new in the life!

Today is Tuesday; the day on each week in August for doing some research at the library, for the project undergoing in the placement site smoothly. I am glad, with the help of my preceptor, to have opportunities to work for him and to fulfil my QUM (Quality Use of Medicines) project...

My objective of my project is about patients' understanding, concerns and success on their Methadone/ Buprenophrine program. It is crucial to their relief from addiction if understanding the experiences and difficulties that they arise during the treatment.

In Australia, there are, certainly, drug clinics for drug addicts. However, what has been contributing to the Methadone/ Buprenophrine program's success; mostly because they are common and popular to be provided by the local pharmacies as long as the addicts get precriptions from licensed prescribing doctors...For the time of being, I am doing my QUM at a community pharmacy, further to the north from Brisbane, commute there by train for more than an hour for each way every day. It is bothersome but somehow I have got used to it...that may be chances for me to build up my confidence and knowledge together as the preceptor there I am working with is a tough one. In order to take task efficently and get preparation for the final exams in Novemeber, for four weeks I will make every effort to achieve whatever opportunities approaching me...

I pray sometimes, I am not a Christian, though!