As I was still reeling from that blow, I began frantically searching for more work. That was really the first time I truly understood how tightly knit we are as community of pharmacists. Other pharmacists spread the word, work came quickly and my schedule stayed booked solid as a relief “floating” pharmacist until I delivered my daughter in early July. Once I was back from maternity leave, I continue on the relief pharmacist path. The schedule was flexible, it allowed me to set days, I always have enough work and I don’t work unless I want work.
I went from a very scary situation to now having a dream job. Before the layoff, I was working 40-50 hours per week, every other Saturday and Sunday, and on-call pretty much 24/7. There were times when I would get calls from nurses in the middle of the night firing off medication questions at me in my confused, half-awake state. Now I make my own schedule, I pick up shifts as needed and I try to make myself available to other pharmacists when they need help. If we need to take a vacation, I don’t feel bad about it, I just work extra time to make up for the days missed.
” It takes planning, organization and a great can-do attitude. This attitude is one of the most important skills you can have.”
One such opportunity to help came from a pharmacy where I was working relief a few days each month. They asked that I take over their MTM patients for them because they did not have the time to complete their cases. I was concerned about billing Medicare and concerned whether or not I would have the time and skills needed to off their patients this valuable clinical service. As it turns out, I could not have been more wrong!
A common saying for a passionate person is that the person “has a fire in their belly”. That is exactly what MTM services reignited in me. I had lost my passion for pharmacy, but clinical services reignited it!
As per my personality, I dove head first in everything MTM. I learned as much as I could about it, and I continue to learn more and more about it every day.
I hope that my story will inspire others to find their passion, create their dream jobs and
“reignite their belly fire”!
