Gday from the land down under

G’day mates and sheilas!! That’s how you say hey to guys and gals over here in the land down under!! I arrived about a week ago in Sydney along with my friends, to give us a few days before our research elective began.  From getting pulled off the walkway to assist in a street show at the Sydney docks, to walking the Sydney Harbour Bridge, watching an opera at the one and only Sydney Opera House, visiting the Taronga Zoo, eating fresh from the coast sea food at Port Macquarie, chilling at the beach at Byron Bay, and finally arriving to our short term home-away-from-home in Brisbane, it has been a blast so far!  The people here are so nice, the scenery is picturesque, the beaches are to die for, and the sun… well the sun is sweltering hot but oh so lovely!  The weather has been quite good to us, except for our first day in Brisbane, as we carried our bags full of groceries home, when we got caught in what felt like a flash thunderstorm… our groceries were okay, but we were thoroughly drenched by the time we got back to our apartment.  Today was our first day at work, and we were assigned our research projects.  I’m really excited for our project, because it sounds so practical and really interesting. It has to do with water loss and moisture of the skin, and we will be working to test different parameters on actual test subjects! The other project two of my classmates are working on has to do with site specific delivery of products to the hair follicles, also a really interesting and unique topic! I’m sure they will keep us busy over the next several weeks, and hopefully we will have some great results to show for our work in the end! Wish us luck and until next time, cheers from “Bananaland” (this is apparently what the state of Queensland, where Brisbane is located, is often referred to!)

Joy

Great Aussie Slang

Even though Australia is similar to Canada in so many ways, they’ve got their own unique ‘lingo’ and slang… so I thought I’d share what I’ve learnt so far! Enjoy…

G’day: hello or good day
mate: buddy, friend
cobber: friend
flat white coffee: coffee with milk or cream
thingo: thingie
middy: glass of beer which is actually 10oz in all states but Queensland
pot: 10oz beer in Queenslant
grog: booze
chemist: pharmacist
sloppy joe: loose sweatshirt
loo: lavatory, toilet
boot: car trunk
jumper: sweater or pullover
lift: elevator
crikey: oh my gosh, golly
Bananaland: state of Queensland
barbie: BBQ
bickie: cookie or biscuit
brekkie: breakfast
Snag or Banger: sausage
sheila:  female
Brissie: Brisbane
bushwalking: hiking
BYO: you’ll see this acronym on some restaurants, which means bring your own alcoholic beverages to restaurants with no liquor license!
cossie: swimsuit
chips: French fries
flog: sell
hire: rent
way out: exit
way in: entrance
car park: parkade
tomato sauce: ketchup

A new year brings uncharted territories

Hello all!

I hope everyone is staying warm these days!  If I could, I would be in hibernation right now, but there is just so much new, exciting, and also stressful challenges ahead of me, I’ve had to brave the weather and as it feels like some days, weave my way through uncharted territories!!

Lets see, to start, I’m now in my second block of rotations, currently working in hospital, and absolutely loving it. It was a huge learning curve, and for the first couple of days, I am not afraid to admit, a lot of information was soaring right over my head!  Now that I’ve settled in though, I’m learning a lot, which is great, and seeing another side of pharmacy that I have had very minimal exposure to over the last four years.  There are a lot of other students at the hospital as well, which is really nice to see, and for once, I’m actually getting a chance to work with some of them in an Interprofessional setting!

On another note, plans for Australia are slowly coming to reality.  As I’m sure most of you are aware, there has been a lot of recent devastation there due to flooding, and my heart goes out to everyone who was affected, and to the families who have lost loved ones and are now faced with the struggle of cleaning and rebuilding.  Even all the way out here, we’ve felt a bit of the impact, because some of the places we were inquiring about for lodging have replied to us, uncertain if they could host us.  I hope that while we are there, we might get a chance to lend a hand in some way!  If nothing else, I know that in some little way, not changing our plans is a start, as the region is not in a standstill, and many areas are dependent on tourism!  In fact, a couple of my classmates are there now… they had to ride out mother nature’s wrath along with their Australian neighbours, and have been having quite the experience, but still finding ways to enjoy the local culture and sites.

On a final note… the job hunt is still on! Who would have thought that the closer I get to graduation, along with the growing anticipation and excitement there follows closely behind, a growing feeling of anxiety and stress!!  I’m not sure if any of you are graduating soon, or have graduated with a previous degree already, and had the experience of getting started with a career, but I can tell you, that it’s not all glitz and glamour like they show in the movies.  You don’t just open the paper one morning and see your dream job staring you in the face… it’s just not that easy!  Of course, it’s probably like that for some, but for the most part, finding a job is a lot about compromise and takes a really critical eye.  You have to be able to weed out your needs, and then learn to prioritize your wants, figure out your absolute ‘will nots’ and find a job with the right balance of all of the above that will make you comfortable.  If only there was some sort of formula that I could plug this all in to, that would do all the searching for me, and point me in the right direction.  Unfortunately, there is no such thing, but almost just as good, is the guidance from classmates, colleagues and friends… so fingers crossed, by my next blog or two I will be sharing the details of my future work in pharmacy!!

Cheers,
Joy

Ring in the new year

Happy New Year everyone!

I hope everyone has successfully bidden adieu to 2010 and welcomed in the new year with friends, family and lots of fun! I know I have.  2010 was certainly a great year, one with lots of challenges and great experiences, but I’m really excited for 2011.  In the next few months I’ll be doing my hospital rotation at the St Boniface hospital, then I’ll be off to explore the world down under through a transdermal research program at the University of Queensland with three of my closest friends and classmates. Then I’ll be back in the city to study up for our national licensing exam, and to celebrate graduation! What a crazy year ahead! Honestly, it’s quite daunting to think of all the things that have to be completed in the span of the next six months, so of course, the holidays have been a welcome escape for me this year.

With my brother, sister and a couple of cousins home for the break, it was such a fun and relaxing two weeks, and an excuse to leave all of my work and my long to-do list behind for a while.  From tobogganing and snowmobiling in Morden, to touring the legislature, hitting up restaurants in the village, exploring the Forks, catching up with friends, and of course eating my way through as many Christmas goodies as possible, it’s been so much fun!   I’ve especially been enjoying this break since it dawned on me, that this is the last year I’ll have the luxury of being a student, and actually getting a real Christmas break. Next year at this time I’ll be a part of the working world!  I really wish the holidays could last forever… or at least for another week.  Wishful thinking I know… so instead, I’m off to enjoy the last couple of days and I hope everyone else is doing the same.

Cheers, and stay warm!
Joy

Tis the season to chill

As I weave my may through the mall to get to work, go for a ‘quick’ grocery run, or just drive around town, it is pretty obvious that once again, Tis the season… tis the season for lights and ornaments, bells and gifts, Santa and reindeer.  Tis the season for mad shoppers, crazy malls, frenzied spenders, and, working in a pharmacy, I’ve come to realize, tis also the season of added stress, spiking blood pressures, sprains and strains, falls, frost bite and all that other good stuff.  Why is it, that during this time of year, when everyone is supposed to be celebrating their respective faiths, enjoying family and friends, and giving the gift of caring, that we all get so stressed and high strung?  With the nippy weather, icy streets and frosted trees, I think we should all take our cues from mother nature and learn to just chill this season!  If the gift isn’t the ‘perfect’ gift, remember it is the thought that counts, if the tree isn’t big enough, it only means less trimming and tending, and if the lights aren’t bright enough… just think of the great savings on your electrical bill!  I love this season and all that it stands for, but find that very few people really remember the meaning of all of it.  And as students, we get the added relief of putting exams behind us so we can just relax and relieve all of our stresses. I hope that everyone has a great holiday season this year, with friends, family and a whole lot of fun.  Take care everyone, and remember to step outside of the madness of the season and just chill this year!

Cheers,

Joy

Job hunt

As usual, time is just flying by!  My first block of placements is a more than half way done, with a couple of projects looming overhead now.  My big plans to have started studying and reviewing all of my OTC material has fallen through.  I didn’t think that placements would be so tiring! I come home with no energy and motivation to do much of anything productive.  I’ve been crashing earlier and earlier every night since I’ve been home.

To make things even busier, I, as most of my classmates, am now on the job hunt… or more appropriately, the career hunt!  Resume polishing, job interviews and the nerve-wracking waiting has officially begun, and I must say it is harder than I thought.  The pressure of recruiters, the uncertainty of position availability, job security, benefits, wage, hours, work environment, job flexibility and autonomy… these are all things no one tells you about!  Then comes the question of where and who do you want to work for.  With so many companies all claiming to be the ‘real deal’, the best place to work, the most caring pharmacy with the best patient services, it is tough to figure out where to go.  For now, I have been searching for a variety of opportunities, and checking them all out, weighing the pros and cons of each. I have come to realize that the ‘dream job’, is a little bit more elusive than I had once believed.

Every position has its attractions, of course balanced out by other less than ideal aspects.

On a brighter note, planning for Australia is underway.  We are now looking for places to stay, and starting to plan weekend excursions and trips!  We will be flying into Sidney and ‘backpacking’ up to Brisbane where our placement is taking place.  Can’t wait!

Last but not least, holiday planning has begun!  I can’t wait to have a full house once again, with all my family under the same roof for the holidays.  First on my list is to do some holiday baking and then, if I’m brave enough, I want to tackle the mall for some holiday shopping.  December has only just begun but the malls are already packed.  I was in the city last weekend, and Santa was already busy taking pictures with all the little kiddies! I can’t imagine what it will be like in the coming weeks.

Before I go, I want to wish everyone lots of luck with upcoming exams… I know that at this point in December, talking about holidays is premature for most university students. So good luck, study hard, and don’t give up… relaxation is just around the corner =)

Cheers

Joy

The fun is just beginning

Hi everyone!

I know it has been a while since my last blog, but the good news is that so much has been going on, that I have a lot to share this week.   The most exciting piece of news is that I have finished my last official exam administered by my faculty! Hooray!! It feels so good to be totally done school… no more lectures no more notes to print, almost no more assignments (there are still a couple straggling assignments that I am slowly attending to), and a chance to take a breather from studying for a while.  My classmates and I are now on our pharmacy rotations throughout the city and rural areas in Manitoba.  I am doing my first rotation block in a community Pharmacy, which is giving me a chance to experience what it will be like this coming summer when I start working as a real Pharmacist.  As with any profession, I learn something new with almost every interaction, which keeps the work exciting and interesting.  This has really shown me how much work I have left to do before I’m a fully licensed Pharmacist.  Actually, there remains one very important exam to write, the most important one to date, and that is the national Pharmacy licensing exam, which will take place in May of this coming year.  Needless to say, my studying is nowhere near done, and I guess you could say that although I’m technically done, the fun is just beginning!
Another piece of exciting news is that during my third rotation block, I will be traveling to Australia with three of my friends from class to participate in a research rotation at the University of Queensland.  We have now officially booked our flights, and the real fun of planning begins… planning weekend trips, backpacking adventures, site seeing, and of course preparing for our research!

In other updates, graduation planning is going well, slowly but steadily we are getting closer to our fundraising goal and with more hard work and persistence, grad at the Delta will soon become a reality!

Also, a couple of weeks ago there was a fundraiser wine tasting evening at Fort Garry campus for the newly selected students who will be traveling to El Salvador with the Alternative Spring Break Program 2011.  I attended and was asked to speak about my experiences with the program last year, which was nerve wracking but fun.  It was an especially exciting evening because we had a couple of special guests, Dr. Barnard, as well as a lovely woman, Sandra Quinteros, who myself and all of the ASB 2010 participants have lovingly dubbed our Salvadoran mother.  They also both spoke about the program, the opportunities it provides students, and the positive effects it has had on the community of Santa Catarina in El Salvador.  For the students who are attending this year, I am extremely excited for you and am certain you will have the experience of a lifetime.  For everyone else, I really hope that one day you will take a chance and try a program like this, whether it be during your university years or after, because, as I said to everyone at the fundraiser, it will really bring a new meaning to the word learning, and a new perspective on your lives here in Winnipeg. As you can all probably tell, I could talk about this program forever without tiring, but to spare you all, I will leave it at this for now, wish you all a great week, and until next blog, take care!

Joy

T minus 1 week

Yes, you read the title of this blog correctly! T minus 1 week and I’ll be all done my last university final exam and taking off to start my placements.  I am currently studying for finals, which will be happening next week.  Lots of studying to do in this final stretch, but as always, there seems to be less and less time to fit it in as  exams approach because classes are wrapping up and with that so are final assignments.  Lately my evenings have been consumed by case solving…. That is the bulk of the 4th year Pharmacy program.  We have two cases a week to take home, research and solve. In addition, our toxicology class is proving to be quite a challenge, though very interesting.  To add to the frenzy of October, many of the pharmacy chains are approaching my classmates and I to present information about their pharmacies and future careers with their organizations and to interview us for potential positions upon graduation.  I’ve had several interviews already, which is very exciting, and has really got me thinking about where I want to go after graduation.  Is rural the best option, or should I hold out for a job in the city?  Then there is the option of trying something completely new and looking at out of province opportunities.  Another thing that my classmates and I have to consider, which is a bit concerning, is that currently, there really aren’t a lot of jobs available for pharmacy graduates in the city. This means we will have to be quite flexible as we begin the search for our dream jobs.  However, at the same time, it is exciting to begin to look at all the other opportunities out there.  In the meantime, after exams I’ll be starting my placements.  First I’ll be heading to Morden to work in a rural pharmacy, then I’ll be back in the city to do a placement at St Boniface hospital, and finally I’ll be off to the University of Queensland in Australia with three of my classmates to do a research placement.  All in all the year is looking amazing, but also extremely busy!

Joy

A little bit of IP please

You know what I would really like to see, in this final year as a health care student?  A little bit of IP please!!  Many of you may be asking yourselves right about now, what is this crazy pharmacy student talking about, so let me explain! Basically, in the health sciences and human services fields, interprofessional practice (IP) came about as a result of the realization that we can provide more continuity of care and more holistic care if all health care providers (such as pharmacy, nursing, medicine, dentistry, social work, physiotherapy, and the list goes on…) actually worked as a team, instead of as individual professions.  This sounds pretty straight forward, right?

Theoretically yes, but practically, it is actually quite challenging.  First of all, in many cases we are not all located in a single facility so communication is a challenge.  Second, in this type of dynamic practice, roles become intertwined and overlap which can lead to questioning of professional identity, confusion and resistance from various professions in sharing the responsibility for their patients’ care.   The benefits however include better communication regarding a patients’ health and conditions, closure of gaps within a patient’s care and ultimately, better safety and health outcomes for a patient.  The concept of interprofessional education, or learning with, from and about other health care professionals has also started to become recognized as valuable.

In my four years of study within a health professional faculty, however, I have had very few, if any opportunities to interact professionally with students from other professions within a school setting.  This, to me, is very sad.  In a few short weeks I will be off on my rotations, and in a few months off into the real world, and expected to be able to interact and work as a team with all of these health care providers.  In many cases, students graduate without even learning about what the other health professions really do! For example, what do dental hygienists, or occupational therapists study? What skills and services do they have to offer that I can refer my patients to use, as a soon to be Pharmacist.  Other students might be asking those same questions about pharmacy.  What in the world are we doing so busily behind the dispensary or when we’re roaming the aisles of a community pharmacy or the halls of a hospital? What are we searching for in those supersized reference books and what do we look for when we review a patient’s charts and medical history?  These are all questions that should be answered during the course of any health care provider’s education, but often they are overlooked.  Fortunately though, there have been some really exciting advances occurring in the world of interprofessional practice and education through student run extracurricular activities at the UofM.  A relatively new student group on campus called the Manitoba Health Sciences Students’ Association (MaHSSA) is working towards ensuring that this idea of interprofessional care becomes integrated into our learning as future health care providers. This chapter is actually part of the National Health Sciences Students Association, the very first interprofessional student organization in the world!  I sit as a VP on this council and am very proud to be a part of such an organization, working to broaden students’ experiences while in university and to prepare them for futures in a collaborative patient care environments.  We recently had a student information night, where presentations were given by the Winnipeg Interprofessional Student-Run Health clinic, and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement.  I really hope that we will have enticed some new members to attend out next meeting!  The next IP event we are planning is a social at King’s Head on Thursday Oct 28th…  so get those Halloween costumes ready and come out for some fun!   I hope to see you all there!

Until then,
Cheers!
Joy

The start of the end!

Now that classes are underway, reality has set in… As the title of my blog suggests, this is the start of my final year in Pharmacy at the University of Manitoba!  I say that with excitement but also with a bit of sadness.  I have spent four amazing years at this university, and though I can’t wait to become a full fledged pharmacist, it will be sad to graduate and leave such a challenging and stimulating environment.  The thought of graduation is extremely thrilling, because it means a whole new world of opportunity is about to be opened up to my classmates and I.  I know it seems a bit early start thinking of graduation, since we are still only in September, however this is the time where a soon to be graduate comes to a very important crossroad in terms of future career paths… do I start looking for a place of employment, and if so, shall it be hospital or community pharmacy?  Then comes the question of where to look for work… do I stay in Winnipeg, should I go rural, or should I consider out of province opportunities?  What about graduate studies?  When you do a little bit of digging, you find there is a huge array of options for study post-pharmacy, and the more I study and learn, the more I realize that in fact, I know very little about an immensely large field of study (it is actually quite ironic when you stop to think about it… the more knowledge I acquire the more I realize how much is still out there to learn!).   All of these questions are beginning to swirl in my head, and they are quite dizzying.  For now, I have decided to seek out different experiences and to apply for a range of different opportunities.  I will keep you all posted on my decision making process.

In addition, since I am one of my class’s graduation committee co-chairs, there is also much to do this year in preparation for graduation in the spring.  We have socials to plan, bake sales to organize, BBQ’s to run and fundraisers to plan. Oh what a busy year it will be!  To date we have already held a very successful BBQ at the Apotex centre, so I would like to thank everyone who came out and bought lunch to support us.  Next up is a bake sale which will be held at the Brodie Centre.

Finally, I am happy to report that my classmates and I are once again participating as Team Pharmacy in the Winnipeg Multiple Sclerosis Walk for A Cure.  Our first fundraiser, the Red Party (red is the symbolic color of the MS society of Canada), went off without a hitch last Thursday, getting us on our way to surpassing last year’s total of just over $18,000!