Earlier this year, I came into class for my very first pharmacotherapy case. Each student was to have prepared a treatment plan for patient LR with COPD using the therapeutic experiment. I had barely settled into my seat when I was called upon in front of the whole class to define the patient's pulmonary problem and list the data in the case which defines the problem. As I answered the questions, I came to the realization that 4th year rotations were less than 8 months away and that it was time to prepare myself to be a clinical practitioner. I spent most of my P2 year desperately memorizing lecture notes, living one multiple choice exam to the next. When preparing for this case, I pulled up my old COPD lecture notes only to realize that the guidelines had already changed! Hours went by as I read through the guidelines and debated over agent and patient related variables. It didn't feel tedious or exhausting, it was what I came to pharmacy school to do and I loved it.
Since then, I have completed several more cases. I wish I could say that they were getting easier, but it still takes me several hours to work up a case. I can say that they are getting more interesting. I am finally getting a feel for laboratory values and understand most of the medical terminology. I remember shadowing pharmacists on rounds in the ICU after my first year of pharmacy school. I didn't think I liked critical care because I didn't understand what was going on but now I am eager to get out there and see what contributions I can make on the clinical team.
My heart may have skipped a beat during my first cold-call experience, but studying the guidelines paid off and I feel more excited than ever to take on P3 year.
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