Succeeding in College

What I have learned over the years that I can offer as advice about how to succeed in college.

1. "It's a small world after all" (Disney characters singing in the background). It truly is a small world and you never know who you will see again, work for in the future and ask for help later in life.

2. Do NOT BURN bridges. This goes along with the previous suggestion. It is NOT worth a petty argument, difference in opinions or poor manners to create tension or even worse an enemy.

3. There is no PERFECT college. (Sorry Drake and every other college in the world). College is all about what you make of it so the actual school will not make or break your experience. Obviously some exceptions to this (example: if the school does not have your major) but overall what you put into your college experience is what you are going to get out no matter what the name of the school sits on top of your diploma.

4. Get as much out of classes as you can. Your paying a LOT of money to the school so you might as well go to classes and labs. I know this sounds cheesy, your education cannot be taken away from you, so try to get as much of it as you can. Usually people do not realize how value able something is until it is gone. Applies to school too in the fact that you miss getting that education once it's done (now you have to teach yourself)

5. Have an open mind to new ideas. You no longer have to accept everything people tell you as correct. You can question other people and more importantly you can question yourself.

6. Try new things/experiences. Not condoning trying risky/illegal things but try new cultures, new foods, new friendships, etc. College is all about finding out who you are, what you like and who you want to be. The only way to figure these things out is by taking advantage of new opportunities.

7. Do NOT sign up for credit cards or other offers just because they are offering a free tote. There is no free lunch in life. There is probably some kind of catch, so be careful! If it seems to good to be true, it usually is.

8. Your parents can no longer fight your battles or be your babysitters (and they probably do not want to either). You need to learn to grow up and take care of yourself. They cannot get you out of a ticket, they cannot get your grades changed and they cannot get rid of your unbearable roommate. (and they no longer will order your medications for you, so learn what medications you take, WHY you take them, and how to manage them)

To Be Continued...

FREE Drugs?...WHERE?

Some helpful ideas to get cheaper medications. Many companies are always offering deals you just have to find them. With the cost of medications remaining high and people getting more and more, everyone can benefit from visiting these websites or using these ideas. This is definitely NOT an exhaustive list but just to give you some ideas:

For Asthma/Allergy:
Advair.com
Allegra deals
merk.com (10% off singulair)
flovent.com
spiriva.com
ventolin.com
proair.com

For ADHA:
vyvansekids.com
concerta.net
daytrana.com

For birth control:
Visit your local Planned Parenthood which usually gives out price reduced/free contraception.
pfizerhelpfulanswers.com (provera,

Blood Thinners:
Aggrenox.com
bms.com (bristolmeyerssquib offers some deals on plavix)

HIV/AIDS:
bms.com (bristolmeyerssquib offers some deals on atripla, orencia, sustiva and more for qualifying patients)

Diabetes:
bms.com (bristolmeyerssquib offers some deals on abilify)
merck.com (10% off janumet, januvia)
lifetouch.com
accucheck.com
pfizerhelpfulanswer.com (geodon, glucotrol, glyset)

High Blood Pressure:
bms.com (bristolmeyerssquib offers some deals on avalide and avapro)
merck.com (10% off cozaar and hyzaar)
pfizerhelpfulanswers.com (accupril, procardia, aldactone, norvasc, procardia)

High Cholesterol:
pfizerhelpfulanswers.com (lipitor, lopid)

Migraines:
merck.com (10% off Maxalt)

Depression/Anxiety:
lillymedicareanswers.com (deals on zyprexa)
pfizerhelpfulanswers.com (celebrex, xanax, zoloft)

Smoking Cessation:
pfizerhelpfulanswers.com (chantix)

General Programs:
rxhope.com
rxassist.com
pparx.com
rxoutreach.com

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

to my favorite niece, EMILY!

You are 1 ALREADY!

And getting much more cute each and every day!

I CANNOT wait to be with you soon!!

Use This For That

These are some fun and unique uses for everyday items that I would have never thought of before but could be useful.

*To prevent rust rings from bottles or cans in the shower, paint a layer of clear nailpolish around the bottom edge of the product for a waterproof shield.

*Keep individual socks from getting lost in the dark hole that claims one sock and not the other by safety pinning pairs of socks together before laundering them.

*Keep plastic grocery bags neat by storing them in an empty kleenex box or paper towel roll.

*Hang spools of ribbon on a wire hanger (untwist it, place the spools and retwist it) to de-clutter your wrapping supplies and provide for easy ribbon use.

*Stuff balled up newspaper into wet gym shoes or smelly lunch boxes to wick up the moisture or de-oderize the container in a few hours

*Place a fresh dryer sheet in the bottom of a dirty pan, fill with lukewarm tap water, and let sit in the sink overnight. The pan will be easier to clean in the morning.

*Clean pet hair from the floor or furniture by rubbing a dryer sheet over the spot.

*Wipe salt stains off boots by dipping a cloth or an old T-shirt into vinegar, then wipe away the white residue.

*Remove stubborn price tags or stickers by painting them with several coats of vinegar, let the liquid soak in for five minutes, then wipe away the residue.

*Kill weeds between cracks in paving stones and sidewalks by filling a spray bottle with straight vinegar and spray multiple times

*Remove sangria and red-wine stains from your washables by stretching the fabric over a bowl, cover the stain with salt, and carefully pour boiling water over it.

*Use a small strip of clear tape over the area of the wall that you are going to hammer in a nail to prevent the paint from chipping

*Seal an envelope when a flap won’t stay stuck, by applying a thin layer of clear polish.

*Restore bubbles to champagne that has lost most of its fizz by dropping a raisin into the open bottle a few minutes before pouring and any last gasps of carbon dioxide that are left in the wine will stick to the raisin's ridged surface, then release again as tiny bubbles.

Possible Career Options

Pharmacy Career Options:

Academia: Clinical Practice
Academia: Economic, Social, and Administrative Sciences (ESAS)
Academia: Pharmaceutical Sciences
Association Management
Chain Community Pharmacy: Management or Staff
Clinical Specialists
Community Health Center (CHC)
Compounding Pharmacy
Contract Research Organization
Corporate Management
Government/Federal Pharmacy
Home Health Care
Hospital Pharmacy: Management or Staff
Independent Community Pharmacy
Long Term Care
Mail Service
Managed Care
Medical Communications/Drug Information
Nuclear Pharmacy
Pharmaceutical Industry: Medical Liaison
Pharmaceutical Industry: Research and Development (R&D)
Pharmacy Benefit Management (PBM)

What Does It Mean?

I am a VERY light sleeper. I can get to sleep but do not stay asleep easily. Very often I have trouble sleeping because I have very weird dreams at night. My dreams are sometimes wonderful, sometimes scary, sometimes sad and sometimes exciting but the dreams are ALWAYS unimaginable in terms of what goes on. (I have never taken Chantix, but if you have ever taken the medication Chantix, you know what kind of dreams I am talking about)

I usually cannot remember my dreams for a long time, but I have one particular dream that occurs at least once a month. In this dream I am being chased by an evil woman. The dream takes place in my hometown. The woman constantly follows me and tries to scare me, torment me and hurt me. I continue to run away, hide and try to get rid of her. I try to tell people that this woman is trying to hurt me but no one seems to understand how scared I am. I even try to hurt the women by kicking her, pushing her in front of moving cars and fighting her off. I constantly yell in public so that people come and take her away. As much as I try to get rid of her, this evil woman still finds me, comes back from the dead and torments me.

My dreams are never this scary as this is the worst one I have. How do I get rid of an imaginary demon chasing me? What does this all mean?

Do You Sell...?

Last night at work in the pharmacy, the bell for the drive through rang as one person drove up in lane 1 and another person drove up in lane two. I went over to help both but helped the woman in the first lane to start with. The woman told me her name and verified her address as all patients are required to do. Then I asked the patient if she wanted both of the medications that were ready for her.

Patient: No I do not need the ibuprofen for my child because I have some at home.

Me: Alright, well did the doctor talk to you about the medications.

Patient: Yeah, I don't have any questions about the medications, but do you have soup?

Me: What do you mean?

Patient: Do you have soup to give out?

Me: No I do not have soup. Do you mean, does the store sell soup?

Patient: Yes, can I buy a bowl of soup?

Me: We sell packaged soups in cans or bottles. You would have to come in the store for that.

Patient: Oh, well I want a hot bowl of soup.


Patient drives away a bit disappointed.
I ask myself...What just happened???


I pick up the microphone from lane 2 to try to move on to the next patient.

Patient lane 2: Do you have any soup? (as she laughs and smiles hysterically the window)

Me: Thank you for making me smile and laugh! (as I chuckle along with her)

Did You Know?

IOWA has more than corn...


1. Iowa is the only state name that starts with two vowels.

2.The famous actor John Wayne was born in Winterset, IA on May 26, 1907.

3.Iowa State University is the oldest land grant college in the U.S.A.

4. Campers and motor homes are manufactured in Winnebago County, IA. They're called Winnebago's.

5.Iowa is the only state whose east and west borders are 100% formed by water.
Missouri and Mississippi rivers.

6.Quaker Oats, in Cedar Rapids, IA is the largest cereal company in the world.

7.Strawberry Point, IA, is the home of the world's largest strawberry.

8. Buffalo Bill, Black Hawk, George Horace Gallup - inventor of Gallup Poll, Herbert Hoover, Ashton Kutcher, Shawn Johnson, Ann Landers, Johnny Carson and Andy Williams are just a few of the famous people born in Iowa.

All Brown Bread is Wheat Bread?

At a clinic the other day I was explaining lipid panels to a patient. We were going over her LDL, HDL, and Triglyceride levels as well as ways to improve her overall cholesterol scores and risks for heart disease.

Me: In order to lower your overall cholesterol level and risk for heart disease, you want to increase your HDL or good cholesterol as much as you can.

Patient: I see. Well Do I have to take medicine for that?

Me: Well there are some ways to raise your HDL without medication. I would suggest to try those first. The best ways to raise your HDL is to get sufficient exercise each week and maintain a healthy diet.

Patient: I can do the exercise part. I will walk around my house more often.

Me: Try to avoid excessive amounts of sweets or fried foods and stick with whole wheat breads rather than processed white breads.

Patient: I already do that. I buy the white bread but only eat the brown crusts and throw away the white part.

Not all brown bread is created equal or is created as wheat bread. But thanks for making me smile!

My Rotation Schedule-Almost in Stone

Missouri Baptist Hospital - St. Louis, MO
Lakeview Internal Med - Des Moines, IA
Keefer's Independent Pharmacy - Mount Prospect, Il
Mansmith Compounding Pharmacy - Emmetsburg, IA
Broadlawns Psychiatrict Unit - Des Moines, IA
Vacation
Broadlawns ICU- Des Moines, IA
Diamond Headache Unit - Chicago, IL
FDA- Oncology Research - Washington D.C.
National Association of Chain Drug Stores - Washington DC