One Month Into Being A Manager and Having No Friend

One Month Into Being A Manager and Having No Friend

Nov 29, 2020

I have been blessed with two very good staff in my first time ever being a leader of a place. It is only one pharmacy but still, I am so thankful although there is a lot of work since this is their first-time-ever working in a pharmacy.

I did meet my sister last Monday and had a good lunch with her and I am envious that the place that we ordered in is too far away from my place. A friend of mine had an interview somewhere here last week so I got to meet her and finally able to eat at this beautiful book cafe. I also got the chance to meet a couple of my friends from my previous hospital and went to this amazing cafe that has beautiful art pieces all around it. I was thinking to do some cafe hunting series since it feels safer to share those now seeing how public this place is so there are little chances for you guys to actually guess where I am staying lol.

All of these meet-ups require planning because I have lost my luxury of spontaneity. Everyone is at least a 40-minute drive away and are only available on weekend. I do have ONE friend that lives close-by but he, being a man and also with a girlfriend although we don't understand why he is being so secretive about it, is not the kind of spontaneity that I can splurge on. Plus he is such an annoying person I genuinely don't understand why I called him a friend.

Anyway, it's not like I got lonely or anything. I finally get to sit and finished my anime and I also just finished The Haunting of Bly Manor which is so good. I read though I do wish I will write more instead. I do have a list of small projects that I need to get on but just don't feel like it yet. So yeah, it feels even more lively to do these while still feeling accomplished at work.

Tomorrow will mark my first month of working as a community pharmacist and I have spent this weekend staying home and just chilling. It feels good to rest knowing you have been pouring a good and honest work for the week. I remember feeling that I need to do something productive over the weekend just to feel like I do something with my life but I simply take a nap in the evening today and not feeling like I wasted the time upon waking up.

via GIPHY

There are some flaws here and there that I notice plus the fact that I need to do some work over the weekend because it was told so last minute but you win some you lose some. Although I do make a mental note to do just a bit over the weekend and do the rest tomorrow when I went back in. Someone commented in my last post to work smart and play hard so heck yeah I will.

I miss my home. It has been a while since I went home due to PKPB but it doesn't feel as bad as before. I don't know if it was because this is our second time at PKPB so I just got used to it or because I feel better with my work so it didn't weigh on me much. I wonder when I can go home.

My new laptop has finally arrived, and it has been such a lifesaver since the PC that they installed at work was a faulty one. They need to buy a new one if I'm not mistaken so that will take some time. Oh, that reminds me that I need to do a review on this laptop. I even subscribe to Microsoft 365 and all.

I'm starting to get the hang of this new routine which includes not buying Cappucino every day, nasi campur for life, and the fact that Petronas near my workplace make such a delicious croissant.

I hope PKPB ends soon so I can go home next week or else I can visit those workspace cafes and finally write that long-postponed part two review of my Hannan Medispa's experience.

Ending My Three Years Service With The Government

Ending My Three Years Service With The Government

Oct 30, 2020

As of today, I am officially resigned from government service. 

I'm not sure why my, now previous, unit's leader still puts me in the list of peoples who were taking off days. I still haven't left my work's WhatsApp group. I was thinking to leave it when I officially start my new work. I hope she realizes that my resignation has officially started today. 

Anyway.

I have moved out of my previous rented place yesterday and have now comfortably settled in my new rented place. There is some stuff I needed to buy which has been easily acquired thanks to the fact that I now lived in a more developed place. But sadly, it seems like my bed slats are falling off and now being held with a pair of chopstick, a pencil, and a paintbrush plus it seems like I might have broken the washing machine by simply using it (the other tenant has just used it and it works just fine).

There is some stuff that I bought in which delivery has been delayed due to PKPB. I hope my friend has picked it up and now I'm setting up a plan to meet her tomorrow although we just did an actual farewell yesterday. Since I can't cross states, I can't go back to my hometown, so there are high chances that I will still hang up with them during the weekend #lol.

A colleague of mine asked me how I was feeling leaving all those three years the day before my last day at the hospital and I genuinely don't know. I just say "ask me again tomorrow".

Funnily, my last day is the same as my, now ex, Ketua Pegawai Farmasi so it was a good distraction. 

I had a week worth of holidays which I was supposed to be spending it at my hometown only to be stuck with PKPB but somehow managed to spend every day of it eating out and spending time with my friends so now suddenly. being in a new place, all foreign and alone, just hit so hard. 

It was so different from my old place but in a good way. It is a really good housing area and it is a bit far back and gated so there are only residents cars going about here which makes it more peaceful. My room is smaller but it was more "chic" and I have a tall window that brightens the room so well. I just love the sunlight so much. 

I have visited my new workplace and thank god the signboard is up. I'm going to be a community pharmacist in a newly opened branch here. I'm not sure if they have already stocked up the place because it seems like their HR has been too busy to enlighten me but all is well. 

I'm scared, to be honest. I'm venturing into something so foreign and unsure. There is this big responsibility I need to hold and I'm doing this all alone, far away from my friend and family. But at the same time, all of these excites me. Those three years in the government hospital have served me well but it got so mundane. Now, I feel refreshed with life. Like I can start a new me.

Pray the best for me.

via GIPHY

p/s: I'm a contract-based worker. If you don't realize it by now, the pharmacists and the doctors in Malaysia are now being hired on a contract basis. For the pharmacists, it is a three-year contract and that was it. However, due to Covid-19, those who have been hired during 2017 have been given an extension of six months contract. As my three years contract ended, I did a month from those new six-month contract and then I resign from it. Some of my friends didn't take those six-month contracts and simply being let go. Now you know it.

A Day in My Pharmacist Life

A Day in My Pharmacist Life

Sep 8, 2020

There is this one time, my friend asked me what I'm going to do that night. It was such a weird question because it was the regular weekday and I'm like "Nothing?".

I just got into work today after a week worth of holiday doing practically nothing at my parent's home. I played games, cooks, cleans, eat and watch anime. So my Monday blues was heavy but somehow I feel like I need to write so here is a story of how today went which is almost the same for every day.

I stayed at a rented house that I shared with another friend of mine. It was about 20 minutes drive to get to work. I usually wake up at 630 am. I always wanted to wake up earlier but I only really wakes up when the clock hits 630 am. I did my Subh prayer, make a cup of coffee, and prepare to work. I usually get some bread for breakfast the day before but I didn't have anything today so I make a stop at Shell and get myself some Gardenia waffles and milk. Sometimes I'll get my bread from the bakery. Most of my colleagues usually buy something along the way as well and eat it at work. But since we don't really have an allocated time for breakfast, it was a bit tricky so I prefer something easy like bread or kuih instead.

I work at outpatient pharmacy department which means our service is at the counter from 8am to 5pm to cater patients that come that day. We have island dispensing systems which mean there is separate counter and we will cater a patient's prescription step by step or in this case, counter by counter. The first counter will screen it and transcribe it into the system (if they have one). The next counter will fill the medication needed and give it to the next counter who will label everything. Then it will be countersign before we pass it to the next counter to be dispense. 

I was stationed at labeling today which is so rare. I usually did the first screening or dispense. There were plenty of patients so I was practically glued to the chair. While doing that, I will also make sure that everything was chronologically ordered and to make sure that no patient gets stuck somewhere. It was quite an uneventful day since usually any problem will be settled by the first screener. 

My colleagues asked me to put on Spotify while we work and she told me about some of Yuna's song that she liked. It seems like Yuna's self titled album debuted 2012 suits me better. I recently changed to Celcom which has better coverage. Previously, they had to listen to my offline playlist which have rather randomized songs lol.

We ordered food delivery for lunch almost every day. There are two persons currently who are regularly available and they will deliver it right to our doorstep. Today's menu is ayam masak lemak with sayur campur. Sometimes if we got too fed-up, we will go out but that is a rare occasion since we always indulge our laziness lol.

We have clinic days about three to four times per week. Today's clinic is surgical which usually didn't have many patients. Apart from clinic days, we will also cater Jabatan Pesakit Luar (which operates on weekdays from 8am to 5pm) and also the emergency department. So today's patient is mostly from Jabatan Pesakit Luar. Since this is a district hospital and we have few klinik kesihatan, we usually cater about 200 to 250 patients per day.

Apart from working at the counter, each of us has our own portfolio. For me, I am in charge of Value Added Services. What it means is that we provide some services that will ease patient's medicine collection process. Other portfolio includes stock control (with different classes of medications handled by different persons), managing drug's supply for patient that wanted to take their medicine in other KKM facilities, counseling, adherence clinic, manufacturing, and many more that is just too complicated for me to explain.

These portfolios all have measurable data which is how we keep track of everything  and thus detecting any issues and coming out with a solution. Since it is early month, we need to key in these data so whenever I got some free time, I will calculate everything and keyed it in. I also wanted to do some changes in how I want to keep track of one of my service so I went around the pharmacy and explain to everyone because I wanted to make sure everyone really, really, understand it. 

It was a rather uneventful day. We would sometimes faces some weird issues but everything went smoothly today except for this one patient that tells two different stories to us and the doctor. It was annoying. Sometimes patient will think a medication is superior than the others and they will have these preferences while omitting other medications which is what happens with this patient. If such things happen, we will have to explain to the patient that their understanding is wrong. Sometimes they admit they are wrong but sometimes they will just continue doing it.

Our main Value Added Services is Collect and Go. It basically means we packed partial supply beforehand so we can dispense it quicker when the patient come to take their monthly supply. I was going to that in the evening but only managed to do it not even halfway as when need to attend a presentation did by our fellow colleague at 3pm. It seems like this week willl have daily presentation by our warfarin team. The presentation lasted for an hour. Mind you that the counter is still open so we had to juggle between serving the counter and hearing the presentation. But we usually have fewer patients in the evening as most clinic appointments is scheduled in the morning.

I finished work at 5pm and make a stop to buy dinner. I cooked sometimes but I mostly have takeaways or went out with my friends. The traffic was surprisingly heavy and I guess I was tired that missed a turn so I only reached home by 6pm. 

I played a lot of Calls of Duty mobile nowadays and since I feel so tired, I will usually scroll Instagram or TikTok and then go to sleep. Sometimes I will catch-up on my Netflix or watch anime but I usually will be too tired to focus. 

Roll On: Good Practice To Do When You Meet a Doctor (Malaysia)

Roll On: Good Practice To Do When You Meet a Doctor (Malaysia)

Aug 23, 2017

This is supposed to be What Malaysians Should Do When They Got Sick (Part Two) however, I managed to do a specific theme on this so I just rename it to Good Practice To Do When You Meet a Doctor (Malaysia). You see, the contents of my first post seemed a bit all over the place. I have a lot of things to tell but I don't really have a good way to make it seems more structured. It was like I'm just pouring out words after words. However, this time I got it structured better hence the title.

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Roll On: What Malaysian Should Do When The Got Sick (Part One)

Roll On: What Malaysian Should Do When The Got Sick (Part One)

Aug 10, 2017

More writings on pharmacy! Yay!!

Ok, yada yada, I'm a graduate of Pharmacy in UKM, yada yada, let's talk health.

These are few notes for you guys to practice when you got sick later and I only put the word "Malaysian" since I wrote this based on my limited experience with Malaysian compared to what I have learned in UKM. Apart from that, it is also because there are few things that I think Malaysian may not know that they need to take extra attention. My writing is just so long because I love you guys and I really really want to share these important things. So I have to do this in parts.

Oh my gawd that is so confusing. I don't have any good idea for opening so let's just gets to it.

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Roll On: Why Malaysian Get Fake "Medicine" and What To Do?

Roll On: Why Malaysian Get Fake "Medicine" and What To Do?

Apr 28, 2017

I'm trying to make a controversial title but the answer is really easy - it is because we ain't got enough knowledge. Where exactly to get that knowledge? How to get updated? Easy peasy lemon squeezy! Just do what I did - get a degree in Pharmacy.


I mean it.










For real.


















Ok, it's a joke.


I thought it would be good to write about pharmacy stuff - sort of getting in touch with my root. Stay tuned as I share a bit of my own insight on this issue, common fraud and how to be medicine savvy.

Roll On : UKM Pharmacy Research Project (Part Two)

Roll On : UKM Pharmacy Research Project (Part Two)

Jan 13, 2017

It took me almost a year to actually continue this topic into Part Two. I won the procrastination award but there aren't such thing because the one organizing it still procrastinating. Read Part One HERE.

First of all, my research topic is The Effect of Shared Decision Making on Medication Adherence, Treatment Satisfaction and Glycaemic Control of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patient in Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. It is so long. So now you know what kind of business I have been doing if you need to ask anything.

My precious

For this post, I just want to point out some tips *cough* that may help you to do VIVA and data presentation better. It is just my two cents. I hated not being confident enough to state "Hey, these are some tips you could try" because I don't really feel like I am anyone to be giving tips. But alas, hey guys! These are some tips to help you with your VIVA and data presentation. Leave a say on how you think about the tips okay?

SOURCE

1. Don't be scared.

2. Don't be scared.

I just have to stress out that point first. It is not like I am fearless. I have my worries as well. It is a new thing, intimidating, we are outright going to be judged and all the wrong things is going to be dug out but it is important not to say it out loud. When we say it out loud, it is kinda emphasizing the fact unto ourselves and that is bad. This research has been a very long journey and this is judgment day. So why you need to scare yourselves when you got to be the bravest person ever. This is your baby, it deserves that your mental state at its' finest so that you can do justice during presenting it. Come on, it is your baby. You have already understood it by heart. Stop worrying so much.

3. Read a few examples.

The slides I mean. Since there is no specific format, you should try to read a few examples just to get a general idea. Moreover, different research has their own specificity. Be it different questionnaire format, different aspects measured, different statistical used, yada yada, there bound to have differences. So have a few more examples, see what made them differ and maybe you can even do a mix of few. You have to understand that most of those examples have been checked by the supervisors so trust that it is a good reference.

4. Just wreck it.

Time is your biggest issue now. You want to have your supervisor checked most of your work but they have their own business as well. If you are like me, I am a slowpoke. The best it to do a draft. Just wreck it quickly and revise it with your supervisor thoroughly.

5. Use the lecturers

Some of the lecturers are thrilled to help you. Use them! Get their insight, ask anything, ask everything! Don't be afraid to look stupid because from my experience, that has led me to understand better and thorough. I even practice my verbal presentation in front of my supervisor. It helps to build confidence and stuff.

6. Practice with friends

I am so grateful to be living in a house with the coolest persons ever. We practice with each other from the start of Salam until the final Thanks for a good number of times. It is important to practice verbally in front of others since this is really something new and only you knows it. The persons judging you rely heavily on your verbal presentation so make sure to talk it loud and clear. Not only that it is good to have your tongue familiar with all the terms and important findings, it also helps you to easily collect your thoughts during the Q&A session.

7. Memorize it

If you want to do "Excellent" you gotta memorize it. Try to memorize the speech of your data presentation. Try to memorize the important findings and trends. Try to memorize everything important about the statistical method you have used. If possible, try to also memorize the statistical method you don't use especially the ones you could also use but you don't. This is in case the lecturer asked, "Why your data has to be assessed this way instead of that way." This is important as those kind of questions would help to show that you know your stuff good.

8. Be part diplomatic, part defensive.

Of course, you have to defend your baby but one thing I observe is that some of us were being too defensive. It is important to have a strong stand to show to the examiner that you are not easily shaken. However, when we become too defensive, we fail to really understand the question asked since we got so worked out that we are right and the lecturers are wrong. So be diplomatic, hear them out and sort to make everyone happy.


I think that is all.

Don't get stress out. Easier said than done, but you gotta try to remind yourselves to not be too stress because sometime we just forgot.

Roll On: Dilemma of a 2016 Pharmacy Graduates

Roll On: Dilemma of a 2016 Pharmacy Graduates

Nov 2, 2016

If anyone know anyone who is blogging random thoughts, sort of like me, preferably in English and based in Malaysia, please do tell. I only know Maria Elena and Hanis Zalikha.

I AM IN THE DEEPEST PIT OF BOREDOM AND NO-MIND-PRODUCTIVITY

These few days had been so surreal and dreamy. It was absurd. We were not doing anything. Natrah and Nabila don't need to go to school so we were like stucked in the house. This morning I simply slept after Subuh since there is nothing better to do. It kind of felt unattached not needing to wake up early and do anything. I always felt guilty to wake up late and do nothing but this morning, for the bit of a lazy bums that I am, it felt uncomplicated and easy and I like it. 

But yeah, it's been two weeks now not working as a teacher anymore. I am really in the the deepest pit of boredom and no-mind-productivity. I don't know if I was giving myself excuse not looking out for jobs because I am waiting for my convocation to finish first. It will be on this Sunday. Basically, I have this few days to kill and next week I'll be out and about. That is the big plan.

To think all those graduates before us got job quickly and never has to be bothered this way is just so infuriating. 

So what is the issue?

It has been a national Malaysian understanding that doctors, dentists and pharmacists will always have a job. We get this Public Service Department (Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam) scholarship in which we are then on the other side of a contract with the "government". The contract is that we get the money then we need to serve in government setting. Basically, a job is secured for us. Especially since before we can actually become a real doctor/dentist/pharmacist, we need to to this training and completed the sessions with certified doctors/dentists/pharmacists in a public hospital so that we can get our license to practice in Malaysia. It was like those trainee doctors and in pharmacist we will be called as a Provisionally Registered Pharmacist (PRP). It was a win win situation really. So, when we get this jobs we would first do this training. It was kind of working/training life.

But since 2015, give or take, there are lesser jobs opening due to the oversupply of us. I don't mind competing and not having those privileges anymore but my degree won't actually means so much if I didn't have the license. Legally, we need that license to do anything in Malaysia. There is that. If before, the Public Servant Commision (SPA) interview really is sort of just a formality (since everyone with the JPA scholarship will get the job anyway), it now actually work as an interview and we need to make an awesome impression.

JPA - the one who organized public servant like salary and stuff

SPA - the one who hire people and do the interview and stuff

To get around, our lecturers are prompting us to looks for other options like going into the industry (manufacturing or marketing) and community pharmacy practice (retailing). Since now the PRP training in public hospital are getting saturated, they government gives us choice to go there instead to get the training. What is important here is that it would mean we wouldn't be working in a hospital as per the typical perception of how a pharmacist supposed to. It was not like we can't work there anymore but the chances are quite small. So naturally, some were not very comfortable with the idea. 

With that, they are waiting to get the SPA interview and now were strategizing on how to ace the interview. The common plan is to work as a pharmacist assistant in a community pharmacy (retailing) so they would have more working experience. Some even went to be research assistant and UKM even have this master program that not only get the student a master degree but also finishing their PRPship.

Hey, why this post become suddenly so educational. I want to pour my heart out okayy.

Blerghh.

What about me?

The truth is, I was kind of relieved. After doing clinical attachments, I can't really picture myself doing that kind of work for the rest of my life. I don't like how routine it felt. You got sick, I give care. It's a static relationship. Especially working in a public setting which always gives the impression sort of a stagnant life. Don't get me wrong, I am still much fazed with pharmacy but a clinical pharmacist felt like meh. The adventures and the thrills of each cases were fascinating but all I can think about is how it was everything as promising as a dreadful future.

I always know I want to be doing something to help people and I don't want to waste my pharmacy. After a hard thought, I chose industry. It sort of promising. The chances of little adventures in the outside world and the corporate thingy, it was something I do feel drawn too. I think I am always a bit much of a science kids but not so much because the other part was this part of me with passions for words and arts and thinking too much. For the naive understanding that I have, industry world hold more for me and most importantly, it feel right. 

I was planning to get a job/PRP training in an industry setting. It was quite newly made legal and only a certain company provides the training. Most of it was on the most industrial region like Selangor and Kuala Lumpur. There was only one place in Perak which was located in Seri Iskandar. The thing is, the place need to be approved by Ministry of Health. The choices were quite limited. 

The main issue now is money. I need to have some money to live there first so that I can work there.

Well actually, the real main issue is getting the job. 

It was more competitive. I like to think it that way because how corporate a company is. Especially in an imperative industry as a pharmaceutical company and even more important is that I am applying a job as their registered pharmacist. Basically, as per what I have learned so far from the time i'm in UKM, we need to manage operation, the personnel, making sure the product got registered and as in marketing we would also need to be making sales. How can I made the interviewer believe I want and I can be that. Well actually, can I really be that? I wouldn't know that now do I? I have never worked in a pharmaceutical company before. I learn how to care for people health by use of these colourful pills and tablest and these clear liquids for heaven's sake! It's kind of weird how I learn other thing but totally expected to do other very different thing. On my own.

That is the worst thing. I'm still a little scared toddler in this big world. So much to learn. I always felt so self conscious, scared and uncertain with myself with things that I don't know. I always felt such way in things I'm not familiar with. In the little things, I can go dashing but this is big. This is real people with real expectation with real time and money invested and that is quite a horror. I am expected to learn a lot by myself since I don't really learn about management to get my degree. But, that is how life is. I can't fight that. I need to endure and conquer!

Though for now, future was as dark as all the dark jokes I have made regarding my future. Well, it not really is dark. The light was at the end of the tunnel and I need to walk some more and when I got used to it maybe I can run or freaking F1 race it. Then the light would come a little bit at a time, like how the sun shines gloriously but calmly in the morning.

We would do the little things first. Those that I can grab now. 

For now I'll be raining resume first (I didn't even finished updating/designing my resume yet. I'm dead) I'll try to send as much as I can and get myself an interview. Hopefully getting better at it and finally got a job in a pharmaceutical company. Preferably manufacturing department. In the meantime I would also try to get a job as a pharmacy assistant around here. I need a beautiful resume and of course gain some money because I will get that industry job at wherever Allah would destined me too and I don't want to rely so much on Walid's money. If I don't get any job, I'll just apply some random jobs. I don't know, more teaching maybe. Or cashier. We'll see what Manjung has to offer.

In the meantime maybe I don't get any job interview and SPA finally calls for interview. I'll go for it. Try my best in it. Maybe I even get the job and I'll be satisfied still and just go on with it. Allah is the planner after all, I'm here is only obligated to give effort. He will then put everything into the right place.

What if I really want to be a clinical pharmacist? 

I think I would skip the part of raining resume in pharmaceutical company. I'm quite objective minded that way. Well like really, it is one thing to first be a clinical pharmacist and then an industrial pharmacist. But totally a weird and hard thing to first be an industrial pharmacist and then a clinical pharmacist. I'll just focus to be a pharmacist assistant in a retail pharmacy or cashier.

Whatever it is, I think the most important thing is that I don't waste my time. I just get to get moving and going and doing and see for myself what life has to offer.

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Roll On : UKM Pharmacy Research Project (Part one)

Roll On : UKM Pharmacy Research Project (Part one)

Mar 22, 2016

The Effect of Shared Decision Making on Medication Adherence, Treatment Satisfaction and Glycaemic Control of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients in 

Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

*****************************************************

That is my research project tittle if you still didn't get it. I thought it would be nice to share the bits and pieces so maybe someone might actually benefit from it or maybe I simply give myself the chance to re-read this in like 20 years time so that i can reminiscence. I'm a sap that way.

Btw, this post might be tad too late for current batch. Sorry?

First of all, in UKM pharmacy programme, you kind of divided into two category; doing survey or lab work. A few student will be assigned to a lecturer/supervisor. You can practically guess what you're going to do if you already know your supervisor especially of those doing labwork since it will be related to your supervisor forte. I'm doing survey, but I can might manage to tell something about lab work since I like to chat with my friend about what they do. We even manage to do some discussion though for all its worth, it is a really basic kind of discussion.

Survey itself maybe of clinical based or pharmacy practice based. Pharmacy practice is like these ideas on understanding the community. Vaguely speaking of course, go Google it to get better understanding. You can do things like I have done here, studying shared decision making (SDM) effect particularly of medication adherence and satisfaction. SDM is a model on decision making whereby both doctors and patient are equally responsible to decide. Some studied the patient belief on medicine, knowledge, perception etc etc. Apart from patient, there are some of us doing research on pharmacist and general public, as well as student. We would specified our population of course. My supervisor allowed us to choose our own population. Basically, I chose to approach diabetic patients. Since I also studies patient glycaemic/diabetic control using actual lab data, it is part clinical. Clinical based is this actual lab tools measured effect on body; like a friend of mine taking urine sample to look on salt intake and give out questionnaire to understand his respondent salt intake style. 

Lab people have a wider spectrum of research type. Some identify compound in plants, some study formulation profile, some do stability testing, some do this effect of stuff on mice things. Oh my, i am horrible. The point is, you need to reach for the RIGHT people to help you.

The research project you will be doing solely depends on your supervisor. I got this list of possible project we can do as well as rough explanation on what it really is. We decide among ourselves who will be doing what. Some supervisor simply assigned one for you, others might give you the freedom to choose. Very little though, it's also very confusing since doing a research meaning you need to venture on new things so having supervisor help is better. Troublesome to make sure no one actually done it. Don't worry, there will be no easy way if you thought choosing by yourself could get you. One thing or another, all kind of tittle have it's own specific challenge. 

We started our research project on the second semester of third year. It is a two semester course. However, on this first semester we focused on doing research proposal presentation, ethics application and literature review writing. On research proposal presentation, we will explain about our project and how we are going to do about it. The big why this research is needed, the justification, aims, target sample size, who is included who is not, the questionnaire used yada yada yada. It is as detailed as possible with the limit of time/slides given. You'll have slides and present in front few lecturers/examiners and all your coursemates. For the lab work, it generally the same but of course more lab based like the procedure used, standard to complied etc etc.  I'm not sure how much detailed they went by.

After that, since we, the survey peeps, are dealing with human respondents, we have to apply ethics approval. It is this long list of paperwork you need to do it ASAP since the ethics committee will meet few times per month only. If i'm not mistaken, twice only. I think some of us doing outside PPUKM might need to apply some others ethic application, KKM and things. Do make sure you clarify first with your supervisor. You need to send a research proposal also, in this document form. We agreed that by doing this detailed research proposal document earlier is better because you got all the actual data right and can go on to apply the ethics letter right away after research proposal presentation. You can just simplified the document for the slides in the presentation. I have done this way. Lab peeps don't need to do this except if they were using animals (mice of cource) and then need to specifically asked the ethics approval of haiwan thingy. They will decide how much mice you going to get among other things. Ours is simply filling up some form and sent it, these lab peeps need to do another presentation. Life and death situation thingy need more details.

By this time you have some papers you have referred to, have it listed and properly documented as in an actual database. You will need it for your literature review. Do a really good database please! There are few websites that allow you to "steal" research paper that need to be buy. ASK YOUR SENIORS. I'm not going to put those link in my blog. Sorry peeps, no can do.

Then you will do your literature review. THIS IS THE DEAL. You need to read tonnes of paper to understand the current situation. Like hundreds. Start as early as possible to do rough layout on what you want to discuss in your literature review and have it checked by your supervisor. If you like this damn slowest person on earth, at least get this done and checked by your supervisor. Some supervisor were thrilled to check your literature review in details, use them! Though of course you can't push them if you like, well, late. Have it sent early for them to check. Get their insight. It will give a more credible literature review and most importantly getting you on the right track. Seriously, my supervisor helped me a lot on this. I missed lots of important point on my first draft and get some concept wrong. I'm also this stupid which she has to explain few times before i can get the actual idea. Really use your supervisor.

You will have some workshop, i think by this time, few workshop has been done (referring to the current third year batch). Like the ethic things, the lab safety, the literature review, etc etc. Fret not my dear, you can ask in finer details in this workshops. You can also asked the library to held workshop one how to browse journals that UKM have subscribe as well as EndNote software to arrange your citations. I don't use it though, i preferred to do it on my own. Some of my friend also said that do it yourselves is easier. Some thing bout EndNote don't have the actually UKM citation style. Some also said it is easier. 

Make sure you were using the right formatting style!!

Anyhow, it will only be checked on fourth year. You can still re-edit some minor stuff afterwards. Believe me, some stupid mistakes bound to happen which you won't detect it until you actually read it back two months after. Like this post. We're a wreck that way.

no particular reason

p/s: i sounded off. grumpy? i'm having fever, currently very lethargy. I watched like 4 episodes of supernatural and have the funniest sleep schedule last night. who on earth slept at 830 pm and wake up at 1130pm just the sleep back near 5 am and woke up at 630 am and can't sleep back until like 1130am. me. 

Roll On : Dispensing tips for OSPHE

Roll On : Dispensing tips for OSPHE

Mar 18, 2016

Heyyyy.

If you ain't a pharmacist wanna be. This post is obsolete. But do venture on this side our life. You're welcome here.

So,

Last night I have this awful tak-sedap-hati feeling because we have our first OSPHE workshop today. I can't sleep until 1.30 am which might be due to the fact that i've slept the day or maybe due to the evening coffee i took which only make it worst. I was so restless that I can't even bring my eyes shut to force myself to sleep. I even read some online stories (don't give me the crap saying no phone before sleep).

I resort for 9gags afterwards which granted me success. Yet, it's late already, so not 9gag lullabying me. I am officially sleepy by somewhere near 2 am.

I have restlessness. I need my peace. My peace is my catalyst. So I treat myself a slow breakfast. It worked.

First tip: Be freaking calm!

However, OSPHE was so overrated. It really does. Alhough i am the least prepared person. I lost my bnf and refuse to buy a mims. Practically I have nothing.

Second tips : you need at least mims and bnf for dispensing and drug info workshop. I am prepared by the least. Drug info handbook is a leverage but the severity of OSPHE was not to include it. I borrowed my friend bnf and downloaded mims apps.

Yay mobile data.
Yay awesome phone that i borrowed since my phone is broken.
Yay life.

Emm. Lets get down to bussiness. The dispensing part.

This is the real tips. Although it is not so much of a pro tip and please don't make this into a standard or what, it is simply what i've learned from previous classes and discussing it with my friend. It a rough guide which would help during OSPHE. We come up with this when we try to dispense among ourselves and trying different sentences. Experimenting.

LETS DO THIS.

1. Ask patients name. We resort on "Hi, good morning, may i know your name please". Patient was deemed to rush because they have spend hours and taking medication is their last pitstop. Asking their name is better than asking "are you so and so". It makes them alert also. Then, introduce yourself (i like this part, heee)

2. Ask them if they knew their condition. " Do you what your medicine is for?".

3. Proceed by telling them which medication is for which condition as they have said before. We resolve on saying the dosing regimen " take this ?? daily, and ?? tablets/capsules/yadayada each time, before/after meal". Some condition will have different multiple medication, so finish each condition first ie "you have two type of medication for your diabetes which is ?? and ??".

4. After telling dosing regimen of a particular medication, you need to tell them any special advice like does it need to be chewed/shaken/when needed. Basically, finish everything about a medication then move on to other.

5. For things like inhaler and insulin pen, make sure to ask if this is their first time and if they know how to use it. Or else, you need to educate them. Won't be though, you'll have other session for this.

6. Ask if they have any problems. This one is on you. Lecturers can ask random various question. I was asked why the patient need to take Gelusil (a type of antacid).

7. Ask the patient to repeat what you have advice. Oh my!!!!! I didn't do this today!!!!


I just ended season 6 supernatural and it was great. Sad of course since I liked Castiel and Dean was too miserable. This is why Destiel is shipped. But at first episode on season 7, Castiel become Leviathan. It is an antagonist character like destroy-the-world kind of antagonist.

But it was AWESOME.







Malaysia is damn hot.

Roll On : Life and Industrial Training

Roll On : Life and Industrial Training

Jun 28, 2015

*tiup habuk*

Hi "me" , since i really think it is me that i am writing too. I love reading how i used to be. i am that people who believe we CAN change.

Life have been super stress and i got face full of pimples to prove it. The thesis work and exam have really put a toll on me. I never thought i actually can be this stress. Partly because i kind of finding that drive to drive. Being lazy and procnasting person not helping though i am quite impressed how i could still manage it.

I am at home now, getting my reset. Home is always a good reset place for me. I do nothing really, esppecially during ramadhan and having my period. It is just being in this house alone have this destressing effect. Of course having my sisters to talk with were extemely joyous also.

But, i am only home for 4 days and in one hour i need to get into the bus and went back to KL for my industrial training. The wifi at college down AGAIN. I think i am going crazy living alone and work and back to college and work and back and hopefully i am rajin enough to go to my aunt house when i got a day off or else i WILL GO FULL RETARD. I hope i could help myself to love the work. PLEASE.

i want a change of life. God knows how much i tried and fail. to become more rajin, more productive, more of that and less of this. Typical life improvements. It's not like i am in the realy wrong way of living. On how things go around now cause we know that almost all student like me is like is like me. 

But i want a change of life.

Be the neXt Mark Zuckenberg of some sort.

Hey Nurul Afifah Bt Addnan! YOU CAN DO THIS!