Example Of A Stressful Situation Essay

Immediately after graduating from high school, I volunteered at a clinic, which also had its own modest pharmacy. I took this step so that I could get a clear understanding of the career path I had selected. My duty around the clinic was very lucid. I was responsible for managing the patients’ appointments and giving medicines based on prescriptions. Things were going smooth, and I was content with the work I was doing.
It was Monday, almost noon one week when a teenage boy named Jimmy came into the clinic. He was clutching his stomach and was shrieking in pain. Jimmy’s screams were unnerving me. He was taken into the exam room where Mr. Smith, the clinic doctor administered treatment. It took about half an hour for Mr. Smith to examine him and give proper medication. After completing the examination, Dr. Smith came out of the exam room and furnished me a prescription, instructed me to retrieve a bottle of oxycodone (used to relieve pain). I recovered the bottle and after putting it inside a paper bag, handed it to Dr. Smith.
Later the same day, I was comparing the medicine log to the prescriptions so that I could update the inventory. When I reached jimmy’s prescription, I was baffled to realize that I had administered the wrong medication. I had given him Lorazepam, an anxiety medicine, instead of oxycodone. Frozen in place for about two minutes; I assessed the consequences of a mistake I had made. Somewhere in the middle of the thought process, I discovered the solution to my problem. Jimmy had filled out a form after the treatment. Hoping to find Jimmy’s contact information, I retrieved the form from the records. And luckily enough, Jimmy’s phone number was on the form. I called the given number, and after receiving authentication that he hadn’t taken the medicine, clarified to him the entire situation. I made him promise to come by as soon as possible to get the correct medicine.
After the incident, I became awfully alert while working around the clinic. I developed the habit of double checking the prescription before giving medicine. I would reflexively evaluate the impact of every task that I carried out while managing patients’ appointments and medication. The incident that day also made me realize that I was better equipped at dealing with stressful situations than I would have anticipated. I’m sure that if I encounter a similar situation ever again, I will be able to find ways to put right the situation.