"I'm a clinical pharmacy specialist here at the Nashville VA. I've been here since 1999, and I've worked for the VA since 1996.
I think that I should take any patient no matter who they are, and treat them with dignity and respect. But there is something special about treating the veterans. And if you are ever around a World War II veteran, they are just precious, and the stories that they can tell you are just really amazing. And that is a big part of why I'm here and other colleagues that I know of want to work for the VA. Is because all the training that you go through, and the residency training, all the hours you spend studying, and the reason why you went to, or the reason you got into healthcare to begin with was because you wanted to help patients. And here at the VA, you get to do that. And that makes it a job worth doing.
VA hospitals are some of the best hospitals that are around, in terms of medical care, in terms of technology, in terms of almost everything that we do, especially in regards to patient safety. A lot of it has to do with the barcode medication administration that we have here. And also the computerized patient records system that we have. Every patients chart is in the computer.
I think it is that working with the group of professionals that I do, just an intelligent group of people. And we all seem to get along really well. Besides working together, we're also good friends, and it seems like we all strive toward the same goal. And that goal being patient care, number one, and helping the veteran.
The VA is very well known to allow students from medical universities, nursing schools, pharmacy schools, and allow those healthcare students to come in and to do training. And you have the opportunity to teach those students into your practice, and how to do things, and to share what you've learned, and to share a little wisdom with them.
I think that if you are looking for a lot of opportunity, and you are looking for a career, not just a job, and you want a career that involves what you have been trained to do, that you should really give the VA a lot of consideration. I am actually now doing what I was trained to do, and what I love to do. And that's take care of patients, take care of these veterans, so, if you want to learn something new every day, and you want an exciting career, then I think that you should consider the VA. ”
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