Let It Go

 

Nurse: Hello, I’d like to call in a new prescription. 

Me (Pharmacist): Ok, patient’s name … etc.  And the medication?

Nurse: We want to prescribe tramadol, POINT 50 mg.

Me: Ok, well do you mean tramadol 50 mg?

Nurse: I don’t know what you are asking. 

Me: I’m sorry, I thought I heard you say “point 50mg” (0.50mg).

Then, in the most “matter-of-fact” tone she could muster up, she said the following:

Nurse: I DID BUT IT’S THE SAME NUMBER! FIFTY or POINT 50; they are both 50!!!”

Me: Ooookkkkaaaayyy, I’m sorry. Thank you. Goodbye.

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Notice that I did not say “you’re right.” Because she could not have been MORE WRONG!! Fifty and .50 are clinically statistically significantly DIFFERENT!! Especially when it comes to dosages!!!

As much as I wanted to drive that point home, I knew the best thing to do was to just let her be and say, “ok, thank you.”

Question: do you take advantage of every opportunity you get to correct someone? Do you ever just let something slide? I really struggle in this area. Being a manager, a preceptor to pharmacy students, and a mother of two small children doesn’t help either! Correcting others is what I do! It’s hard to turn that part of myself off.

What I’ve learned over time is that correction is often times better received and more appropriate when there is some type of relationship between the people involved. A complete stranger whose path you will probably never cross again is most likely not a good candidate for a math lesson.

So, when should we try to correct another individual? As Christians, we should after we have prayed about it first, have an attitude of submission and concern for the other person, and are committed to following the procedures outlined in His Word for such a situation.

If you run the idea of correcting someone else through that filter and conclude “it’s just not that serious!”

You’re right. So, let it go!

“For everything there is a season, and a time . . . a time to keep silence, and a time to speak . . . ” Ecclesiastes 3:7