From refugee to pharmacist: Insights for better care

Abstract

Purpose: This reflection utilizing Gibb's model offers insight into the lived experience of a Vietnamese child refugee who, many years later, found herself working as a pharmacist with Afghan refugees.

Description: Through this piece, the author describes her childhood experience with the United States (US) healthcare system as a refugee, her experience as a pharmacist caring for refugees, and explores her thoughts and feelings about the experience.

Analysis/interpretation: The author evaluates the positive and negative aspects of the situation and analyzes the experience to make sense of the situation.

Conclusions: After reflecting on what she learned through her experience combined with findings in the literature, the author offers recommendations to pharmacists as they care for refugees, emphasizing the need for trauma-informed care for refugees with limited English language skills who are trying to navigate the complex US healthcare system.

Implications: This piece offers insights for pharmacists caring for refugees on how to offer better care.

Keywords: Communication; Healthcare; Immigrant; Pharmacy; Refugee.