Multi user update of Profile Document data

I have established a field on a profile document. Any user accessing the database can view and change the data held by this field via an action button using Lotus Formula.  My problem is as follows. User A and User B both open the data base. User A changes the value in this field and he can confirm his change by subsequently reading the value.  However if User B reads the value after User A changed it, User B still gets the original value prior to User A's change.  If User B closes the data base and then opens it again and then reads the field from the profile document he gets the (new) changed value.  I have experienced a similar result using a routine with Lotus Script. The profile document is supposed to be global to all users however it seems as though it is indiviual while the data base is open and then somehow merged once closed.  Is this normal and is there a work around or is this caused by having certain settings for the database?  My goal is to have all users be able to access and change the same field and those changes be reflected to the other users on subsequent access.