Author: Andrew Brown

When you walk into a pharmacy, the most visible task is the dispensing of medications. You hand over your prescription, the pharmacist or technician retrieves your medication, and after a brief wait, you leave with your treatment. However, behind this seemingly simple process lies a myriad of invisible tasks that pharmacists perform daily, tasks that are crucial for your safety and the efficacy of your treatment. These tasks, often unseen by the public, contribute to a highly stressful work environment for pharmacists.

1. Medication Verification

One of the most critical and time-consuming tasks for a pharmacist is medication verification. This process involves ensuring that the medication prescribed is appropriate for the patient. Pharmacists check for potential drug interactions, correct dosages, and confirm that the prescribed medication is suitable for the patient’s age, weight, and health condition. This verification process requires a keen eye for detail and extensive knowledge of pharmacology. A single mistake can have serious consequences, making this task incredibly stressful.

2. Compounding Medications

Compounding is the art and science of preparing personalized medications for patients. This can involve altering the form of a medication (e.g., from a pill to a liquid), combining medications to tailor a specific dose, or adding flavors to make medicines more palatable for children. Compounding requires precision, as any deviation from the prescribed formula can affect the medication’s effectiveness and safety.

3. Managing Inventory

Pharmacists are responsible for managing the pharmacy’s inventory, ensuring that medications are stocked appropriately and are within their expiration dates. This task involves constant vigilance, as running out of a critical medication can have serious implications for patients. Additionally, pharmacists must navigate supply chain issues and manage drug recalls, which adds another layer of complexity and stress.

4. Patient Counseling

Providing patient counseling is a crucial aspect of a pharmacist’s role. This involves educating patients on how to take their medications correctly, discussing potential side effects, and answering any questions they may have. Effective communication is essential, as misunderstandings can lead to improper medication use and adverse effects. Balancing the need for thorough counseling with the time constraints of a busy pharmacy can be highly stressful.

5. Administrative Duties

Pharmacists also handle a variety of administrative tasks. These include managing insurance claims, processing billing, maintaining accurate patient records, and complying with regulatory requirements. The paperwork is often complex and time-consuming, requiring meticulous attention to detail to avoid errors and ensure compliance with laws and regulations.

6. Staying Updated with Medical Knowledge

The field of medicine is constantly evolving, with new drugs, therapies, and guidelines emerging regularly. Pharmacists must stay updated with these changes to provide the best care for their patients. This involves continuous education and training, which can be time-consuming and add to the overall stress of the job.

The Stress of Multitasking and Time Pressure

The combination of these tasks means that pharmacists are constantly multitasking and working under significant time pressure. They must juggle the needs of patients and doctors while ensuring that every prescription is accurate and safe. The stakes are high, and the margin for error is slim. This environment can lead to high levels of stress, which is often compounded by long hours and a demanding workload.

Conclusion

The role of a pharmacist extends far beyond dispensing medications. The invisible tasks they perform behind the counter are vital for patient safety and healthcare efficacy. However, these tasks also contribute to a highly stressful work environment. Recognizing the complexity and importance of a pharmacist’s work can lead to greater appreciation and support for these essential healthcare professionals. Next time you visit a pharmacy, be kind to your pharmacist and remember the intricate web of responsibilities your pharmacist handles to ensure you receive the best possible care.

As pharmacists, we are entrusted with the critical responsibility of ensuring the safe and effective distribution of medications to the public. This trust is particularly significant when dealing with controlled substances like pseudoephedrine, a common decongestant with the potential for misuse. Recently, New Zealand has seen the reintroduction of pseudoephedrine as a pharmacist-only medication, prompting a necessary discussion about the safety and accountability measures needed to protect our profession and communities. The Risks Involved Pseudoephedrine, while effective for relieving nasal congestion, has a dark side. It is a key ingredient in the illicit production of methamphetamine, a highly addictive and dangerous drug. This dual nature of pseudoephedrine places pharmacists at the frontline, balancing between legitimate medical use and potential abuse.The reintroduction of pseudoephedrine into our pharmacies increases the risk of diversion and illegal use. It also places significant pressure on pharmacists, who must navigate the fine line between providing necessary care and preventing misuse. The responsibility to safeguard against pseudoephedrine diversion can lead to stressful encounters and even threats to personal safety. The Need for a National Register To address these concerns, it is imperative that we advocate for the establishment of a national register for pseudoephedrine sales. Such a register would serve multiple vital functions: 1.Tracking Purchases: By maintaining a comprehensive record of pseudoephedrine transactions, we can identify suspicious purchasing patterns and prevent stockpiling by individuals with malicious intent. 2.Enhancing Accountability: A national register ensures that all sales are documented and traceable. This accountability can act as a deterrent to those considering the diversion of pseudoephedrine for illicit use. 3.Supporting Pharmacists: With a centralized system in place, pharmacists can more easily collaborate with law enforcement and regulatory bodies to report and manage potential misuse, reducing the burden on individual pharmacists. A Call to Action As pharmacists, our primary concern must always be the well-being and safety of our communities and ourselves. The reintroduction of pseudoephedrine as a pharmacist-only product necessitates robust safeguards to mitigate the risks associated with its sale. I urge all my fellow pharmacists to support the call for a national register. This measure will not only protect our profession but also enhance public safety. Please join us in signing this petition HERE to establish a national register for pseudoephedrine sales. Together, we can advocate for a safer environment for both pharmacists and the communities we serve.

IPANZ is thrilled to announce that we are able to fund 4 workplace support sessions to our registered members. Our goal is to support YOU and to empower YOU in the workplace.

Kate Schwass is a Masterclass Accredited Coach. She is able to conduct sessions online or in person (Christchurch based members only). Kate began coaching in 2010 and is passionate about being able to help people come to a greater self awareness, understanding and appreciation of the talents they have while valuing the uniqueness of each individual.

What is workplace support?
It is an opportunity for members to vent/share their concerns and frustrations about work and to get help with mental wellbeing. Kate provides a safe environment and a listening ear. She also brings a different perspective .

As a community pharmacist, I do find immense joy and satisfaction especially when making an impact on my patient’s health. However, like any other occupation, we pharmacists may sometimes face challenges that can impact their job satisfaction. In this blog post, we will explore some effective strategies to improve job satisfaction for pharmacists in community pharmacy

1. Foster a Positive Work Environment:

Creating a positive work environment is essential for enhancing job satisfaction. Pharmacy owners and managers can take several steps to achieve this:

a. Encourage open communication: Promote a culture of open communication, where pharmacists feel comfortable sharing their concerns, ideas, and suggestions. It is okay to agree to disagree , everyone is entitled to their own opinion. The most important thing is to find common ground and to reach mutual understanding.

b. Recognize and appreciate achievements: Regularly acknowledge the hard work and achievements of the pharmacists. Buying a cup of coffee or a morning/afternoon tea shout can go a long way in boosting morale.

c. Promote teamwork: Foster a sense of teamwork by encouraging collaboration among pharmacy staff. This can help reduce work-related stress and create a supportive atmosphere. I highly recommend introducing work place support coaching for staff in every community pharmacy. This allows staff to have an opportunity to vent/share their concerns about work and help with their wellbeing .

2. Provide Opportunities for Professional Growth:

Continual professional development is crucial for job satisfaction. Employers can facilitate the growth of their pharmacists by:

a. Offering training and educational opportunities: Support pharmacists in attending conferences, workshops, and training programs that enable them to stay updated with the latest advancements in pharmacy practice.

b. Career advancement prospects: Create clear pathways for career advancement within the community pharmacy. Providing opportunities and adequate remuneration for pharmacists to take on additional responsibilities (MUR, MTA training etc.) or pursue specialized roles can help them feel valued and motivated.

3. Improve Workflow Efficiency:

A well-organized and efficient workflow can significantly enhance job satisfaction for pharmacists. Consider the following strategies:

a. Optimize staffing levels: Ensure that the pharmacy is adequately staffed to manage the workload effectively. Overburdened pharmacists can lead to increased stress levels and reduced job satisfaction. Some businesses have opted to reduce their opening hours so staff can work with no interruptions from customers, and gives them an opportunity to chat, laugh and listen to music.

b. Implement technology solutions: Utilize technology tools, such as pharmacy management systems, to automate repetitive tasks, streamline processes, and reduce the administrative burden on pharmacists. This allows them to focus more on patient care.

c. Minimize multi-tasking in dispensary : Create a roster that rotates pharmacists between retail and dispensary. The retail pharmacist of the day will be in charge of OTC queries , pharmacists only consults and vaccinations. This allows the dispensary pharmacist to concentrate on everything dispensary (following up on problem scripts, phone queries etc.)

4. Enhance Work-Life Balance:

Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is vital for job satisfaction and overall well-being. Employers can promote work-life balance by:

a. Implementing flexible scheduling options: Allow pharmacists to have flexible schedules (late starts, allowing staff to take time off during the day due to other commitments) , enabling them to better manage personal commitments and reduce burnout by offering counselling or professional supervision services.

b. Encouraging self-care practices: Educate pharmacists on the importance of self-care and stress management techniques. Promote healthy habits such as regular exercise, taking breaks, and pursuing hobbies outside of work.

In conclusion, pharmacists everywhere are being undervalued and severely underutilized. My hope is that one day, every pharmacist will have the level of job satisfaction that we can be proud of.

-Jie Choong-

Awesome trip to Dunedin ; meeting future pharmacists and our new executive team member, Professor Rhiannon Braund