Pharmacy work isn’t always fun, no matter how much we love it. In the fast-moving world of pharmacy, there are some certainties: flu season, DIR fees, and a happy helping of stressful situations. Whether you’re opening a pharmacy for the first time or are a seasoned vet of the pharmacy game, stress is simply an occupational hazard.
Pharmacy stress comes in two forms: the stress you can proactively prevent and the stress you can only deal with at that moment. Since you wear that white coat, however, you know a thing or two about expecting the unexpected.
With April being Stress Awareness Month, let’s look at how you can manage the choppiest of pharmacy waters.
Like sports, pharmacy work is a game of inches. You constantly have to meet deadlines for all different kinds of people, be it your patients or doctors.
Time is always tight in the pharmacy world. Assigning specific tasks to your staff based on their strengths is key. Having a great customer service rep can keep customers happy while your technicians handle prescriptions. By delegating tasks effectively, your staff can shine even on the busiest days.
This also frees up time for you to focus on important pharmacist duties like talking to doctors, giving vaccines, or helping patients with their health concerns. Managing your time well is the best way to keep stress levels down and make your job a bit easier (and your patients a bit healthier).
We’re all human. We all have bad days every now and then. And despite our best efforts, some of that negativity can bleed into the workplace.
Assure your staff that you’re here for them. A simple “It’s ok” or “You’re strong” goes a long way for those who need to hear it. Assure them that your door is always open and that your independent pharmacy is a safe space.
Though it might not totally do away with the stress, it’ll make an insurmountable obstacle a little more manageable.
Pharmacy work is already stressful as is, and sometimes life doesn’t make it any easier. That’s what makes supporting your independent pharmacy staff so important.
As mentioned earlier, pharmacy work is a marathon, not a sprint. Attaining a healthy work-life balance is essential for any job, but especially for a job in the healthcare industry.
Breaks are necessary reprieves from a stressful workday. Think of it like a long run (we’re all about sports analogies here): pacing yourself is vital to crossing that finish line.
To cross that finish line, you might need to go easy for a little bit and let your body recover. In your independent pharmacy, a 15-minute break gives your staff the chance to clear their head and charge their inner batteries.
By the time they come back, they should feel refreshed and able to take on the rest of the day.
The same is the case for lunches. Whether your independent pharmacy closes for lunch or your techs go one by one, their lunch break is a key part of reducing work-related stress.
Note from the author (who is also a pharmacy technician): the key to taking a meaningful break/lunch is to be off your phone. Read a book, take a walk, nap for a little bit — so long as it doesn’t involve a rectangular screen.
No matter how busy a day becomes, we need a break every now and then. It can make the difference between a bad day and a great one.
Even the best pharmacy team can’t do much without the right pharmacy software. The software you choose dictates your workflow and efficiency. You’ll want to know the ins and outs of your software when you’re in a workflow bind.
If you’re a PioneerRx user, you’re already curbing some avoidable stress.
Let's start with the basics: med sync. At this point, med sync is less of a pharmacy novelty and more of a prerequisite for running a successful business — just check out this clip from the Catalyst Pharmacy Podcast:
With PioneerRx, leveraging your pharmacy’s med sync program is as seamless as ever. During your pharmacy’s peak rush hours, your pharmacy software should be able to automate tasks whenever possible. An unpredictable workflow is a stress-generating machine, so let your pharmacy system turn the tide.
Financial stress is a kind of stress like no other, especially when trying to keep your pharmacy afloat. Businesses need to generate profit to stay afloat, and that becomes even more difficult with low prescription reimbursements.
Enter PioneerRx’s Care Goals. Depending what prescription your patient picks up, our system can notify you when an OTC product can accompany their prescription item. From allergy meds to cough and cold products, Care goals can do wonders for both your pharmacy’s profits and your patients’ health journeys.
For more profit-growing (and stress-reducing) software features, read our blog, “7 PioneerRx Features to Grow Your Pharmacy’s Profitability.”
We all have our sources of stress. Whether at home or in the workplace, stress is simply a part of life. More often than not, patients urgently need their prescriptions. A 20-minute wait time can feel like an eternity if they’re waiting for a post-op pain med. That’s not only an hourly occurrence — that could be your whole day.
Work-related stress in the pharmacy is completely normal. But it can be dangerous if left unaddressed. These tips can hopefully turn a bad day into something more salvageable.
Work-related stress is part of the program, so get with it and make a bulletproof plan of action this Stress Awareness Month.
