Yes. Actually, there are three.
The APhA Student & New Practitioner Development Department strives to enhance the professional and personal development of student pharmacists while in pharmacy school so they are prepared for the first day of their new careers and beyond. This is accomplished through providing tools and resources, both online and during live meetings. We also rely on the help of new practitioner leaders who like nothing more than to pay it forward as part of the mentor–mentee relationship.
While at APhA2018 in Nashville, our expert panel of recent graduates graciously sat down with Student Pharmacist staff to discuss issues of critical importance, including workplace challenges, time management strategies, and even the soothing therapeutic value of a good bath.
The sage advice was provided by: Stephanie Garza, PharmD, a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Primary Care at the Department of Veterans Affairs and a Relief Pharmacist at H-E-B Pharmacy Laredo, TX, and a past APhA–ASP National Member-at-large; Jessica Marx, PharmD, a Pharmacy Manager for CVS Health in Methuen, MA, and a per diem Clinical Staff Pharmacist at Exeter Hospital in Exeter, NH, as well as the 2018–19 Vice-Chair of the APhA New Practitioner Network Advisory Committee (NPAC); and Sara Wettergreen, PharmD, BCACP, an Assistant Professor at the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and the 2018–19 Chair of the APhA NPAC. Here is what they had to say.
SPM: What is a workplace challenge that you have overcome, how did you work through it, and what lessons have you learned from that experience?
Stephanie Garza (SG): Being involved in APhA–ASP and surrounding myself with like-minded student pharmacists left me extremely optimistic about our profession upon graduation. Beginning my career as a practitioner, however, reminded me that there is still so much to be done. I work in a multi-disciplinary outpatient clinic where I am the first local PharmD to be given prescriptive authority for chronic disease state management under a scope of practice. It has been a challenging and humbling experience explaining to colleagues outside of the profession what it is I do. Even almost a year into this position, I still find myself answering questions like, “Why do patients make appointments with you? Do you just process their refills?” “Dr. Garza? Aren’t you a pharmacist?” Or my favorite, “Why don’t you work in a pharmacy?”
Do not go into practice assuming all the work has been done for you and that everyone knows why you are there. While you might be well-trained and ready to hit the ground running, it is important to be able to go back to basics; be able to explain what a PharmD is and how we benefit the patient and the team. Advocating for our profession and our patients does not end at graduation.
Jessica Marx (JM): A workplace challenge that I had to overcome was realizing that I can’t do everything by myself. After graduating and getting licensed, I felt like I could take on the world and fix any problem that came my way. In any setting, there are many day-to-day challenges you may face as a pharmacist and especially as a manager, but it’s critical to remember that some things are out of your control, and sometimes you need to delegate. For me, this is definitely still a work in progress, especially working in two different settings, but I think it’s important to remind yourself some of these things in order to avoid burnout early on as a new practitioner.
Sara Wettergreen (SW): The most significant professional challenge I have faced is being able to disconnect and take time for self-care. During school and in residency, the numerous demands for time led me to put my education and work activities as top priority. Through the late nights and stress, I always imagined that this was a temporary scenario and that advancing to a career would guarantee achievement of “work–life balance.” I couldn’t have been more wrong! It is a constant challenge to find ways to achieve professional goals, while still making time for my passion of professional organization service and taking time for self-care. I’ve learned much about how small changes day-to-day can have significant impact over time.
SPM: What kinds of hobbies have you adopted to take a break from the stress of NP life?
SG: I started taking better care of myself by joining a yoga studio and jogging after work. That time is dedicated to clearing my mind and focusing on myself, which was not always easy to do while I was in school. To hold myself accountable to the new lifestyle, I registered for a half marathon. I didn’t do this to be hard on myself or stress myself out. I did it because “I deserve it” is not always motivating enough for someone who is so accustomed to putting others before herself. So I’m happy to say I ran my fifth half marathon at Disney World this year!
JM: That’s awesome Steph! Those who know me know that I love a good bath, but honestly, this is a fairly new “hobby” for me. Since becoming a new practitioner, I have found taking baths, especially with my favorite bath bombs, to be therapeutic and relaxing. After a long, stressful day on your feet, it’s so important to take some time for yourself and reflect. New practitioners are always on the move, but I have learned self-care and reflection are more important than you may realize. Whether it’s baths, music, massages, exercise, or whatever other avenue you might prefer, take some time to relax and reflect. In the words of Tom and Donna from the TV show “Parks and Rec": “Treat yo’self.”
SW: Since I struggle to prioritize myself, I am not always good at further developing my personal hobbies. The most successful strategy I have found to decompress from the stress of new practitioner life is spending time with others. Connection with others is a known resilience strategy, and is the one that I most enjoy as an extrovert. Whether it is as simple as meeting with a friend for coffee, or traveling across the county to visit family, the time invested into relationships with others reaps rewards. In my individual time, I enjoy playing with my dog, crafting, and cooking to de-stress.
SPM: Do you have any time management strategies to share?
SG: I work two jobs, so I made a rule for myself. If it’s not in my planner, it’s not happening. When I first started working relief in the community setting I was quick to say "yes" to every shift, especially because I was obsessed with paying off my student loans. Shout out to Tim Ulbrich, Your Financial Pharmacist! But I also did it because I sincerely wanted to help out my co-workers if they needed a vacation or to go to their kids’ basketball games. We are a close-knit group of pharmacists, so we are always trying to help each other out. But I found myself sacrificing time for exercise, socializing, and rest. These aspects of our lives are important even for those of us who don’t have kids or spouses, simply because everyone deserves to maintain their mental, emotional, and physical health.
If I have plans with a friend or family member, it gets written down in my planner. If I committed to yoga or a group workout after my full-time job, I’ll write that down, too. Whenever one of my co-workers asks me to cover a shift, instead of my answer always being "yes," it is now, “Let me check my schedule and I’ll get back to you.”
JM: To be honest, time management is still challenging as a new practitioner, but I have definitely found it useful to use some sort of calendar/agenda that you’re able to access from anywhere. I personally use Google Calendars and I enter anything and everything in there, including my work schedule, birthdays, trips, hangouts with friends, deadlines, and more. I use this in conjunction with an app called Do! to keep a running to-do list of tasks that I need to complete to keep me timely and ensure I don’t forget anything.
SW: I will have to check out that app, Jess. I’ve heard others say that if you don’t manage your schedule, someone will manage it for you. As an academician with many competing responsibilities, it always seems there aren’t enough hours in the day to accomplish everything I need to. A few months ago, I started managing my schedule by blocking time for high priority items. I noticed that this not only helped me get ahead of deadlines, but also helped decrease stress surrounding these deadlines. In addition, I think limiting distractions to improve efficiency is critical to completing as much as possible during the time dedicated to each task. I’ve learned that most e-mails and texts don’t need an instantaneous response, and that having my e-mail open and phone available while working on a task leads to decreased productivity.
SPM: What challenge did you experience during your transition from student to new practitioner and how did you overcome it?
SG: When you are stressed about securing a job after graduation, it is easy to feel like you have an audience. Will my family not approve of my decision to move out of state? What will people think if I don’t match? Will I be judged if I can’t find a job? With everyone sharing seemingly everything on social media, we believe everyone “has it all.” So what happens when we don’t have it all and what will people think if they find out we don’t? Life happens to everyone, so the truth is that most of us only share the good. I had some serious bumps in the road to my dream job that left me feeling like I should go into hiding. It is difficult to practice resiliency when you are fixated on what others might be thinking about you.
A job or residency search is a very personal journey and you get to decide who you invite to be on it with you. Not everyone has to know your business, and I promise you not everyone is refreshing your Facebook page for your life updates, but when looking for guidance and support, the strong network you built as a student pharmacist is a great place to start.
JM: Something that I definitely felt as a challenge after first becoming licensed was having the confidence to make my own professional decisions and not feeling the need to have to prove myself to other pharmacists who have been practicing much longer than myself. This was definitely in my own head, but talking to other new practitioners, I think many do go through this stage before they’re able to feel comfortable practicing solo without a preceptor or designated safety net. That being said, all the pharmacists I have worked with have been so incredibly supportive. Even if you may physically be the only pharmacist working, you’re never really alone, and there’s always someone to lean on if you’re unsure about something. Another pharmacist is only a phone call away. Regardless, I think your level of comfort naturally just increases over time with increased experience, but just remember not to doubt yourself and to use your resources!
SW: I have had many career moves in my short time as a new practitioner (including 2 years of residency in different states), and a recent job change after about 2 years of experience. As a dedicated individual, it was difficult to decide to change jobs this early in my career, even for a great opportunity. In the end, I evaluated my career goals and felt the new opportunity better aligned with them. I think it’s important for student pharmacists to know that their career may go in many different directions in the future, and some changes may be unexpected. With a professional network and an open mind, you will be surprised by how many opportunities come your way!
SG: So true, Sara. There is no way to predict what will happen during the course of your career, but it is always a relief to know you have a network to steer you in the right direction when you need guidance or to catch you when you fall. And if you never fall, way to go! Share your secrets with the rest of us!
SPM: What advice do you have for current students and/or 2018 pharmacy school graduates?
SG: Treat every day as a job interview. This includes your last weeks of pharmacy school, the duration of your residency or your first job, and even your time at a professional conference. A former preceptor or fellow student pharmacist might be on one of your interview panels or you might be on one of theirs. The fact is that you never know who you will cross paths with again. We’ve all heard it before and it continues to be true: pharmacy really is a small world.
JM: As a student pharmacist, I wish I knew that my pharmacy involvement and activities outside of the classroom were just as valuable as my learning within the classroom. Or at least I wish I knew earlier. Looking back, I became involved in APhA–ASP later than I would have liked, and being in an accelerated pharmacy school program definitely didn’t help. That being said, I cannot stress enough how beneficial it has been being involved in a professional organization, volunteering to help with patient care projects, and making a difference in my local community. The knowledge you gain in the classroom is absolutely crucial, but your involvement in activities outside of the classroom allows for practical application and understanding, as well as further development.
As for this year’s graduates: stay involved! There are so many opportunities after graduation. APhA–ASP is not and should not be the end of your involvement. The APhA New Practitioner Network (NPN) has been the best resource for me over the last 2 years for both professional development and personal growth. Just like with my involvement in APhA–ASP, my involvement with the NPN has been rewarding in many capacities, and I wholeheartedly believe that I am both a better person and professional as a result of this involvement.
SW: It wasn’t until I finished school that I fully appreciated how many career opportunities exist in pharmacy. Even within the opportunities I knew of, such as community, clinical practice, and academia, there are many subspecialty opportunities and ways to customize your career to best fit your strengths and goals. One of my friends in pharmacy school completed a residency in psychiatric pharmacy, but now works in informatics. You never know where you may end up.
If you are a 2018 graduate: congratulations! My advice: before making a big ticket purchase or committing to a high cost lease for a home or car with a newfound six-figure salary, consider meeting with a financial planner to discuss budget and financial goals.