Pressure. Pressing Down On Me

I read an article the other day that talked about the stress that all pharmacy employees face in their day-to-day work environment. The article mentioned that after a stressful situation it is best to take a break because the pharmacist or other pharmacy employee is a lot more likely to make a mistake after the confrontation. It also mentioned that not taking a break can lead to job un-satisfaction. Most of my experience has been in a retail pharmacy environment. Since I started there I have developed a set of tools to prevent stress, and in the unpreventable times, a way to prevent it from getting me down.

To Prevent Stress:

1.   Ask questions! So many errors that lead to stressful situations can be prevented if we all ask questions. I ask my co-workers first for insight into my problems, and if they cannot help me solve it I will ask the Pharmacist. 
2.   Let it Go. If a confrontation occurs between my fellow co-workers I will be the first to forgive and move on. Letting things continue to boil is bad for the entire work environment and affects all staff, not just the two involved. Most pharmacies are in very tight quarters and there is no avoiding people, the longer the argument, the more awkward it becomes. 
3.  Don't bring work home, and home to work. It’s as simple as that.
4. Don't rush. When the pharmacy gets really busy employees tend to get a little on edge and push for faster filling and imputing. Everything seems to get a little chaotic. These are when mistakes occur. Mistakes result in more time pushing everything back further, it is important to work quickly but maintain accuracy, once you lose that accuracy it won't matter how quickly you can fill a prescription. The one medication that was inaccurate may end up costing someone their life. 

In stressful situations:

1. Do not lose your cool. I have been yelled and cursed at, but remain stoic. The moment you escalate your voice to that of a customer, you are officially in deep water. Arguing with the customer can result in the loss of a job, and even a career in that field. It is important to be patient and just allow the customer to express himself or herself. 
2. Do not take the confrontation personally. The escalated conversion may be the result of any combination of things. Most patients are coming to the pharmacy in order to get medication to help them feel better, when we're sick we often times feel grumpy and upset. It is important to be empathetic and realize it is not aimed directly at you, but rather the situation you are apart of.

Don't forget to smile and realize that you have one of the most rewarding jobs in the world! :)