Encouragement for pharmacy learners during the pandemic

Abstract

May and June are typically transition months in the world of pharmacy education. May is when student pharmacists graduate, while June marks the month that residencies begin and end. During the pandemic, these transitions have not been put on hold—newly minted pharmacists and residents have stepped into the profession and have already made a difference in the lives of their patients. Although it feels like a foreign landscape for pharmacy learning, new practitioners have taken it in stride and are stepping up to the challenges presented to our health care system. In the New England Journal of Medicine blog “Insights in Residency Training,” Frances Ue, MD, MPH, recently penned an article applicable to new pharmacists and pharmacy residents. She offered up 10 tips to medicine learners, while remaining positive under the shadow of uncertainty this pandemic has cast on the world. Ue’s first advice is to stay curious. This is relevant not only to physicians and pharmacists, but also to everyone in their personal and professional lives. Curiosity spurs growth and learning, which is when life happens. Identify what you want to explore and then go do it, said Ue. This doesn’t necessarily mean making enormous changes or taking unnecessary risks, but rather going to bed at night a bit smarter or more experienced than you were when you woke up. Ue also encouraged learners to spend time with patients, seek feedback, take time to reflect, and be kind to their team. While face-to-face interactions with patients vary among pharmacists, all pharmacists can spend time with patients in some fashion—even if it is as simple as understanding the patient’s medical record. Seeking feedback and spending time reflecting are wonderful vehicles to accelerate growth, said Ue, and individuals can benefit from these actions all the time, not just during a pandemic. Being kind promotes the idea that all of humanity is deserving of basic respect and consideration. This is something we all should practice continually, according to Ue. Ue advised readers to take time for themselves, which is essential to discovering what sparks their curiosity. She also recommended finding a community, including both peers and mentors. Stay present, as well, said Ue. Don’t just bide your time and wait for brighter days—try to find the brightness in every day. In a more forward-looking approach, Ue advised learners to rest and reflect on their experiences as a way of focusing on growth and learning. As clinicians gain more experience, they can act as mentors to upcoming learners. It’s unlikely for individuals to be able to “repay” their mentors for the value they provided to their development, so the next best option is to “pay it forward” to upcoming learners, she said. Ue congratulated those completing courses of study during such a difficult time, giving a nod to the experience that only a trial by fire will mold. Many student pharmacists transitioned out of their formal didactic educational experience without the typical pomp and circumstance of the past. Although the cap and gown ceremony is certainly not the same this year, the achievement of graduation certainly is. It is important for graduates to partake in mindful reflection and celebration, take pride in their accomplishments, and utilize their knowledge and skills to the best of their abilities, said Ue.