5 Ways to Stay Sane During the Holiday Rush
/The holiday season can be overwhelmingly busy in the pharmacy and bring a lot of challenges.
A lot of patients try to get as many prescriptions as possible before the end of the year, trying to avoid their annual deductible in January. Patients also may need vacation supplies of their medications as they travel for the holidays. Weather can also be a factor, creating rushes of patients before a snowstorm as well as staff shortages. And with the increased demand for COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters, fatigue, illness and burnout among pharmacy employees is at an all time high!
So what can pharmacists do to stay sane and keep operations running smoothly?
Rely on your policies and procedures
Make sure you have a procedure in place for dealing with the many challenges of the season. How do you handle staffing shortages? If someone falls ill or can't get to the pharmacy due to weather, what is the process to get coverage or handle their workload? Do you have a clear process for how you handle vaccinations and scheduling?
Having policies and procedures in place that both you and your team can reference is key to keep operations under control. If you don't already have them, now is a good time to add creating and implementing policies and procedures to your strategic planning for the new year!
Motivate your team
Having a holiday party or giving out employee bonuses or holiday pay can alleviate stress for employees and gives them something to look forward to. It also provides extra motivation for employees to go above and beyond during the busy season. If a party or bonuses is not in your budget, providing some snacks, lunch, or small gifts for your team can create a festive atmosphere and break up the long, busy days.
Take your breaks
Pharmacists (myself included) often find it hard to take a break. It seems like there is always a prescription to fill or a patient waiting for a vaccination. However, breaks are very important to reset your focus. Pharmacy employees are performing routine tasks repeatedly, and it can become mundane. Taking breaks can help decrease stress levels and recharge when feeling mentally checked out.
Find support
When things get hectic, other tasks in the pharmacy can fall by the wayside, like filing, inventory management and cleaning. Who do you call on when you need support? Is there a pharmacy owner or supervisor you can reach out to when you need additional help or guidance on how to get everything done? If something goes wrong in the pharmacy, do you know who to call for IT, software or phone issues? If you find yourself having to work overtime, is there a family member or friend who can help with personal tasks at home?
It’s important to be upfront with your coworkers, supervisors and loved ones about your needs and ask for help whenever you need it.
Set goals
Having clear and achievable goals that are communicated with your team can help you succeed. Goals can help you identify and accomplish the most important tasks in the pharmacy. Goals can be set for the day, the week or the month, making sure nothing important gets forgotten.
In the pharmacy, holiday stress can be unavoidable. Using even just 1 or 2 of these tips can lessen the anxiety of what should be a happy and profitable time of year!
