Are you a ‘Toxic Handler’ – the manager finds themselves bearing the pain and complex emotions of your staff? A recent study showed that leaders help their coworkers with personal issues and worries nearly as frequently as they help with work-related matters. However, shouldering this emotional load is not equally distributed but falls disproportionately on select leaders that tend to notice when staff are distressed and understand how that often diminishes their performance and collaboration.
Leading in today's work environment is emotionally demanding, especially when supporting your team's well-being. If you share this struggle, check out this article from our friends at the Harvard Business Review that discusses 5 proven strategies you can use to help you and your team excel without burning out: Leading Effectively When Your Team Offloads Their Stress onto You Picture this: A bustling hospital pharmacy, its staff orchestrating a delicate ballet of prescriptions and patient care. Behind this seamless operation lies a carefully curated team that embodies not only clinical competence but also the spirit of compassionate service. But how do you assemble such a team? Knowing that finding the right professional is both a challenge and a critically strategic move, how do you navigate the labyrinth of credentials, personalities, and organizational culture? Enter the specialist pharmacy recruiter. These unsung heroes operate at the intersection of talent acquisition and industry insight to help you overcome the challenge and critical strategic step of finding the right professionals to fill pharmacy positions. Whether you’re seeking a seasoned pharmacist, a skilled technician, or a visionary executive to lead your team, the journey begins with recruitment. And that’s precisely where specialist pharmacy recruiters’ step onto the stage. Their mission? To match the right candidate with the right role, seamlessly bridging the gap between impressive credentials and compassionate care. Let’s explore why their role is pivotal in shaping the pharmacy landscape. The Art and Science of Matching
Experienced hiring managers know that recruitment isn’t merely about posting job listings and sifting through resumes. It’s a symphony of skills, qualifications, and cultural alignment. Specialist pharmacy recruiters wield a finely tuned baton, coordinating all the players with finesse. Here’s how: Navigating the Pharmacy Ecosystem: These recruiters understand the pharmacy ecosystem like seasoned cartographers. They know the difference between a compounding pharmacist and a clinical pharmacist, between a retail pharmacy technician and a hospital-based one. Their knowledge ensures precision in candidate selection. Finding Unsung Heroes: Not all stars shine on job boards. Some remain hidden, content in their current roles. Specialist recruiters venture beyond the obvious, tapping into their networks, attending conferences, and whispering to the winds of professional associations. They unearth those hidden gems—the passionate pharmacist who dreams of clinical research or the technician with an uncanny knack for automation. Beyond Credentials: Sure, credentials matter—the PharmD, the certifications, the years of experience. But what about the intangibles? The pharmacist who calms anxious patients with a smile, the technician who troubleshoots a malfunctioning IV pump at 3 a.m.? Specialist recruiters delve into the soul of pharmacy, seeking those who embody its ethos. Industry Expertise and Understanding Pharmacy recruiters specialize in understanding the nuances of the pharmacy sector. They know the ins and outs of the industry, including the specific roles, responsibilities, and qualifications required for different positions. Whether you’re looking for a pharmacy technician, a pharmacist, or an executive, these recruiters have a deep understanding of what makes a successful candidate in this field. Efficient Matching Process Pharmacy recruiters are adept at efficiently matching the right candidate with the right position. They have a network of qualified professionals and can quickly identify individuals who meet your organization’s needs. This saves you time and effort in sifting through numerous applications and conducting extensive interviews. Their expertise ensures that you’re presented with candidates who are a good fit for your specific requirements. Access to a Wider Talent Pool Specialist recruiters have access to a broader talent pool than what you might find through traditional job postings. They actively seek out passive candidates (those not actively looking for jobs) and tap into their networks. This means you’ll have access to candidates who might not be actively applying but could be an excellent fit for your organization. Focused Screening and Vetting Pharmacy recruiters conduct thorough screenings and vetting processes. They verify credentials, certifications, qualifications, and attitude. This ensures that the professionals you hire have the necessary skills and are a cultural fit for your organization. Their multilevel screening process gives you confidence in the quality of the candidates they present. Tailored Recruitment Campaigns When you need to fill specialized roles (such as management or executive positions), pharmacy recruiters can create targeted recruitment campaigns. For example, if you’re looking for a Director of Pharmacy for a small hospital, they can focus their efforts on reaching out to relevant candidates in that specific niche. This personalized approach increases the chances of finding the right match. Navigating Salary Negotiations Recruiters can assist in salary negotiations. They understand market rates, industry standards, and can help strike a fair deal for both parties. Having an intermediary who can handle these discussions can be invaluable, especially for executive positions where compensation packages can be complex. Retention Strategies Good pharmacy recruiters don’t just stop at placement; they also help with retention. They understand the factors that contribute to employee satisfaction and can provide insights on creating a positive work environment. Retaining skilled professionals is crucial for the long-term success of your pharmacy team. Wrapping Up Partnering with a specialist pharmacy recruiter streamlines your hiring process, ensures access to top talent, and increases the likelihood of finding the right fit for your organization. Whether you’re filling technician, pharmacist, management, or executive positions, their expertise can make a significant difference in building a strong pharmacy team just as a conductor optimizes a symphony. They harmonize talent, culture, and purpose, creating an ensemble that hits just the right notes. So, the next time you see a pharmacy team working seamlessly, remember the unseen hands of the hiring team that put the right people in the right places. What are your greatest hiring challenges? Get in touch with our pharmacy recruiters today. Transitioning into pharmacy management is a significant career leap. I’ve been fortunate to help many of my client’s level up their career and noticed that the quickest climbers always have a long list of questions and concerns. Starting off on the right foot requires the ability to graciously learn from mistakes (yours and others) as you navigate your new role. Here are 6 tips to make that happen:
Embracing this new position with the right mindset and strategies is essential for long-term success. By showing appreciation, delegating responsibilities, maintaining regular communication, staying composed under pressure, and keeping up with industry advancements, you can effectively lead your team and foster a positive work environment. Remember, the journey to becoming a great manager is a continuous process of learning and adapting. Congratulations on your promotion! Best of luck as you embark on this exciting new chapter. Retaining top pharmacy talent is a significant workforce challenge. More than simply keeping people happy, strategic retention efforts build better outcomes for patients, staff, the organization itself and the communities they serve. Organizations that prioritize employee retention reap compounding rewards through a more stable workforce and report up to 30% higher productivity and 21% greater profitability. Retention vs RecruitingOften thought of as proof of loyalty, retention is more accurately described as an organization’s ability to foster employee loyalty. While specialist pharmacy recruiters play an essential role in identifying and attracting top talent, retention is the responsibility of pharmacy employers. Specialist recruiters are experts in sourcing and vetting highly qualified candidates in the pharmacy sector. Finding candidates with the necessary qualifications is only one aspect of a specialty recruiters’ role. Assessing a candidate’s compatibility with an employer’s culture and values is often overlooked. This careful matching process ensures that candidates presented to an employer are not just skilled but also a good fit for the organization and likely to become a long-term employee. Organizational BenefitsComprehensive employee retention programs build more stable and productive workforce resulting in more efficient, effective and profitable operations. Here are some key advantages:
Patient BenefitsPharmacy employee retention programs benefit patients and the community in several significant ways, contributing to improved healthcare outcomes, enhanced service quality, and overall community well-being. Here are the key benefits:
How to Improve Pharmacy Staff RetentionWhile recruiters excel at finding talented candidates, retaining these professionals is a different challenge that falls to the employers. Improving pharmacy staff retention is essential for maintaining a stable, productive, and high-quality workforce. Here are some tips to help achieve this that hospital and local pharmacies have used to retain and attract top talent: Create a Positive Pharmacy Environment
Provide Professional Development Opportunities
Ensure Work-Life Balance
Enhance Job Security and Stability
Foster a Culture of Feedback and Improvement
Invest in Technology and Resources
Promote a Healthy Workplace
Encourage Work Autonomy and Responsibility
Promote Team and Community Engagement
The TakeawayInvesting in pharmacy employee retention is not only a smart business decision but also a vital contribution to public health and community vitality. Benefits that extend well beyond the immediate workplace.
Retention programs build a loyal, skilled, and motivated workforce that contribute significantly to long-term success through improved operational efficiency while simultaneously enhancing patient care, improving health outcomes, and helping community health initiatives all flourish under the stability provided by effective retention strategies.
5/23/2024
Do You Dread Going to Work?Are you burned out? What are the signs? And what’s the best way to prevent it? To find out, ask yourself:
In my experience, the best way to prevent pharmacy burnout is to be proactive. Speak up. It’s very likely some of your coworkers also have similar feelings, and talking to someone who understands what you’re going through can help. Talk to your manager, too. If they don’t know how you feel, nothing will ever change. Perhaps the best way to prevent burnout is to choose the type of practice and employer wisely. The last thing you want to do is feel stuck in a pharmacy setting that doesn’t feel rewarding or challenging, or working for an employer who doesn’t treat you well. Sometime a change is what you need to reinvigorate your career. Reach out to me at [email protected]. I’d love to hear about what you are going through and hopefully help you find opportunities that could be a better fit. 📌 Want to level up your career performance? Follow @Jana Rugg for top tips to help pharmacy owners, managers & directors, staff& clinical pharmacists, Pharmacy techs and intake specialists' level up!
Over my 20 years as a Pharmacist recruiter I noticed that my happiest clients all put 6 key habits to work finding the perfect position. You can too. Check out these 6 key habits my happiest clients have used to find the perfect position.
1. Expand your network and work it.Personal referrals are hands-down the most effective way to find a fantastic job. Hiring managers are always more comfortable when a candidate is referred by someone in their network. Engage your colleagues, coworkers, friends and family. Ask them about their experiences. Update your Linked In profile and make new connections. It's a small world, you will be surprised at the connections you will find with little effort. PRO TIP: Keep networking through your interview process. Ask around to see if anyone knows people who work at a particular company that you could talk to. You can gain amazing insights. 2. Seek out references and keep communication openIt may come as a surprise, but people will agree to be a reference and not provide a favorable recommendation on your behalf. Always make sure to verify the reference is willing to provide a favorable letter of recommendation. In addition, it is important that your references have a reasonable relationship with you and the lines of communication remain open. From my experience, your future employer will do one or more of the following: call your references to get a verbal referral, email a questionnaire for the references to fill out, or request a formal letter of reference. As you go through your search process, it will be important that you respect the time of your references by keeping them aware of what may be requested of them. PRO TIP: Keep your references in the loop by updating them periodically about who might reach out to them. Be sure to avoid sending too many emails their way. 3. Write down your five and ten-year goalsKnowing what you want is the key to finding happiness. While you may think you understand what your goals are, you may be surprised at what this exercise reveals. Goals will guide your job search. I recommend adding both professional and personal goals so that you know what work-life balance really means to you. PRO TIP: After writing your goals, discuss them with a trusted mentor. You'll gain insight into what you really want - and don't want - in a position. 4. Be patient and stay organizedEveryone is busy and you may not hear back for weeks or months. Hiring decisions take time and there are a lot of factors beyond your control or the control of the pharmacy administrators looking for new employees. I recommend for you to create a document or folder for every job you've applied to that contains all the other pertinent information and a list of exactly what you've submitted so that you will not have to keep looking it up. PRO TIP: Check your junk mail daily and contact human resources if you think something is amiss. 5. Take advantage of specialty job boardsThere are specialty job boards like RidgemontResources.com focused solely on PharmD so that you don't waste your time sifting through jobs you'll never want. Next, go to the institutional websites of the companies you want to work for and try searching their “jobs” section - sometimes you will find jobs not yet posted elsewhere. PRO TIP: Be on top of new openings and apply fast! Often job postings have a cap on the number of applications. 6. Be proactive and go after what you want.Usually job applications will first go to human resources, get screened and potentially stuck. Write a short, polite well-constructed email directly to the hiring manager or director. Avoid selling yourself. Express your intentions and thank them for the opportunity. PRO TIP: Less is more. Be brief and express gratitude for the opportunity. For many the first job out of school may not seem like a “dream job” but every job has unique potential. My happiest clients all seem to know the same thing, "the grass may be greener on the other side of the fence, but you know what, the grass is also greener where you water it.” I hope these points helped you out, good luck! Workforce shortages present serious challenges for pharmacies. Pharmacists are frustrated by expanding roles, responsibilities and how understaffing may put patients at risk. Record high sign-on bonuses and salaries are not solving the problem. And, retail pharmacy chains seem ambivalent to the issues. When will chain pharmacies begin treating staff as people and how will they leverage technology to better serve patients and staff? Read on to learn why this is happening and when the staffing conundrum might be resolved. Why is This Happening? The pharmacy business model is changing. Pharmacy retail chains are staking their future on expanding the health care services they offer. Thousands of community pharmacies are disappearing as retail chains acquire each other, close stores, reduce store hours and lay off staff. Pharmacists and technicians are required to perform expanding duties with less support and longer hours. And prescription fill volumes are only increasing as are the services performed by retail pharmacies. Fewer pharmacies are fulfilling growing demand and pharmacy staff are getting squeezed from all directions. It’s unsustainable. It’s dangerously irresponsible. Pharmacists and technicians are fed up. Talent Drain It’s getting harder to draw the next generation of pharmacists amid an industry in turmoil. As front-line providers, pharmacists bear the harsh burden of change. Bled Tanow, a former Walgeens pharmacist agreed saying, pharmacists “carry the weight of the pharmacy on their shoulders.” The once-revered community pharmacist role has been diluted over the years. The perception and desirability of the profession has declined, and the talent pipeline is dwindling accordingly. Graduation rates and applications to pharmacy schools are in steady decline. There's been a steady drop in applications to pharmacy schools, falling 64% from nearly 100,000 in 2012 to about 36,000 in 2022, according to the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy. Breaking Point Understaffing fuels pharmacy staff burn-out and put patients at risk. Pharmacists, administrators and advocacy groups are ringing the alarm bells. Around the country pharmacy staff have staged walkouts to raise awareness of harsh working conditions that make it difficult to safely fill prescriptions and the danger this poses for patients. A New York Times article highlighted the pressure on pharmacy staff to do more with much less. “It was so mentally taxing,” said Dr. Poole, a Tuscaloosa retail chain pharmacist. “Every day, I was like: I hope I don’t kill anyone.” Workload Demands Chain pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens appear to ignore concerns, consistently slashing staffing levels while saddling front-line workers with an expanding list of additional duties. A 2022 APhA survey showed that nearly 75% of respondents felt they did not have enough time to safely perform clinical duties and patient care. When faced with inquiries from the media or regulatory bodies, chain pharmacies often attribute their challenges to the impact of COVID-19 and assert that the data they are scrutinized for is outdated. However, this explanation falls short in addressing the persistent issue of understaffing. Despite the closure of hundreds of community pharmacies over the past decade, there remains a pool of qualified pharmacists and technicians seeking employment opportunities. The discrepancy between the available workforce and the ongoing understaffing raises pertinent questions about the dynamics within chain pharmacies. Retail stores often operate with just one pharmacist behind the counter for a 12-hour shift. A USA TODAY investigation revealed that 10 years ago a pharmacy might have had two pharmacists and six pharmacy technicians filling an average of 500 prescriptions a day. Today that same store may have half the staff and a higher prescription volume – plus an endless flow of vaccine appointments, rapid tests and patient consultation calls. It’s a recipe for disaster. “Pharmacists are so overwhelmed and worried that they’re going to make a mistake. It’s so easy to make a mistake under those conditions,” said Shane Jerominski, a pharmacy labor advocate who spent a decade working at chain pharmacies including Walgreens and now manages an independent pharmacy. Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are often on the front lines, dealing with an ever-increasing workload. The expansion of services offered by pharmacies, such as vaccinations and patient monitoring, has not been matched with adequate pharmacy staffing, leading to burnout and publicized staff walkouts. “The primary reason is our concern for public safety,” said Corey Schneider, one of the CVS pharmacists who participated in the Kansas City walkout. “It’s also about basic decency. Pharmacists shouldn’t have to cry at work or go home worried that they made a mistake.” One CVS pharmacist reported that as CVS first began to cut staff, they budgeted additional staff hours. But that soon ended and the increased volume became part of the normal daily workload. She often found herself filling one prescription every minute and a half over the course of a 13-hour shift. Real-Life Consequences Perils linked to understaffing are undeniable. Persistent understaffing and mandated quotas in pharmacies jeopardize patients and staff. Hazardous working conditions lead to burnout and exacerbate the risk of serious errors. The dangers are real. The consequences can be grave. A 2022 survey conducted by the National Pharmacy Technician Association (NPTA) showed that 91.4 per cent of pharmacy staff experienced burnout because of understaffing, high workloads, high expectations, low wages, and productivity quotas. In the long run, understaffing can negatively impact the health and well-being of pharmacy staff. The results of staff shortages can range from mild patient inconveniences to harmful medication incidents. In many cases, pharmacy errors due to unsustainable workloads have had significant consequences. A Virginia Beach a customer ended up in the ER after receiving an antibiotic despite a known history of not tolerating the drug. “The pharmacists cannot properly concentrate because they have so much to do,” said Kristopher Ratliff, a member of Virginia’s Board of Pharmacy. In Florida, an 85-year-old died after a Publix pharmacy dispensed a chemotherapy drug instead of the antidepressant she was prescribed. Health dangers aren’t limited to patients. Ashleigh Anderson suffered a heart attack while working a shift at a CVS store in Seymour, Indiana, in September 2021. Anderson was the only pharmacist on duty the day she died. Direct statistics are murky at best but a recent study reveals that pharmacists are at higher risk of suicide - at an approximate rate of 20 per 100,000 pharmacists compared to 12 per 100,000 in the general population. What’s the Pharmacy Staffing Solution? Chain pharmacies initially responded with financial incentives. It hasn’t worked. While financial incentives like sign-on bonuses are attractive, they fail to address deeper retail pharmacy issues such as job satisfaction, work-life balance, and long-term career prospects. Bonuses can create a culture of transience, where individuals hop from job to job in pursuit of the next bonus, rather than committing to a particular employer or community. And, they fail to provide long-term solution. Critial Thinking To address these challenges, pharmacy chains must rethink their approach to staffing. Young people have to see pharmacy as a viable career path. This includes creating a more sustainable work environment, offering better support and career development opportunities, and re-establishing the role of the pharmacist as a respected and integral part of the healthcare system. A holistic approach that addresses the root causes of dissatisfaction and burnout is essential for attracting and retaining the dedicated professionals needed to keep our communities healthy. Pharmacists are People Too Pharmacy staff gets yelled at. A lot. Pharmacies are usually the last stop for weary, frustrated and overwhelmed patients. Often staff literally feel patients’ pain. Most patients don’t really understand what goes in to filling a prescription. It’s more than taking pills from a big bottle and putting them into a smaller bottle. Pharmacists are charged with assessing what medications a customer is taking, ensuring that there will be no adverse interactions and advise them about side effects and best practices. Retail chains must establish an environment where pharmacists and technicians:
Technology Solutions With pharmacy-school applicants shrinking and the current workforce pool drying up, retail chains see a future filled with automation and remote processing. The sad reality is that the workforce shortage is likely to worsen. Technology can help retail pharmacies weather the talent shortage today while improving safety, efficiency and patient interactions moving forward. Retail pharmacies can improve pharmacy working conditions and customer experiences through a variety of systems designed to:
An estimated 68% of medication errors occur during administration. Digital drug dispensing systems (DDS) are capable of nearly eliminating errors while simultaneously accelerating prescription processing. And these systems reduce pharmacists’ stress while freeing them up to spend more time on tasks that require human interaction such as patient consultations. Automating medication inventory management directly impacts patient safety, satisfaction, and outcomes. And reduces pharmacy staff workload by virtually eliminating manual, error-prone methods, such as “eyeballing the bottle,” to capture inventory levels. Automated systems accurately and efficiently support chain-wide inventory counts, forecasting, and replenishment. Conclusion Healthcare industry stakeholders must address the critical issue of pharmacy understaffing before more lives are put at risk. The time to act is now. It is imperative that we heed the warnings of pharmacists, administrators, and advocacy groups to prevent burnout and protect patients. Only through concerted efforts and systemic changes can we ensure the safe dispensing of medications and the well-being of pharmacy staff. About Ridgemont ResourcesRidgemont Resources is the leading national search and recruitment firm dedicated exclusively to the pharmacy profession. Since 1998, we have been committed to finding and securing the best candidates in the United States for our clients in the Hospital, Specialty Pharmacy, Long Term Care Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Science, and Clinical Research industries.
Mastering these 15 core interview questions will give you the edge over other potential candidates. Confident responses when navigating your job interview can be as challenging as getting through pharmacy school. Interviews can be high stress, anxiety-driving situations. Whether you’re fresh out of residency or a seasoned veteran, preparation always pays off. Interviewers will probe your knowledge, patient-care acumen, and decision-making skills. Likely you already know the right answers. But will you be able deliver clear, concise answers under pressure? Here are 15 essential questions that you’re likely to face during your next clinical pharmacist job interview and some expert tips on how to respond. 1. Can you describe your experience as a clinical pharmacist and how it has prepared you for this role? Expert Tip: This is your elevator pitch. Tailor your answer to highlight experiences relevant to the job description, such as managing a specific patient population or a successful project. 2. How Do You Stay Current With New Medications and Treatment Protocols? Expert Tip: Discuss your strategies, whether it's subscribing to journals, attending conferences, or participating in webinars. 3. How Do You Prioritize Adverse Drug Event (ADE) Reports and Take Action?
Expert Tip: Explain your approach, which should include severity assessment and direct patient communication if necessary. Specialty job boards like Ridgemont resources, focused exclusively on pharmacy recruiting, allow pharmacy job seekers to search hundreds of current openings without wasting time sifting through a mountain of irrelevant positions on generic job sites like Career Builder, Indeed, Monster or Ziprecruiter. Job seekers face an age-old dilemma. You want to find the right job in the right location. But you can’t afford to waste time. You need efficient tools to uncover a manageable pool of relevant openings. Its about quality over quantity. Niche job boards designed for pharmacy professionals gives you just that. Job boards remain one of the top sources for recruiting new hires. As an individual looking for a new job, a job board mitigates a lot of stress.
About Ridgemont Resources Specialty Job Board Connecting Pharmacy employers with pharmacists, technicians, intake specialists, pharmacy managers and directors is all we do. And, Ridgemont Resources is GSA certified so you'll be aware of a full-range of opportunities. Check out current openings on our job board or call us - we'd love to learn more about how Ridgemont Resources can help you find the perfect specialty pharmacy position for you.
About Ridgemont Resources
Ridgemont Resources is the leading national search and recruitment firm dedicated exclusively to the pharmacy profession. Since 1998, we have been committed to finding and securing the best candidates in the United States for our clients in the Hospital, Specialty Pharmacy, Long Term Care Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Science, and Clinical Research industries. |
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We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, age, sex, national origin, religion, or disability.
We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, age, sex, national origin, religion, or disability.
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