Experience Talks

Introduction

Confidence in clinical recommendations is a key differentiator between a newbie and an experienced pharmacist.

• Before you can convince others, you must first believe in what you are saying and express it confidently.
• If you do not, you will end up hedging your bets with phrases like "I think" or "most probably is". These phrases show uncertainty and hinders your ability to persuade.

On the other hand, experienced pharmacists exude an aura of confidence gained from years of practical experience.

• They know what they are talking about, and they are not afraid to say it.

NOTE: Confidence is something that people pick up on through conversations, not something that you can fake.

The Gap

Practical experience is a critical component of skill development.

Fresh pharmacists often struggle with applying their theoretical knowledge to real-world practice.

• Many fresh pharmacists possess strong clinical knowledge, but may not have received sufficient training on its practical application.
• Despite going over scenarios in their heads, when faced with real patients and their unique situations (such as complex medical conditions and multiple medications), panic often sets in.
• Additionally, since they are still learning the ropes, fresh pharmacists are more likely to face unfamiliar circumstances.

When counselling patients, it is important to be organised so that they can easily follow and understand the information you are providing.

• Remember, patients cannot read your mind. You need to explain things clearly and concisely.
• Active listening and addressing patient concerns, avoiding medical jargon and adapting explanations to the patient's level of understanding are skills that require practice and time to develop.

The Teacher

Personal experience is the best teacher that you will ever have.

• It is only when you fall down the hardest that you truly learn something.

However, as a healthcare professional, we do not expect or hope to encounter every disease in our lifetime. Therefore, we must seek knowledge from other sources.

• Research tells us what we can do.
• Studies and clinical trials provide valuable insights into the effectiveness and safety of medications and treatments.
• Guidelines tells us what we should (or must) do.
• Professional organizations and government agencies offer evidence-based recommendations for providing optimal care.
• Experience trains you what to do.
• Over time, you will develop a gut feeling for what is the right thing to do in a particular situation. This comes from years of seeing patients, reading research, and following guidelines.

NOTE: In daily practice, managing a condition effectively often requires experience that goes beyond textbook knowledge and practice guidelines.

Mentorship

Experience is an invaluable teacher, but it is not the only one.

• New pharmacists can learn a lot from experienced pharmacists by observing their clinical decision-making, listening to their patient counselling, and reading the research they cite.
• Moreover, mentors can provide guidance, support and feedback to help new pharmacists navigate their professional development.
• Essentially, there are many skills and insights which may not be covered in a formal academic curriculum, but are important for professional growth.

Everyone makes mistakes.

• The key is to learn from them and grow.

New to Community Pharmacy

When first few days on the job at community pharmacy, I was nervous to even perform blood glucose or cholesterol tests for customers, which now become a piece of cake.

It is only then I realize that asking right questions to customer complaints and explaining clinical recommendations with its reasonings and expectations trigger them to share more information of their issues.

• Through dual-way conversation, we not only build a relationship, but also give better clinical recommendations.

Customers often appreciate it when you take the time to listen to them, even though they are often capable of handling their problems on their own, especially the elderlies.

Summary

Bridging the gap and developing confidence in clinical recommendations is a transformative journey that every pharmacist must undertake.

• It allows them to build trust with patients, provide better care and avoid errors.

Nonetheless, confidence due to ignorance is far more dangerous than a healthy dose of caution.