There is so much opportunity in community pharmacy.

Contrary to what some may believe, there is so much opportunity for career growth in community pharmacy. I say this because the offering of community pharmacy now is so limited compared to what we can offer patients.

At the time I left community pharmacy, I was sole charge for 5.5 years, and it did get lonely. I was missing that collegial support and being part of a bigger team. I did not feel I was using the maximum of my clinical skillset, as it got busier, I found myself dispensing more than counselling, and I missed that.

We start to lose our passion for pharmacy when we find our clinical knowledge diminishing, it frustrates us, makes us lose motive, and ultimately disadvantages the patient.

I believe strongly that we need to change this narrative, and I am hoping that the cohorts of early career pharmacists coming through can lead this change.

If I was to go back in time, these are the 5 things I would do to make it more fulfilling...

#1 Find a new service to offer that is in a field that interests you

This could be something like diabetes management and coaching, weight loss clinics, mental health consults, as an example (there is a lot more than these!). The point is when you own a particular service and deliver positive patient outcomes, you feel fulfilled. Even if your consults are basic 10-minute catch-ups.

I had completed a nutritional therapy diploma and found the knowledge incredibly helpful, even in my OTC consults.

#2 Collaborate with the next-door GPs or other local practitioners

I collaborated on an osteoarthritis educational project with the local physiotherapists to reduce the burden of osteoarthritis in our community through education. I found that incredibly rewarding and a great way to share my knowledge and clinical skill set, and be part of a wider team that delivered outstanding results.

#3 Learn to delegate tasks that don't need to be done by you to reduce burn-out

Nothing will cause mental health decline and burnout more than thinking you can be present anywhere and everywhere at the same time. Especially if you are a sole charge pharmacist, there is a tendency to be in charge of EVERYTHING. It will do you no good, in the long run, to think you can't delegate to other staff for any reason. Do your best to just stick to the tasks that need you, like checking, no one else can do that!

#4 Develop effective transformative patient relationships

Foster relationships that create impact for the patient and provide better outcomes. Nothing feels better than patients who come back to tell you how much your advice has helped them or saved them.

Dispense empathy!

#5 Provide medication adherence and medication management services

I can't reinforce this enough, despite it being a real challenge in community pharmacy due to time and funding constraints.

Medico packs only solve 50% of the problem. How many times have you had half-taken medico packs returned?

One of the best things about my current role is providing services that delve deeper into people's lives, how they take their medicines, what are the challenges for them to take their medicines as prescribed, and how can I, as a pharmacist, make their medicines regime easier to adhere to.

I believe that there is real value in pharmacists providing such services, not only are they incredibly professionally fulfilling because you get to utilise the full scope of your knowledge, but you also provide tangible and positive patient outcomes.