A young pharmacist manager and I were having a discussion recently when he told me that we were considering changing the clinical staff pharmacists in our department from hourly to salaried. He went on to say that pharmacists in our department did not feel like professionals because they “punched a time clock.” This comment struck a sour chord with me and I began to poll my coworkers who do have to clock. Of course they found the remark as preposterous as I did. Our professionalism does not come from whether or not we punch a clock!
Although using a time clock does not affect the professional identity of pharmacists it started me thinking about the differences in some of the pharmacists that I have worked with over the years. There were two prominent types that I could identify.
I have worked in a variety of positions, shifts, and pharmacy settings over the years with many pharmacists at different points in their career. I have worked with one or two older pharmacists that came through the four year degree program all the way up to the newly graduated PGY2. I have found a difference in pharmacists’ attitude toward the profession. Despite their training there are many that see pharmacy as a job. For them it’s a way to make a living. Something they do from 7-3:30 everyday. There’s nothing wrong with this approach. Work-life balance is important. Pharmacists are required to get continuing education credits every year at a minimum which hopefully keeps everyone from getting too stagnant. Regardless, it’s been my experience that these folks still identify themselves as professionals regardless of whether they punch a time clock or not- and rightly so!
The flip side of the “job” pharmacist is the “career” pharmacist. Career pharmacists are involved in professional organizations, they get involved in research, and they seek to improve their performance with activities that are not limited to the 8 or 12 hour shift to which they are scheduled. It may be intellectual curiosity for some and a desire to provide better patient outcomes that drive others, but there’s something that distinguishes the “career” pharmacist from the 9-5er.
I’d like to challenge all of the graduating students and residents out there to be career pharmacists. Don’t let yourself get stagnant. Find a way to grow, make process improvements, and push the profession further. Be proactive, not reactive. Don’t wait for someone to ask for your input. If you know a better way, speak loud and let everyone hear you!