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Transitions Magazine

Transitions is published bi-monthly for members of the APhA New Practitioner Network. The online newsletter contains information focused on life inside and outside pharmacy practice, providing guidance on various areas of professional, personal, and practice development. Each issue includes in-depth articles on such topics as personal financial management, innovative practice sites, career profiles, career development tools, residency and postgraduate programs, and more.

Develop a strong foundation for communication
Jamila Negatu
/ Categories: Student Magazine

Develop a strong foundation for communication

Watching a new life come into the world, only to quickly watch it be taken away, can change everything. “Alison,” you describe your experiences in labor and delivery; they are both moving and defining. Experiences like this can, in an instant, change your perspective on life and the way you practice. This is what makes rotations immeasurably valuable. As you mention, they can also be fear inducing. Being on rotation can feel like you have been haphazardly tossed into a strange new world, about which you know painfully little. Successful communication with your preceptor can define your rotation experience. You mention your terror at the prospect of starting a community rotation, and then your realization that your terror was unfounded. But, you also mention never feeling like you were on the same page with your preceptor regarding the goals and expectations of the rotation.
 
You bring up an important question: on these rotations, how do you address effective communication, or lack thereof, with your preceptor? Let me share a few methods you can use to help establish or strengthen that line.
 

Set a strong foundation

During your didactic years, the first hour of every course invariably consists of a syllabus review. This hour, in my opinion, is one of the most important hours of the course. It clarifies what you need to learn and how you are going to learn it. Rotations should start the same way. If your preceptor doesn’t arrange this meeting, ask for it. Use this opportunity to clarify what your preceptor’s expectations are, and how those expectations align with your own goals.
 
Don’t lose sight of the big picture during rotations. You are on rotations to become a strong pharmacist; you are on rotations to achieve your goals. Before meeting with your preceptor, reflect on your personal goals. Why do you want to be a pharmacist and what do you want to achieve in this field? What, specifically, can you learn from each rotation that will help meet your long-term goals? Define those goals prior to meeting with your preceptor and verbalize how you would like to achieve them. Having a strong foundation of open communication about goals and expectations at the beginning of the rotation will help you open channels of communication early.
 

Assess your own communication

Think about the relationship you have built with your preceptor as the rotation progresses. Have you taken time to consider what makes them tick? As a student pharmacist, you are pushed to develop your own formal goals and work toward them, but you aren’t often encouraged to think about other people’s goals. Take a few minutes to reflect on your preceptor’s goals. This thought experiment can help you assess their motivations and incentives. Use this insight as a bridge to communicate more efficiently. 
 
Some preceptors are highly research-driven, a goal you may share. An offer to help with the research could be beneficial for both parties. Other preceptors may be more motivated by the prospect of working efficiently enough to go home on time. Asking questions and clarifying your work flow may be more effective at the beginning of the day. Developing a stronger understanding of what your preceptor may be working toward will help you communicate effectively with them. 
 
Also, think about the methods that you use to communicate. It is easy and common to make assumptions about how things will play out. You mention experiencing this prior to starting your community rotation. Make a conscious effort, however, not to make assumptions about how your preceptor will respond to your communication efforts.  
 
Again, don’t lose sight of the big picture. This is your rotation opportunity and your experiences are valid, whatever they are. If you are uncertain of what your preceptor’s expectations are, make that known. Do not discount yourself by saying “Maybe I missed something,” or “It’s just my opinion.”  Ask your preceptor directly, “What should my day to day look like?”
 

Consider additional help

Setting a strong foundation and assessing your own communication are a good place to start, but sometimes that isn’t enough. If directly asking your preceptor what their expectations are doesn’t offer any clarity, and all else fails, consider reaching out to your experiential office. These individuals may have more specific insight into the situation you are experiencing. They have likely had students on rotation with your preceptor in the past.  
 
 
Congratulations on your successes in rotations so far! I wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors. 

 

Quincy R. Ostrem, PharmD, MBA, is a PGY1 Health System Pharmacy Administration Resident at Banner Health in Phoenix, AZ.

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