During our PharmD training, we are expected to develop many
skills. We often find ourselves pushing the limits of our individual comfort
zones, attempting procedures and tasks that we have less than mastered. And to
deal with these potentially anxiety provoking situations, our pharmacy culture
teaches us to develop our self-confidence, and to do it quickly. In doing so,
we move beyond our insecurities, with the hope that those around us—our patients,
in particular—will feel assured in our capabilities. There is, however, a
danger in this pursuit.
As we force ourselves to
know more and to do more,we risk becoming overconfident and tempted to
push the boundaries of our abilities too far. Also, overconfidence can have a
negative effect on our personalities and on how we treat others.Of course, patients want their
physicians to be highly competent and confident. But they also want, and
deserve, doctors who are introspective, who know their own limitations,who will
actively learn to fill in knowledge gaps,and who understand their role within
the health care team and within their community. As such, the 2 definitions above need not be mutually
exclusive.With proper self-awareness, PharmD trainees will nurture both confidence and humility.
Here are some suggestions for working toward this goal:
Be introspective
A good pharmacist should be
self-aware. Have you ever taken a step back and evaluated yourself in clinical encounters
or in everyday situations? Is your knowledge up-to-date? How are you handling
challenging circumstances? How does your personality change when you are tired? Are you
treating others with respect? Are you sure? Reflecting on questions like these
develops self-understanding, and you should take the time for such
introspection.Some of us find that
scheduling self-reflection is the best way to ensure it occurs. Perhaps you can
take 5 minutes at the end of the day or ponder these thoughts during your next
jog. Try to build evaluation into your weekly routine.Call it your “personal growth
time,” or, if you happento be fond of acronyms, PGT.
Know your weaknesses and
work to improve on them
During these personal growth
times, think about your weaknesses. Avoid approaching this as an interview- type
scenario, where you turn your weaknesses into strengths. Instead, be brutally
honest with yourself.Think about your weaknesses within the different dimensions
of your life: medicine, personality, finances,physical health, relationships,
spirituality, etc. Keep a running list of each and consider ways in which you could
improve. And when you are feeling really brave,share your list with someone. It
will motivate you, and others will begin to notice the difference!
Keep learning
No matter where you are in
your training or career, there is always more to learn. For many of us, the
most useful and interesting way to learn is around our cases. Be humble enough
to take a moment to look up the various considerations in the diagnostic and
management plan about which you are
unsure. With the widespread availability of Palm devices and Internet-based
medical programs, the answers are right at your fingertips. Also, as you go
through the day, create a list of questions you can look up that night. This
way, you will be studying topics you are actually interested in, and, most
important,your patients will benefit.
Conclusion
Having a healthy balance of
confidence and humility can help a PharmD become a superb pharmacist and can
help an experienced pharmacist become an even better one. Creating this balance
requires effort and patience. I hope some of these strategies will benefit you,
your co-workers, and, of course, your patients.
Reference
1. Soanes C, editor. Compact
Oxford English dictionary of current English. 3rd ed.
New York, NY: Oxford University Press; 2005.
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