Burnout Prevention: Effective Workload Management (Part 2 of 5 Series)

One way to manage workload while precepting a student learner is to apply a layered learning model to your practice. Everyone is probably familiar with some variation of the layered learning model. With this style of learning and precepting, under the guidance of the senior or practicing pharmacist the pharmacy residents take the active leadership role in preparing and planning the rotation experience for the learners. This could include the resident creating the student calendar, identifying topic discussions and opportunities for projects.

Benefits to this model include creating a comfortable learning environment for the student with someone who was recently in their position, and it exposes the learner to the skills they will need for themselves to one day be residents. The residents gain experience in teaching and build their confidence in their advanced clinical skills and knowledge. While overseeing the resident and learner, the practicing pharmacist is exposed to new ideas and perspectives, and the delegating of precepting duties allows more time for administrative work and preceptor development opportunities.

This is not a one-size-fits-all model and can be adjusted to fit almost any practice setting. For example, there may be settings where a technician is playing a large role in precepting. This could be especially true with a learner who, for example, has limited or no prior pharmacy experience. The technician can provide an example for patient care interactions, reinforcement of operational processes, or exposure to clinical services such as vaccinating, med histories, or initiation of CMRs or MTM services.

Preparing for your learner’s arrival is another way to manage workload, build resiliency and avoid burnout. For example, what are your “If I Had Time” projects? Consider maintaining a list of project ideas that not only help you or your practice site but can be utilized if your student needs to work independently for a while. Perhaps you are unexpectedly absent a day or the learner needs to make up a missed day due to interviews. Maybe you need to pivot with where your learner is at and have something more or less challenging for them. Having this prepared list alleviates scrambling for ideas at the last minute, avoids stress for you and unnecessary downtime for the learner, and provides an opportunity to make a positive impact on your practice site.

Finally, it is ok to take time off periodically from precepting. Perhaps you have had back-to-back learners for a long time, or your home life is especially busy (you may coach or have a kid in a spring sport for example); your practice site has had a recent staff turnover or someone is out on leave; you’ve just had a difficult learner, or you yourself are a new practitioner and you need more time to get settled in to your role. In this last example, it might be a good opportunity to co-precept with someone else. Whatever the case may be, it is ok to say, “I’m taking a break this block, but I’ll take a student the following block.”

Use this break as a chance to refresh and reset. It is also an ideal time to take advantage of preceptor development opportunities. The Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin (PSW) has an entire series on their website devoted to preceptor development, covering a wide variety of topics including precepting techniques, models for giving feedback, suggestions for structured learning with trainees, and tips for incorporating well-being and mindfulness into pharmacy practice. Bringing these new ideas and the above tips into your pharmacy practice are just a few ways to help manage workload, build resiliency, and avoid burnout.