Tips for meaningful interventions?

[positivesign]

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How did you guys develop skills to see the big picture to make meaningful interventions and let go of details that may not clinically matter?
I'm in an environment where I work by myself (3rd shift) and often have to self-learn most things that I need to do as a pharmacist. Some nights I feel like I totally rocked it, other nights, not so much.
Any kind tips would be appreciated.

 

[lord999]

The moment I realized that whatever I did, if the patient wasn't willing to help themselves, I wasn't charismatic or pretty enough to give a good enough "come to Jesus" talk (if I did, I would have gone into marketing). Then, I learned to relax and talked to patients as if I were trying to let them in on a secret only for them, and that helped. For order entry, it was a matter of learning what potentially will kill them if you screw up and going downwards.

 

[gwarm01]

... I wasn't charismatic or pretty enough to give a good enough "come to Jesus" talk..

I'm thankful everyday that my relatively good looks and natural charisma have taken me this far. You don't have to be the best when just speaking with you can bring a smile to someone's face. It's a damn shame that we all have to age.

For order entry, it was a matter of learning what potentially will kill them if you screw up and going downwards.

I follow the same rule. Start with what will kill someone, then what will cause serious harm, triage down to minor discomfort or insignificance and you'll be fine. It's the same way I handled hectic nights staffing an ICU pharmacy. Some people will just have to wait, but make sure it isn't the ECMO patient or the guy ripping his breathing tubes out because nursing let the paralytic run dry.

 

[RxPreceptor]

The moment I realized that whatever I did, if the patient wasn't willing to help themselves, I wasn't charismatic or pretty enough to give a good enough "come to Jesus" talk (if I did, I would have gone into marketing). Then, I learned to relax and talked to patients as if I were trying to let them in on a secret only for them, and that helped. For order entry, it was a matter of learning what potentially will kill them if you screw up and going downwards.

Looks will only get you so far, especially for some of the elderly male disgruntled patients who want an equally elderly male "more experienced" disgruntled RPh (because looks are deceiving and all...). Yep, got a solid group of elderly 65+YOs chasing me down/asking for me regularly (sigh, well at least I've got a fan club)

Yeah, try your best to treat the person as an individual/view things from his/her perspective; take some time to ask questions & elaborate concerns

 

[farmadiazepine]

Sometimes you need to stop and think about what you are doing. What is a meaningful intervention? Do you need a meaningful intervention every night you work? Do you need any meaningful interventions at all? The answer depends on what's happening.

If you are working 3rd shift, and if it's at a hospital, your primary responsibility is making sure the pharmacy is running and doesn't burn down your shift. You are the link between the end of the night and the morning. You take care of last minute patients. You take care of emergencies. You staff. You answer phones. You check drugs. That's it.

I make "interventions" all day long. How many of them are actually "meaningful">? It depends on what your definition of meaningful is. Sometimes we become so used to our jobs that we feel like we really need to make a difference. Just the fact that you are staffing, and making sure people get the right medication for them is the most meaningful thing you can do as a pharmacist.