Expert Q&A: Preventing Burnout Through Resilience and Support in Pharmacy Practice

Pharmacists can identify and address burnout in themselves and their colleagues while also fostering a supportive and positive workplace culture. Strategies such as practicing self-awareness, encouraging open dialogue, and using tools like surveys were highlighted as ways to better understand and manage burnout. In this Q&A, expert Krisoula Spatz, PharmD, BCOP, pediatric oncology clinical pharmacy specialist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discussed recognizing signs of burnout, creating supportive environments, and utilizing both professional and personal strategies to sustain well-being in pharmacy practice. She also emphasized the importance of leadership, teamwork, and personal self-care in maintaining resilience and work-life balance.

Pharmacy Times: How do you identify the signs of burnout in yourself or your colleagues, and what steps do you take to address it?

Krisoula Spatz, PharmD, BCOP: Identifying burnout in ourselves and others requires vigilance through a self-compassionate lens. It’s finding the balance of being self-aware and environmentally aware without being overly critical. It can be easy to compartmentalize or ignore signs of burnout, especially when work is busy, but I think that can catch up with us over time. A few approaches I find to be helpful are to discuss burnout openly, talk about work challenges with supportive colleagues or supervisors, and when in doubt, try to measure it. If you have a hard time identifying these challenges on your own, I would encourage you to utilize a survey to measure burnout, which is a great starting point in understanding what’s going on.

Pharmacy Times: In a busy pharmacy environment, how do you maintain a positive and supportive work culture to prevent staff burnout?

Spatz: I would say in any pharmacy or work environment, it is imperative to take a proactive approach to creating a positive and supportive work culture. This can be approached through a growth mindset and the idea that through time and effort, change can be made. Rather than thinking about this being additional work or something else on your plate, try to reframe this as protective for your career as well as for your colleagues’ careers. We’re all on the same team and have a shared goal. Coming back to your “why,” such as striving to provide quality patient care, can make it easier to align your efforts for creating a supportive culture.

Pharmacy Times: What do you believe are the biggest contributors to pharmacy burnout today, and what personal and professional strategies do you use to maintain your work-life balance?

Spatz: In a world that’s constantly evolving, I believe that many pharmacists are being asked to do more without additional resources, balancing administrative and clinical tasks while anticipating and navigating challenges, such as prior authorizations or drug shortages. This can be an opportunity to refocus our efforts to practice at the top of our license and utilize technicians, administrative staff and technology where we can. It is also clear to me from the literature that having effective leadership is crucial. We need to be willing to have open, transparent conversations with leadership so that they can advocate and protect the scope of our work. I am fortunate to truly love my work, and I hope that I can continue to practice for a very long time. I am constantly evaluating what “tools I have in my toolbox” for supporting my professional well-being. These strategies vary depending on what I need, and I think it takes practice to find effective outlets of self-care. For me personally, it is often a combination of yoga and exercise, a gratitude practice, quiet time, such as reading or tending to my plants, and social time with people who refill my cup. There isn’t one formula that will always work, but I see the value in keeping this top of mind.

Pharmacy Times: Is there anything you would like to add?

Spatz: We all work hard earning our degrees and certifications, keeping up with the literature and changes in practice, and I think it is our responsibility to protect our well-being and resilience. It’s an investment in ourselves so that we can have long, fulfilling careers as pharmacists.