The continuing education conundrum

Hard work, dedication and a certain level of commitment are part of becoming a Pharmacy Technician. None of us got where we are without a varying combination of these qualities. Not only did becoming a registered technician take a lot of work, if you are anything like me, you strive to give 100% every single day. For someone like me who thrives in the satisfaction of knowing I did my best and made a difference, it would stand to reason that I do so in every aspect of practice. Sadly, that is not the case. Although I go above and beyond for my job I am ashamed to admit that when it comes to continuing education, I have been neglectful. Read: Five tips for integrating pharmacy technicians into chronic disease managementMy intentions are fantastic. I sign up for continuing education programs, purchase courses through the Ontario Pharmacist’s Association and register for live webinars. But somehow, I lack the ability to follow through with most of them. It is partially due to the lack of interest in the subjects being offered, but more to do with the complete exhaustion I experience at the end of each day after I’ve expended every ounce of energy I have. I’m not sure exactly what topics would grab my attention and reignite my desire to learn but it is certainly not anything I’ve come across in the past few years. Whether it’s subject or setting, there must be a better way. One barrier that I personally struggle with is the lack of a dedicated learning environment, such as an in-person forum. I am much more successful grasping information being taught to me when it’s an interactive setting. Having the ability to ask questions and discuss concepts in different ways helps me truly understand the material. The opportunity to hear diverse perspectives or the way something is interpreted by another allows me to broaden my thought process and see things in ways that a typed publication just can’t offer. Read: Cannabis education missing in Canadian healthcareThe Ontario College of Pharmacists mandates continuing education as a form of professional development. The healthcare landscape is perpetually evolving and in order to optimize our proficiency in providing patient care, we too must expand our knowledge and expertise to remain relevant. Although there aren’t designated learning activities required or a specific number of hours that need to be completed, I know that I am not the only one who has difficulty with meeting expectations. I am hoping that discussing what I feel is a common issue will increase my accountability and give me that extra push I need. Luckily going down this path has also given me a bit of inspiration! Since this problem can’t be a unique one, I am willing to bet that other technicians would benefit from completing their continuing education in a face to face setting. I know that it would definitely improve my compliance and follow through! For any pharmacy technicians in the Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo area interested in joining a group dedicated to professional development and continuing education, please reach out to me. For any technicians that aren’t local but find themselves in a similar position, I urge you to take initiative and launch your own version of what works for you! Don’t forget, our obligation to ensure that our knowledge is up to date is in our patients' best interest. Think outside the box, or in this case, the computer screen, and create the optimal backdrop for your educational expansion.

The continuing education conundrum

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ALICIA LEVMAN

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