Closed for lunch?

Is it reasonable to expect healthcare providers to not care about their own quality of life, and just give and give to their patients? Doctors, nurses, AND pharmacists are people too! They get sick; they get tired; and they, yes, even have a bad day. And more importantly, they get hungry and thirsty.

Knowing that YOU can get sick, tired, sad, hungry, and thirsty too would encourage empathy for the grueling schedule that has come to be almost EXPECTED in healthcare. For example, in community pharmacy…

When you go to your pharmacy (or in my case – Apothecary), you expect your pharmacist to be there: previously toileted and fed, ready to help you to the fullest extent. You know what? Every person that walks in expects that; so how is it possible to have TIME to fit in the basics of personal care? Here’s how…

Pharmacists, doctors, and nurses need to have a “potty” break, a lunch break, and time to breath between caring for patients. They, we, and me really can think better that way. I’m pretty sure most people can wait or come back after the professional self-care session is over. Better yet, community pharmacies should close for lunch – like in the “good ole days” when people cared about setting a reasonable and doable pace in life.

Yes, a closed sign for 1 hour a day…how would you feel about that? Would you change pharmacies if you saw the “sign” in the window? Would you be frustrated and disappointed that your pharmacist couldn’t work their scheduled 10 hour day without a break?