what is a pharmacist?
As a pharmacist, you handle prescriptions and guide customers on how to use medications properly. You fill prescriptions issued by healthcare professionals. If the medications are unavailable, you advise patients on alternatives and explain the possible side effects of the drugs.
A pharmacist typically works in a pharmacy or drug store dispensing prescription medication. You help customers choose over-the-counter medicines for minor ailments. As a pharmacist, you answer health-related questions, from inquiries about various drugs to methods of use. Some pharmacists also work in hospitals and research facilities. Pharmacists' careers have evolved from a historical focus on the distribution of medicines to an emphasis on safe and rational drug use. They provide a pharmaceutical service that revolves around preventative healthcare and monitoring medication use.
The provision of pharmaceutical care relies on understanding the characteristics of medications, from dosage formulations to the dispersal of drugs in the body. You should also understand drugs' interactions with the human body to determine their effects.
Personal attributes necessary for pharmacists include compassion and genuine care for patients. It is also important to be accurate to avoid administering the wrong medication.
Would working as a pharmacist suit your attention to detail? Then read on to find out what competencies and qualifications you need to thrive in a pharmacist role.
view jobs near youaverage pharmacist salary
Would you like to know what a pharmacist earns? Where the highest salaries are paid for a pharmacist? Then check out this salary comparison tool and find out all about the salary of a pharmacist in the USA.
types of pharmacists
Some of the types of pharmacists include:
- retail pharmacists: you work in drug stores and pharmacy counters in larger shops. Your job is to administer medications to patients based on their prescriptions. You also answer any questions they have about over-the-counter medication and explain the side effects. Sometimes, you also provide primary care like administering flu shots.
- clinical pharmacists: you work in hospitals and other healthcare settings. You dispense medication and provide patient care. You may work alongside doctors and healthcare teams. Your job is to recommend the drugs to administer to patients and oversee the dosage and delivery times of the medications. You may also conduct some medical tests.
- academic pharmacists: you conduct research on medicines and publish articles on new types of drugs for various diseases. You also lecture trainee pharmacists and mentor them by supervising their practice.
working as a pharmacist
If you love science and medicine, being a pharmacist is an ideal career that allows you to help people. Read on for details on the tasks and responsibilities involved in the role.
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pharmacist job description
Some of the tasks of a pharmacist include:
- dispensing medicines: as a pharmacist, you receive prescriptions from doctors and administer medications to patients. You also dispense other drugs and advise patients on their prescriptions. For instance, you provide necessary information to help a patient understand what their medications do and instructions for taking them properly.
- working with physicians: when you work in a clinic or healthcare setting, you recommend medications to treat various conditions and discuss potential incompatibilities. You also supervise the administration and delivery times of the drugs to improve patients' well-being. A pharmacist reviews prescriptions from healthcare professionals and ensures no contraindications with other drugs the patient is taking or allergies.
- maintaining inventory of the medications: when you work in a drug store or a pharmacy, you maintain an inventory of the medicines. You record the medicines you dispense throughout the day and ensure the shelves are stocked with essential drugs.
- advising patients on over-the-counter medications: you assist customers with minor ailments with finding the drugs they need. Some pharmacists assist with immunizations like giving patients flu shots and other vaccinations.
- completing paperwork: as a pharmacist, you complete the paperwork after dispensing medications and keep track of the refill frequencies to ensure patients don't abuse drugs. You also manage payments for prescriptions where this is necessary.
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pharmacist work environment
Pharmacists work in hospitals, drug stores or pharmacies and spend a lot of time indoors. In hospitals, you work alongside other health professionals and spend the day on your feet. When working at a drug store or pharmacy, you stand to serve customers, but you don't spend a long time on your feet. As a pharmacist, you wear a lab coat when serving customers and use gloves and masks when examining patients or administering treatment. When you work in community health centers, you work outdoors during outreach programs. Since pharmacists are primary care health professionals, they provide medical services in person. Remote work and working from home are not possible.
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who are your colleagues?
As a pharmacist, your colleagues include general nurses, pediatricians and doctors. You might also work with clinical scientists and anesthetists, as well as other specialists like pharmacologists, analytical chemists and medical sales representatives.
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work schedule
The work schedule of pharmacists depends on the employer. In hospitals, you are likely to work 12-hour shifts like other healthcare professionals in full-time roles. However, pharmacists in drug stores and pharmacies work regular business hours unless it is a 24-hour store. You occasionally work weekends and public holidays. Some employers also offer flexible working arrangements and part-time positions.
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job outlook for pharmacists
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job growth for pharmacists is a solid 3% over the next decade. Pharmacists have a structured career path. For instance, a newly qualified pharmacist rotates various pharmaceutical roles, from community to clinical pharmacy or clinical trials. When you gain experience in rotational roles, you specialize in a preferred pharmacy practice like cardiology, pediatric care, or procurement and distribution. As your knowledge in the field advances, you progress to supervisory roles, and you could end up running a hospital. Some pharmacists become researchers or consultants, while others become lecturers.
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benefits of working for randstad as a pharmacist
Working through Randstad offers you a range of benefits:
- being paid weekly
- flexibility
- always a contact person you can fall back on and ask for help from
- many training opportunities
- a range of jobs in your area
Want a permanent contract? But you wonder why it would be interesting for you to work with a staffing company? A temporary job as a pharmacist is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent job. Every year, thousands of people earn a permanent contract with great employers thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too!
pharmacist skills and education
You typically need to earn a bachelor's degree before a pharmacy program will accept you. Some programs accept applicants who have completed two or three years of their undergraduate degree. What do you need a bachelor's degree in? Biology is the top choice, but you can also consider medicinal chemistry. Some schools offer pre-pharmacy programs that will prepare you for pursuing your doctorate.
The full list of prerequisites for pharmacy school varies based on the school. However, you can expect schools to usually require biology, chemistry, statistics and calculus credits. Other prerequisites may include anatomy and physiology, physics or communication.
You can increase your chances of getting into a pharmacy school by taking the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT). Some programs require that you submit your score with your application. Even if they don't ask for it, you may include it to boost your chances.
Once you start pharmacy school, you can expect to get your doctorate degree within four years. In addition to earning your pharmacy doctoral degree (PharmD), you need to gain experience through an internship or a residency program. Some pharmacy schools help you with this. How many hours of experience you need depends on your state laws.
Check your state's pharmacy licensing laws to ensure you will meet all of the prerequisites before choosing your school and classes. Regardless of which state you're in, however, you need to pass the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX). There may be an additional licensing exam that you have to take in your state.
skills and competencies
- attention to detail: mixing up medications isn't a mistake that you can afford to make. You need a strong attention to detail to read prescriptions correctly and package the right medications in the correct doses.
- communication: you'll be communicating with dozens of patients every day. Strong communication skills will help you effectively address concerns from all of the different personality types. Some people may have a condition that impacts their cognitive skills, so you'll need to know how to convey important information to them in a way that they understand.
- interpersonal skills: occasionally, you may come across an impatient or agitated patient. It could even be a doctor who isn't known for being polite. Interpersonal skills will help you handle these uncommon situations over the course of your career with grace.
- management skills: as a pharmacist, you need to make sure that you don't run out of important medications. There are many other important tasks you juggle on a daily basis, such as staying on top of filling prescriptions, record keeping and disposing of expired medications.
- confidentiality: you must be able to keep patient information confidential. Don't even tell someone who's close to you, as that would break your confidentiality. If word ever slips out, you would face legal troubles. Patients are also putting their trust in you that you won't tell others about their health conditions.
- computer skills: pharmacists need to use computers for record keeping. You'll need to understand how to use the software for tracking inventory and patient data.
FAQs about working as a pharmacist
Here you will find answers to the most frequently asked questions about pharmacists.
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what should I know about working in a pharmacy?
If you work at a 24-hour pharmacy, you're more likely to be assigned night shifts as a new pharmacist. As you gain experience, you have a bigger say in your hours. If you prefer limited contact with patients, then you can work at a hospital or a mail-order pharmacy.
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is a pharmacy job worth it?
Yes, as a pharmacist, you can earn an annual salary of $100,000 or more, and you have plenty of job opportunities. There are endless drug stores, pharmacies, hospitals and clinics in the country. If you move to another state, you can easily find a new job after getting your new state license.
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do pharmacists have a good work-life balance?
Yes, most pharmacists have a good work-life balance. You can expect to work standard hours of a 9–5 job as a pharmacist. When you're starting out, however, a pharmacy that's open late may be more likely to ask you to work different hours.
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what kind of career growth opportunities are available for pharmacists?
Once you have experience as a pharmacist, you can provide counsel to universities, companies and public policy organizations. Other career growth opportunities include hospital managers, government jobs, pharmacy owners and pharmaceutical scientists.
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are there any professional organizations that pharmacists can join?
Professional organizations for pharmacists include the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) and International Pharmaceutical Federation. You can stay on top of new discoveries in your career by joining a professional organization.
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how do I find a job as a pharmacist?
Applying for a pharmacist job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our data engineer jobs for vacancies in your area. Then simply send us your CV. If you do not have a resume, no worries. Just check out our resume builder. This state of the art tool will help you to create your own resume. Need help with your application? Check out all our job-hunting tips!
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