What is a Pharmacist?

A pharmacist is someone who traditionally works in a pharmacy and is in charge of the dispensing
of prescription medications. A pharmacist has expert knowledge of medications and can advise
members of the public in this matter and will also give advice on over-the-counter remedies that
can be purchased for minor ailments or non-serious illnesses such as a cold.

There are also specific specialty pharmacists, some of them being veterinary, oncology, clinical,
nuclear, consultant and industrial. Others may work in research relating to the pharmaceutical
industry, researching new drugs and other health and nutrition issues.

What does a Pharmacist do?

The pharmacist is often the first point of call for someone suffering from a minor illness or in the
initial stages of an illness, and relevant advice is given. There are certain medications that can be
prescribed by the pharmacist after a brief consultation with a patient. Additional requirements are
often required of the pharmacist in order to be allowed to prescribe certain medications.

In hospital pharmacies, the job involves more specific drug measurements and preparations - for
example confirming prescribed calculations of doses dependent on the patient's weight, and
making sure that the correct dose is given. Hospital pharmacies deal with stronger and more
dangerous drugs more often than community pharmacies do, and provide a vital service within the
hospital. Generally, all pharmacists have expert knowledge about medicines and can apply this in
different ways, depending on their chosen speciality or area of work.

Are you suited to be a pharmacist?

Pharmacists have distinct personalities. They tend to be investigative individuals, which means
they’re intellectual, introspective, and inquisitive. They are curious, methodical, rational,
analytical, and logical. Some of them are also conventional, meaning they’re conscientious and
conservative.

What is the workplace of a Pharmacist like?

The workplace of a pharmacist will vary depending on the area of specialty. Typically a pharmacy
is a small shop or a small department within a supermarket or larger drugstore where the
pharmacist will work closely with dispensers and sales associates.

A pharmacist has a somewhat social job and deals with many different people in the workplace
day-to-day, including customers and drug representatives. Pharmacies can get busy and being able
to work quickly when under pressure will be helpful. Hospital pharmacies are much quieter and
less busy, there are fewer people to deal with on a daily basis and only medications to dispense;
patients in a hospital are usually seeing a doctor, so there is no need for the pharmacist to give
consultations.

In a research position the environment will vary as well. There may be a lot of interaction with
patients involved in clinical trials, or with drug companies and representatives, or on the other
hand, there may be quiet laboratories dedicated to research. Within the field, there is enough
variation to choose a specialty which will allow for the pharmacist to work in the environment best
suited to his/her own personality.

Why are there pharmacists? Can't a physician do their job?

Pharmacists know all there is to know about prescription drugs - they are medication experts. The
average pharmacist knows much more about drugs than the average physician - it simply is not a
physician's field.

There is a lot more to a pharmacist's career than just printing labels and counting pills. Because
everyone can make a mistake, a pharmacist will double check and make sure that the medication a
physician has prescribed to a patient will not interact with other drugs the patient may be taking. It
is not unusual for a pharmacist to call the physician to confirm dosage, as it is easy to write the
wrong amount, which will result in a dosage that is either too low or too high. They will make dose
adjustments, they will check chemotherapy calculations - they will basically act as a gatekeeper
between the patient and harmful drug interactions.

There are also many time-consuming duties that a pharmacist deals with, such as ordering supplies,
figuring things out with insurance companies, and handling the many regulatory compliance
issues. Physicians are glad there is a division of labour so that they can concentrate on treating their
patients.

What are the advantages of being a pharmacist?

Job security is another positive - pharmaceutical careers are in demand and are expected to have
higher-than-average growth in the future.

Yet another advantage is that pharmacists are often able to provide feedback on a medicine's side
effects and/or a medicine's effectiveness - information that can be used in drug engineering and in
technological and medical advances.
The job can be somewhat stressful at times, but it is less stressful than other medical professions. If
you work in a small community, you will develop relationships with regular customers over a
period of time, and see their progress as you work with them.

What is it like being a pharmacist?

The pharmacist's job is an important one, and requires careful attention to detail. A typical day can
involve checking and dispensing medication, compounding medication, communicating with
physicians, providing patients with pharmaceutical information, providing patients with health
advice, explaining the proper use of medication, supervising staff/pharmacy technicians, etc.

Occasionally, pharmacists will have to deal with an upset or rude customer, however this is not a
frequent occurrence. While a pharmacist's tasks will vary somewhat, each day is fairly similar and
requires repetitive work. Days can be long (sometimes twelve hours long), and most of those hours
will be spent standing. If you work for a retail/community pharmacy, you will most likely have to
work weekends, evenings, and some holidays. Hospital pharmacies have more stable daytime work
schedules. If you own your own pharmacy, you will be able to set your own hours.

How long does it take to become a Pharmacist?

It takes between six to eight years to become a pharmacist. All aspiring pharmacists are required to
earn a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) through a doctoral program accredited by the American
Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP). To enter into PharmD, students will be required to
complete a four-year bachelor's degree in health sciences.

Combining class work with practical experience, pharmacy programs usually take four years.
Some schools offer an accelerated three-year program, while others offer a "0 to 6" program,
according to the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy. This type of program admits high
school graduates for a six-year program that combines pharmacy prerequisites with professional
school.

Source by : https://www.careerexplorer.com/careers/pharmacist/