A Career in Pharmacy Offers a Unique Blend of Science, Healthcare, Technology, and Business
A career in pharmacy offers a unique blend of science, healthcare, technology, and business—and is an exciting and rewarding way to contribute to patients’ quality of life. To become a pharmacist, you need to complete a bachelor’s degree in a field like biology, chemistry, or pharmacy. You’ll then need to pass the PCAT exam, which is administered by the Association of Schools of Pharmacy in the US (ASP). It is important to begin studying for this test as early as possible to ensure you get a good score. Once you’ve passed the exam, you can apply to a school of pharmacy and start your journey toward becoming a licensed pharmacist.
The most valuable traits of a pharmacist include communication skills, professional behavior, and being adaptable. The ability to work with people, understand patient needs, and follow directions were also highly ranked. Interestingly, however, the ability to use the literature and punctuality were not rated as high by respondents. These results suggest that the characteristics deemed most desirable in new pharmacists may vary by practice setting or managerial responsibilities.
Pharmacists perform a variety of tasks to improve patient health and well-being, including verifying prescriptions, informing patients about how to take their medications correctly, and making sure any new medication won’t interact with other drugs the patient is taking. Many also advise customers on dietary and lifestyle changes to prevent disease, help patients manage chronic conditions, and provide immunizations. In addition, pharmacists play an important role in the development and management of pharmacy procedures, protocols, inventory, disaster response plans, and training programs for pharmacy staff.
Pharmacy is an ever-evolving field, and there’s always more to learn about new drugs and how they work. For example, recent research has found that certain combinations of vitamins can increase the effectiveness of some medications. This type of knowledge will allow pharmacists to make the best choices for their patients and maximize treatment outcomes.
Another challenge facing pharmacies is meeting the growing demand for fast, reliable service. Consumers are used to getting their products quickly, and the longer they have to wait for a pharmacy to fill their prescription, the less satisfied they’ll be. Some companies are responding to this trend by offering delivery and curbside pickup services.
Whether you’re considering a career in pharmacy or have already decided to become one, it’s important to find what excites you about the profession. Is it the positive impact you can have on patients’ lives? Is it the relationships you’ll form? Or is it the opportunities to learn and grow? It’s also important to be realistic about the amount of time it takes to earn a PharmD. To prepare for this intense career, it’s a good idea to gain some paid or volunteer experience in the industry before applying for a PharmD program. This will give you the real-life experience needed to excel once you enter pharmacy school.
A career in pharmacy offers a unique blend of science, healthcare, technology, and business—and is an exciting and rewarding way to contribute to patients’ quality of life. To become a pharmacist, you need to complete a bachelor’s degree in a field like biology, chemistry, or pharmacy. You’ll then need to pass the PCAT exam, which is administered by the Association of Schools of Pharmacy in the US (ASP). It is important to begin studying for this test as early as possible to ensure you get a good score. Once you’ve passed the exam, you can apply to a school of pharmacy and start your journey toward becoming a licensed pharmacist. The most valuable traits of a pharmacist include communication skills, professional behavior, and being adaptable. The ability to work with people, understand patient needs, and follow directions were also highly ranked. Interestingly, however, the ability to use the literature and punctuality were not rated as high by respondents. These results suggest that the characteristics deemed most desirable in new pharmacists may vary by practice setting or managerial responsibilities. Pharmacists perform a variety of tasks to improve patient health and well-being, including verifying prescriptions, informing patients about how to take their medications correctly, and making sure any new medication won’t interact with other drugs the patient is taking. Many also advise customers on dietary and lifestyle changes to prevent disease, help patients manage chronic conditions, and provide immunizations. In addition, pharmacists play an important role in the development and management of pharmacy procedures, protocols, inventory, disaster response plans, and training programs for pharmacy staff. Pharmacy is an ever-evolving field, and there’s always more to learn about new drugs and how they work. For example, recent research has found that certain combinations of vitamins can increase the effectiveness of some medications. This type of knowledge will allow pharmacists to make the best choices for their patients and maximize treatment outcomes. Another challenge facing pharmacies is meeting the growing demand for fast, reliable service. Consumers are used to getting their products quickly, and the longer they have to wait for a pharmacy to fill their prescription, the less satisfied they’ll be. Some companies are responding to this trend by offering delivery and curbside pickup services. Whether you’re considering a career in pharmacy or have already decided to become one, it’s important to find what excites you about the profession. Is it the positive impact you can have on patients’ lives? Is it the relationships you’ll form? Or is it the opportunities to learn and grow? It’s also important to be realistic about the amount of time it takes to earn a PharmD. To prepare for this intense career, it’s a good idea to gain some paid or volunteer experience in the industry before applying for a PharmD program. This will give you the real-life experience needed to excel once you enter pharmacy school.