Different Career Options Available to Pharmacists

When people think of the role of a Pharmacist, they normally think of a person whose job is filling prescriptions. Filling prescriptions is one function of a pharmacist, but there are many more pharmacist career options available.

A pharmacist is a trained and educated health expert in the field of pharmacy. Pharmacists can not only be found working in Pharmacies, but also in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, home health centers, pharmaceutical research institutions, educational institutions, community organizations, and government agencies.

The following is a list of medical areas where Pharmacists can be found working:

Hospitals: In a hospital, pharmacists assist doctors with the constitution, dosage, and effects and side effects of specific medications for patients. They also educate patients about the medications that they are taking. Pharmacists are basically a part of the hospital health care team.

Pharmaceutical Industry: In the pharmaceutical field, pharmacists will study and report on the efficacy of drugs to help determine what drugs are safe for patients. They can also be involved with the marketing of drugs where they work on behalf of a drug manufacturing company to promote and sell their drug products to clinics, hospitals, etc.

Teaching: A pharmacist can be found teaching in a medical or pharmacy school. They will require a post graduate degree and experience working in the pharmacy field.

Community Pharmacy: A pharmacist can be found working in a community pharmacy which is a privately owned pharmacy that helps patients by dispensing both prescribed and non prescribed medications. They can provide assistance with community service organizations that help in-home patients get their required medications and medical information. They also assist physicians with drug information and dosages.

Retail Pharmacy: The retail pharmacy is the general pharmacy that dispenses prescribed medications to the public. They also sell drugs to physicians. They are knowledgeable about both prescription and non prescription drugs. There are many retail pharmacy chains. As well, pharmacists can own and manage their own retail pharmacy.

Compounding Pharmacy: Compounding is the mixing of drugs by a pharmacist to fit the unique needs of a patient. Compounding is performed when a patient is unable to take a particular medication or dosage strength in the traditional manufactured manner. For instance, if a person is unable to swallow, a drug will be modified to be taken another way such as through injection. In research, compounding pharmacists develop and test pharmaceutical formulations for new drugs so that the active ingredients are effective, stable, and easy to take by the patient.

Pharmacy is the third largest health profession in the US. It is often described as the skill of researching, manufacturing, and the authorization and dispensing of various drugs and medications. Pharmacists are an essential part of the health care industry and play a fundamental role in providing patients with the best possible health care. There are many options available with a career in pharmacy. It is a very lucrative and rewarding career that is in great demand. A career as a pharmacist is a great choice for those who enjoy science and helping people.