3 answers
Maria
Student
Troutdale, Oregon
1
Question
Asked
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What kind of work is done in a pharmacy? What is your most favorite and least favorite part of working as a pharmacist? Why did you choose pharmacy as a career?
I'm currently starting trade school and I would like to get to know more information about the career I'm interested in getting into. I don't have any experience in working in a pharmacy, I've only worked retail before. I'm interested in getting into Pharmacy because I want to be able to help people in need. I hope to get a job at a hospital where I’ll hopefully make medicine for the patients that need it.
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3 answers
Jason Lam
Managed Care Pharmacist
4
Answers
Germantown, Maryland
Updated
Jason’s Answer
What kind of work is done in a pharmacy?
While the market may seem uncertain for the pharmacy field, I think pharmacy can still be rewarding and exciting today depending on what YOU want to do. In my opinion, I think a pharmacy degree can actually be quite versatile and allow you to do more than you think. For instance, there is the clinical-focused route, it is highly recommended to do a PGY-1 (or even 2) and work in a hospital/clinic/LTC, etc. Then there is more of a mix of clinical and admin role in managed care (health plans, PBMs). Then there's teaching in academia if that's your passion. Also, pharma roles that focus on research and development, manufacturing, regulatory affairs, etc.
I personally enjoy doing data analytics, and was able to develop a role that was unique to the health plan that I was working at. I would recommend creating a Linkedin profile and try connecting with people with roles that intrigues you, ask them for career advice like you're doing here, ask for opportunities to shadow or as future rotation site to better understand their industry, there's no better way to learn about something unless you dig into it, the worst thing you can get is a "no" from them, you've got nothing to lose by simply asking!
What is your most favorite and least favorite part of working as a pharmacist?
Favorite - it's a versatile degree and allow you to pursue different career paths. In addition to what I mention above, if you have some additional skills it's not difficult to find ways to synergize, such as coding skills, you may be able to find jobs at big tech companies like Google, Apple that would hire medical professionals for specific titles.
Least favorite - how the big retail companies have ruined the retail industry overall, and most pharmacists complain yet they don't do much about it besides that. I believe chain retail could really have a much bigger potential clinically if pharmacists are not forced to just "count" pills and constantly understaffed, and you really have little time to do clinical work like communicating with prescribers about drug interactions and offering alternatives, which is what it is supposed to be.
Why did you choose pharmacy as a career?
Honestly I just wanted to be a healthcare professional and it just happened that I have family members that are pharmacists and recommended it to me (quite some years ago) so I applied. I'm glad it worked out. Though I think you are doing the right thing here to get more insights learning about the profession before committing your time and money.
Hope that helps.
While the market may seem uncertain for the pharmacy field, I think pharmacy can still be rewarding and exciting today depending on what YOU want to do. In my opinion, I think a pharmacy degree can actually be quite versatile and allow you to do more than you think. For instance, there is the clinical-focused route, it is highly recommended to do a PGY-1 (or even 2) and work in a hospital/clinic/LTC, etc. Then there is more of a mix of clinical and admin role in managed care (health plans, PBMs). Then there's teaching in academia if that's your passion. Also, pharma roles that focus on research and development, manufacturing, regulatory affairs, etc.
I personally enjoy doing data analytics, and was able to develop a role that was unique to the health plan that I was working at. I would recommend creating a Linkedin profile and try connecting with people with roles that intrigues you, ask them for career advice like you're doing here, ask for opportunities to shadow or as future rotation site to better understand their industry, there's no better way to learn about something unless you dig into it, the worst thing you can get is a "no" from them, you've got nothing to lose by simply asking!
What is your most favorite and least favorite part of working as a pharmacist?
Favorite - it's a versatile degree and allow you to pursue different career paths. In addition to what I mention above, if you have some additional skills it's not difficult to find ways to synergize, such as coding skills, you may be able to find jobs at big tech companies like Google, Apple that would hire medical professionals for specific titles.
Least favorite - how the big retail companies have ruined the retail industry overall, and most pharmacists complain yet they don't do much about it besides that. I believe chain retail could really have a much bigger potential clinically if pharmacists are not forced to just "count" pills and constantly understaffed, and you really have little time to do clinical work like communicating with prescribers about drug interactions and offering alternatives, which is what it is supposed to be.
Why did you choose pharmacy as a career?
Honestly I just wanted to be a healthcare professional and it just happened that I have family members that are pharmacists and recommended it to me (quite some years ago) so I applied. I'm glad it worked out. Though I think you are doing the right thing here to get more insights learning about the profession before committing your time and money.
Hope that helps.
Thank you, Jason for the advice.
Maria
Yolanda Williams, PharmD, PhD
Pharmacist
14
Answers
Durham, North Carolina
Updated
Yolanda’s Answer
As I pharmacist with over 20 years experience, I would not advice anyone to go into the pharmacy profession. This field is very unstable. Retail pharmacies are closing all over the country. The business model for chains is not sustainable and they losing money. Please research on your own. Hospital pharmacy is an option jut by the time you graduate you would need to do at least 2 recidencies to be competitive. I would look into becoming a PA or nurse practioner on mental health professional if you really want to help people.
Seth Cohen, Pharm.D
I am an informatics pharmacist specializing in hospital information systems
4
Answers
Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Updated
Seth’s Answer
"What kind of work is done in a pharmacy?" It depends on what pharmacy you work at. Retail/outpatient pharmacies dispense medications, counsel patients, provide vaccinations and other services. Many outpatient pharmacies compound patient-specific medications on request. Some outpatient pharmacies can provide sterile IV medications, or have subspecialties such as diabetes care or HIV. Hospital pharmacies provide medications for whatever level of care the hospital provides. Long term care pharmacies supply medications for patients in long-term care. Mail-order pharmacies are like a retail or outpatient pharmacy but generally do not have face-to-face interaction with their patients.
"What is your most favorite and least favorite part of working as a pharmacist?" I'm not a fan of standing for long periods of time, which is why I tend to focus on hospital pharmacy for work.
"Why did you choose pharmacy as a career?" My mother (a nurse) pointed out that unlike some careers, health care never goes out of style. When I was in college originally I thought I wanted to be a journalist. Moving away from that career was a wise one, even though I had no way of predicting what the Internet would do to newspaper circulation.
"I don't have any experience in working in a pharmacy, I've only worked retail before." I too had only worked retail and not within a pharmacy prior to pharmacy school. My classmates who had hands-on experience in a pharmacy were ahead of me in their knowledge just from handling medications. I recommend that, but you'll probably need pharmacy technician certification to become a pharmacy tech. This varies state-to-state, so you should look up your state's Board of Pharmacy to see what it says about certification requirements.
"I'm interested in getting into Pharmacy because I want to be able to help people in need. I hope to get a job at a hospital where I’ll hopefully make medicine for the patients that need it." That's one of the things I enjoy about being a pharmacist. Discovering that you can improve someone's health by reviewing their conditions and medication regimens can often make a big difference in their quality of life. In hospital pharmacy it can sometimes be the difference between life and death for a patient. I'm not trying to stress you out on that - just pointing out that sicker people need care that isn't provided at other pharmacy jobs.
"What is your most favorite and least favorite part of working as a pharmacist?" I'm not a fan of standing for long periods of time, which is why I tend to focus on hospital pharmacy for work.
"Why did you choose pharmacy as a career?" My mother (a nurse) pointed out that unlike some careers, health care never goes out of style. When I was in college originally I thought I wanted to be a journalist. Moving away from that career was a wise one, even though I had no way of predicting what the Internet would do to newspaper circulation.
"I don't have any experience in working in a pharmacy, I've only worked retail before." I too had only worked retail and not within a pharmacy prior to pharmacy school. My classmates who had hands-on experience in a pharmacy were ahead of me in their knowledge just from handling medications. I recommend that, but you'll probably need pharmacy technician certification to become a pharmacy tech. This varies state-to-state, so you should look up your state's Board of Pharmacy to see what it says about certification requirements.
"I'm interested in getting into Pharmacy because I want to be able to help people in need. I hope to get a job at a hospital where I’ll hopefully make medicine for the patients that need it." That's one of the things I enjoy about being a pharmacist. Discovering that you can improve someone's health by reviewing their conditions and medication regimens can often make a big difference in their quality of life. In hospital pharmacy it can sometimes be the difference between life and death for a patient. I'm not trying to stress you out on that - just pointing out that sicker people need care that isn't provided at other pharmacy jobs.
Thank you so much for the response. It was very informative and it gave me a few new viewpoints.
Maria
You are welcome! If you have other questions, feel free to ask away. If I don't know the answer hopefully another pharmacist can answer.
Seth Cohen, Pharm.D