Providing great patient care is probably the best thing you can do for the business side of pharmacy. In these instances, you may work for an agency but you c… These include diet, lifestyle, transportation, language barriers and much more. Pharmacy is a diverse and rewarding career, with opportunities for patient care, scientific research and innovation. The majority of hospital pharmacists work for the NHS. From research, to clinical, to retail, pharmacists have the flexibility to train for and pursue the career that most closely meshes with their area of interest, work preferences, and schedule. Have you always been passionate about certain topics when you were in school like science, technology, engineering, or math? Part of the reason that Pharmacy and a career as a Pharmacist in general has become so flexible is due to the fact that the world of Pharmacy is changing as well. Pharmacists play a key role in helping the elderly patients navigate complicated medication requirements and explore ways to minimize their financial burden. I wouldn't be too scared about the jobs going anywhere, and as far as other hospital jobs go, the medical industry is holding strong in America. If you’re looking for a healthcare role where you can directly work with patients on a daily basis, then you should become a Pharmacist. The transition to the doctor of pharmacy (Pharm.D.) As long as they train and get the proper credentials, they can land a career that fits their needs and wants. There are plenty of fantastic career pathways that you can pursue as a Pharmacist. Hospital pharmacists interact with nurses and physicians in their positions. Choosing a residency is one of the biggest decisions you’ll face in shaping your future career—VA gives you more options to help you find the ideal fit. In ambulatory care clinics, clinical pharmacists often determine formularies, and in industrial settings, they may conduct cost-benefit analyses on medications or educate insurance companies about new drugs. According to the CDC, pharmacists are equipped with the necessary skills to improve our nation’s health and are vital members of the team in public health initiatives. Pharmacy has nourished my mind and my soul. A great thing about being a pharmacist is you have the ability to move around because your job is everywhere. It used to be that everyone would just be classified as a general Pharmacist with limited pathways. Pharmacists help prescribers and patients decide which medicine will have the most beneficial results. As a Pharmacist, part of the effective care that we’ve been highlighting only happens when you and your other healthcare professionals work together to solve and aid your patients with some of the diseases or ailments that they are afflicted with. Helping people is the number one benefit of working in healthcare. Pharmacists have the ability to choose a career path that is a good fit for them. These include working in the community, a hospital, home health care, pharmaceutical research companies, nursing homes, government health agencies, and higher education. With so many drugs on the market and in circulation, Pharmacists are needed to help deal with the increase in prescriptions. They, along with other private sector providers, run care homes for older people and adults and children with mental health, learning or physical disabilities, as well as hospitals and clinics. Flexibility in your career means that you’re not going to be stationed in the same position for the span of your 30 or 40 year career. Now that we’ve covered why you should potentially consider a career in Pharmacy, we’re going to highlight the top reasons you should become a Pharmacist. Pharmacists can now communicate with patients from a distance and provide education to them, instead of having to be face to face with their patients. When those people get sick, they still need pharmaceutical prescription drugs or medicine that can help them get better quicker. They are frequently involved with doing rounds with mds and nurses and also help to calculate dosages, etc. Remember that even though the job security and money is great, the ultimate goal of many medical professionals is to help people, so if you don't have the desire to benefit the people around you, then no money in the world would make this job right for you. Older patients generally have more chronic illness and more complicated drug regimens than younger individuals. Have you ever taken a career aptitude test in school to see what you might be interested in? You can more than likely find a … degree for all new pharmacy graduates has increased the type of services pharmacists are able to offer. For those individuals who are seeking a profession or a career where they can trust that the information they are working with is the most reliable information, and provide reliable care to patients, then you should consider a career as a Pharmacist. I know for some it might be just an added perk, but others go into the field for the sole purpose of helping people. Pharmacists provide optimal management of medication for chronic diseases such as diabetes, asthma, hypertension, etc. Patients have to trust that their healthcare providers are providing them with the most up to date information, they are using the most up to date care techniques, and the healthcare provider is certified and educated. As we’ve mentioned above, Pharmacists are currently experiencing some of the highest demand in recent history. If you’re looking for a potential career in a patient-centered role where you can develop relationships and connections with the patients you will see on a recurring basis, then you should consider a career in Pharmacy. In other words, the field of Pharmacology and pathway to becoming a Pharmacist has so many potential career options that you can evaluate and determine what you want to do on your own pace. According to recent Gallup Polls, pharmacists’ honesty and ethics were rated as "high" or "very high" by a large majority of Americans. All of this stems from doing calculations based on the patient’s numbers and conditions. If you desire a career that provides you with flexibility in every stage of your career, then you should consider a career in Pharmacy. So I guess that if you ask me why I love being a pharmacist my best answer is that pharmacy is not just a job or a profession, it is an all-encompassing lifestyle. A hospital pharmacist is much more involved clinically with patients then say a retail pharmacist. There has never been a better time to consider a career in Pharmacy as a Pharmacist than now. As a healthcare professional who is interested in potentially pursuing a career in Pharmacy, the good news is that you don’t have to know what you want to do from the start. Top Ten Reasons to Become a Pharmacist 1. They may also consult with doctors about the correct dosage and appropriate form and time of administration, and make physicians aware of … Clinical infectious disease specialists possess a very unique set … In addition, Pharmacists have greater access to new technology that improves the way pharmaceutical drugs are being developed. The hospital pharmacist see the the patient in an acute or unstable condition and helps that patient to re- gain a stable condition; as a community pharmacist I help to maintain that stablility and to prevent the patient going back to hospital, thus we apply the knowledge differently because the focus is different. “I want to become a Pharmacy Assistant because I have a genuine interest in people’s health and I also want to learn about different medicines and medical subscriptions. As a Pharmacist, you work directly with patients on a daily basis in a variety of settings. The recruiter asks this question to test your understanding of the business side of a pharmacy. Genetic variations in genes can affect a body’s response to a drug. If you are interested in pursuing a career that deals with the interactions of the drugs from one to the other, or how they interact with other substances that the patient might be taking based upon math and science that you conduct — then you should consider a career in Pharmacy. If not, you should definitely consider going into something in the medical field as it is a booming industry with great paying careers and hundreds of thousands of positions available. Some hospital pharmacists specialize in a drug therapy area. Another fantastic reason to become a Pharmacist is the ability to give back to other healthcare professionals and educate the upcoming talent that is less experienced. In the following article, we will reveal the many reasons you should become a Pharmacist. There is also a greater variety of job functions in hospital pharmacy. While working as a Pharmacist doesn’t always mean that you’re going to have autonomy in every situation. I Like to Work Directly with Patients The average hospital-based clinical pharmacist makes rounds with doctors, suggests drug therapies and monitors patient responses. A: Having done both hospital and community before, I find hospital to be … If you’re looking for a job that is going to be in demand for the foreseeable future as the healthcare industry continually changes, and the aging workforce increasingly needs educated professionals who can help take care of that demographic, then you should become a Pharmacist. If you want to be a pharmacist and have the opportunity to work closely with physicians and young patients, becoming a pediatric pharmacist may be the ideal career choice. You are able to call the shots and be your own boss. Compared to other jobs in America, you would be among only 20% of households bringing in more than $100k a year. Are you a social butterfly? The aging population has also increased the need for long-term care, geriatric and consultant pharmacists. At that time, I wanted to be able to help other patients like her by knowing everything about these medications—I made it my personal dedication. Pharmacists play key leadership roles in all aspects of the healthcare system. For instance, when you’re interacting with your patients on a regular basis as they come to get their prescription drugs, you tend to form relationships with them and develop connections with them. As great as everything seems, take time to research and consider all your options before you go into any field. This provides you with more time to decide which pathway you want to follow or specialize in. The healthcare industry has seen the benefits of working as a team when treating patients, and that is only compounded by the fact that Pharmacists are taking on an increased role in the collaboration of those efforts on teams. In addition, as Pharmacists continually learn new skills or receive new training that helps them provide better care for patients, healthcare facilities want to attract and retain those experienced professionals instead of constantly trying to train and evaluate new talent. As a pharmacist you need to be equipped with the necessary skill to improve people’s health hence they form part of the team that addresses public health problems. The aging workforce is going to be a major obstacle in the healthcare industry moving forward. Flexibility. Why do you want to become a pharmacist? I have met a striking number of pharmacists who haven’t a clue if their pharmacy is actually profitable or not. Pharmacists can now hold a variety of positions that range from the development and engineering of pharmaceutical drugs, academia, consulting, private or public practices, and federal pharmacy. Pharmacy residencies allow you to apply the knowledge and skills you've learned in school to real patients, situations, and settings. Since Pharmacists are able to work in a variety of roles they are experiencing an increased demand because they can work in a larger number of healthcare settings as well. The healthcare industry is always on the leading and cutting edge when it comes to new technology. You can decide what is best for your patients and the people working under you. Because the healthcare industry is constantly changing and the responsibilities and roles of Pharmacists are also changing gradually, there is also room for the role as a Pharmacist to change moving forward. We manage the largest program for advanced clinical pharmacy training, with 159 American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) accredited programs across the VA system. Pharmacists counsel patients on dosage, possible side effects and risks associated with each medicine and sometimes make hospital rounds with other medical staff to ensure that prescriptions are being properly administered. Though money shouldn't be the main factor, this is America and it definitely helps. As a Pharmacist, you will frequently be tasked with reading charts with extensive calculations. As long as you are in the field, you should be okay. The good news, luckily for you, many pharmacists start making at least $80,000 a year entry-level, which will help you pay those loans off pretty fast — a lot faster than the Ph.D. in Social Work could. You can make quite a lot of money, in fact. These patients will come from a variety of walks of life and you will meet a host of characters. Of course, hospital pharmacist duties can extend beyond the ward too. Hospital pharmacists are a vital part of the healthcare team. As a result of these relationships and connections, you are then tasked with choosing the best medications for their ailments or conditions. That talent deficit in the healthcare industry isn’t limited to certain roles, it’s a massive talent draught everywhere — including Pharmacists. Healthcare professionals who pursue a career as a Pharmacist can expect good job prospects for the foreseeable future as healthcare organizations and hospitals try to find the best talent and keep them onboard for a long time. When I first applied for pharmacy seven years ago, I wasn't even aware that pharmacists could work in hospital. Because the demand is so high, the job security for Pharmacists is also extremely high. More to the point, there will always be a need for pharmacists for as long as pharmaceuticals are being sold to the masses (which will be forever, probably). Use this opportunity to show your knowledge of running a profitable pharmacy, how to attract customers, keep expenses low and scale the business. Hospital Pharmacy. Pharmacists improve medication adherence. Pharmacists work in numerous other healthcare environments as well, including hospitals, nursing homes, managed care organizations, the pharmaceutical industry, colleges and schools and the federal government. The science and math part of working in the Pharmacy industry is that you have to understand how the human body responds to various forms of medication. As hard as it is to predict the future of healthcare with Obamacare and changes in the medical and pharmaceutical industry, it is probably safe to say as long as there are sick people to help and money to be made, there will be Pharmacists and pharmaceuticals. Whatever your reason is for wanting to become a pharmacist, PCOM School of Pharmacy can help you meet your professional goals. Pharmacists are employed in every part of the country. As a Pharmacist, you can expect comprehensive benefits and competitive benefits that other industries or other careers can’t offer or don’t offer. You can take your time in evaluating all of the different career pathways that you’d like to pursue as a Pharmacist. As a hospital pharmacist myself, more technology is being implemented which requires the pharmacist and the pharmacy technician to spend a lot of time in front of the monitor. As we mentioned earlier, Pharmacists can pursue a variety of career pathways. If you’re looking for a career where you can directly impact patients in a positive way without having to deal with some of the gross things in the healthcare industry or individual patients, then you should consider a Pharmacy career. For those healthcare professionals that want to enter a healthcare field that doesn’t always directly involve some of the gross parts of the healthcare industry and care for patients in another direct way. That flexibility is very attractive for healthcare professionals and healthcare students because they don’t feel confined to one thing for the rest of their career. Pharmacists will be in high demand moving forward to help educate and inform the aging patients who don’t fully understand the medication, or understand the most cost-effective medication they should be on. If you’re interested in pursuing a career that is relatively stable and provides fantastic job security, and is expected to grow over the next decade, then you should become a Pharmacist. The employment projections for Pharmacists are expected to go from 297,000 in 2018 to 449,900 in 2032. If you’re looking to go to college and are interested in biology, chemistry, and advanced mathematics, a pharmacy degree may be the best option for you to consider. For instance, the healthcare industry is undergoing a digital transformation through various innovations that make caring for patients much easier, more efficient, and at a more affordable rate. For those healthcare professionals who want to be in a role that evolves and adapts and doesn’t remain stagnant should become a Pharmacist. While you will have to deal with some of the gross parts of healthcare, it isn’t the same as other things that a Physician might have to deal with. Pharmacists can now use leading technology to seek consultation from independent sources and leading experts to receive some advice on how to proceed with a particular patient or some of the ailments that they are dealing with. Really, the sky is the limit. 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