I verify all prescriptions that were typed in and filled by the technicians. I have to deal with multiple compliance, management, or clinical situations throughout the day. I counsel all patients who pick up new prescriptions or who have any questions. I coordinate patient care between doctors, nurses, recovery coaches, and patient assistance coordinators. I try to make many people happy and try to please a lot of conflicting interests at once.
CAREER
Pharmacists
Overview
Salary Median (2020)
$128,570
Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)
+2.4% (slower than the average)
Career
Roadtrip Nation Leaders in This Career
What Pharmacists Do
Dispense drugs prescribed by physicians and other health practitioners and provide information to patients about medications and their use. May advise physicians and other health practitioners on the selection, dosage, interactions, and side effects of medications.
Other Job Titles Pharmacists May Have
Clinical Pharmacist, Hospital Pharmacist, Pharm D (Pharmacy Doctor), Pharmacist in Charge (PIC)
How Leaders Describe a Typical Day at Work
Tasks & Responsibilities May Include
- Review prescriptions to assure accuracy, to ascertain the needed ingredients, and to evaluate their suitability.
- Assess the identity, strength, or purity of medications.
- Provide information and advice regarding drug interactions, side effects, dosage, and proper medication storage.
- Analyze prescribing trends to monitor patient compliance and to prevent excessive usage or harmful interactions.
- Maintain records, such as pharmacy files, patient profiles, charge system files, inventories, control records for radioactive nuclei, or registries of poisons, narcotics, or controlled drugs.
Education
Level of Education Attained by Pharmacists
Most common level of education among people in
this career: Doctoral degree (78%)
Doctoral degree
Bachelor's degree
Post-doctoral training
Majors Related to Career
Educational Paths Suggested by Leaders
Suggested Path
Bachelor
English writing
Doctorate
Doctor of Pharmacy
Additional Skills & Experiences That Can Help You Excel
To be successful as a pharmacist and/or manager, you need to be very detailed-oriented. You have to be able to problem-solve and think on your feet. You have to be able to trust yourself. You have to work independently and in a team all at once. Working well with others and being kind and courteous are pretty essential. You also have to be flexible, but confident in your professional decisions. You have to be able to work quickly and carefully all at once.
Getting Started
Recommended First Step for:
High School Students
I would recommend getting a job as a pharmacy tech first to make sure pharmacy is something you’re truly interested in. A lot of people think they’ll like it but end up hating it. Enroll in a college (doesn’t matter if it’s community) and take your pre-requisites. Do the best you can in school. Volunteer and do some extracurricular activities. Doing well in school ensures you will get accepted to the pharmacy school of your choice.
This page includes information from theO*NET 26.1 Databaseby the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under theCC BY 4.0license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
