Job Outlook -Employment of pharmacists is expected to increase by 25 percent from 2010 to 2020, faster than the average for all occupations
Work Environment-Pharmacists work in pharmacies, including those in grocery and drug stores. They also work in hospitals and clinics. harmacists work in numerous healthcare environments, including hospitals, nursing homes, managed care organizations, the pharmaceutical industry, colleges and schools and the federal government.
Flexible Working Schedules- The truth be told, there are not many other jobs out there that offers attractive working schedules. As a pharmacist, you are in control of your work schedule. You can choose from a myriad of working times. For most pharmacists with a family, they tend to opt for the regular 9AM to 5PM jobs in grocery chains and retail stores. For others, a 7 on and 7 off schedule may better suit them. This works by having the pharmacist work 7 days straight usually for a 12 hour shift. After 7 days of work, the pharmacist gets to either rest for the next 7 days or he or she can choose to work more hours for other companies.
2) Great Working Salary
Depending on the location and need of pharmacists in the region, generally they can make anywhere from $75,000 to $150,000 per year. This is a lot of money considering the fact that you do not need to go through all of the training to become a pharmacist compared to a medical doctor's journey.
3) You will always have a job
As of this writing, the demand for pharmacist is much more than the supply. There is a current pharmacist shortage in most areas of the U.S. So therefore, pharmacists are currently enjoying a period of mobility, stability and flexibility as they practice their profession.
4) You will have great benefits
In order to attract new graduating pharmacist, most companies offer lucrative and enticing retirement and health benefits. These include attractive 401k plan packages, medical insurance coverage and even paid vacations to places like Hawaii and Alaska.
5) You can still be involve in healthcare and help people
Many students are interested in healthcare but feel that they are limited to either becoming a doctor or nurse. Well, as a pharmacist you are still involved in a patient's life. Pharmacists are not just people with a bright white lab-coat, who just "Count, Pour, Lick and Stick" all day. Rather than this, pharmacists are the intermediary between the doctor and patient. They consult the patients on their medications, contact doctors when there is a drug-drug or drug-food interactions, contact insurance companies to ensure proper billing and they do many more things to save people's lives all day long..
6) You do not have to deal with bodily fluids
Pharmacists are known to work in a nice clean environment. They usually do not deal with blood or other nasty bodily fluids coming out of the patient's system.
7) You will enjoy the dynamicity of this profession
Pharmacist can work anywhere from the corner drug store to research to working with doctors and nurses in the hospital. There are many career opportunities for the pharmacists to pursue. These include (but not limited to) careers in community pharmacy, clinical pharmacy, research, managed care, drug utilization review, academic professor, pharmaceutical representatives, and even CEO of a major Fortune 500 company.
When I began practicing pharmacy 16 years ago, I have to admit that it was not a love-at-first sight encounter. However, as with all experiences worth having, time proved a key factor in defining and reshaping my perspective.
I entered into pharmacy because I had a good head for science and wanted a fast paycheck—“0-$60,000 in five years” was the catch phrase on an old Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science fundraiser T-shirt. (It will always be PCPS to me.) IEven though I did my job well, I had no love for the profession itself.
Then something happened: my father became terminally ill, and I became a caregiver. I suddenly realized that I was dealing with a lot of sickness and pain on the other side of the counter.
I meet needs wherever I see them, especially if doing so will make someone’s life a little easier. I’ll stop checking prescriptions (unless there is a real emergency on my hands) and take you to them myself. You’re running late from a hospital discharge, and you need medications for you or your loved one? I’ll stay open past closing time and wait for you to arrive.
Now, a little older and a great deal wiser, I love being a community pharmacist—especially the “community” aspect of it. A positive approach has paid dividends that go beyond a paycheck. I walked into the grocery store one day and, as per usual, I met one of my patients. After a quick chat, I went on my way to shop. “That’s my pharmacist!” said the man to his girlfriend in a tone of pure pride. Tears welled up in my eyes.
Answered By: Freefromdrama - 5/30/2012 |