Who is a Pharmacist: Key Responsibilities, Skills and Salary

• Who is a Pharmacist?
• Key Job Responsibilities of a Pharmacist
• Required Qualification/Education
• What makes you qualified for this job?
• Top Companies/Organizations Hiring a Pharmacist
• Pharmacist Salary Statistics

Who is a Pharmacist?

A pharmacist is a healthcare professional who has the job of preparing and dispensing medications that are specifically required to treat illnesses and improve patients’ quality of life. He is a healthcare professional who has specialized in the usage and administration of medication. This professional has to dispense prescriptions to patients as soon as they receive a physician’s orders. Pharmacists are usually experts and have great knowledge of how drugs work and interact with the human body.

If you wish to become a pharmacist then know that it is a lucrative and fulfilling career. Even though most people think that only doctors and nurses are on the front lines of healthcare. But in reality, a pharmacist is just as important for helping people fight illness and other health concerns. Pharmacists have great know-how of the science of medicine inside out. And they can make sure that their patients get the correct dosages of life-saving prescriptions. One mistake by a pharmacist can cost patients their life so yes, they have to be very careful while giving out dosages written on the prescription.

In this article, we shall talk about the key responsibilities, educational requirements, skills required, and other relevant details of a pharmacist.

Key Responsibilities of a Pharmacist

As a pharmacist, there are many tasks on the table which has to be done carefully. But the main task of a pharmacist will always be filling prescriptions for patients. With that, there are other tasks included as well;

• Reviews and executes the physician’s prescriptions and checks the legality as well.
• Maintains full control over delivering, stocking, and labeling medicine and other relevant products.
• Organizes the pharmacy in the best possible manner and arranges the medicines in a way that makes the identification of products not only easier but faster.
• Makes sure that in stock medicines are not expired or close to expiry.
• Monitors the condition of the medicines and prevent them from deteriorating.
• Offers assistance and other medical services like giving injections, taking blood pressure or temperature measurement, etc.
• Prepares medicine using the correct dosages and materials for each patient.
• Complies with all applicable legal rules and regulations/procedures.
• Maintains patient history and all the other activities regarding heavy medication.
• Keeps abreast of advancements in medicine by attending any relevant conferences or seminars and collaborating with other healthcare professionals.
• A pharmacist should be patient enough to listen to the customers carefully, interpret their needs and issues, and offer information and advice afterward.
• Stays updated as any doctor or nurse should and that is why we don’t consider this job any less different from a doctor or nurse.

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Required Qualification/Education

• To become a pharmacist, you first need to attend a four-year institution and major in a relevant field like biology or medicinal chemistry.
• Then you need to take the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT).
• Next, you have to apply to a pharmacy school to earn a doctoral degree (PHARM D).

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What makes you qualified for this job?

To perform well at your job place, there are some skills that one needs to develop.

• A thorough understanding of dosage administration and measurement is required.
• Good know how of chemical compounds and medical brands.
• Excellent communication skills are required along with a customer-oriented approach.
• A Pharmacist should work with integrity and compassion.
• Attention to details and accuracy.
• Critical thinking skills are also important to possess.
• Time management and multitasking skills.

In-demand Certifications:

Below we have listed some of the available certifications for you to consider;

• The North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination® (NAPLEX®)
• Certified Specialty Pharmacist (CSP)

Top Companies/Organizations Hiring Pharmacist

You should know that a career in pharmacy is a great choice and another way to put a passion for science into practice. This is the kind of career that can help you make a difference in people’s lives. Just like surgeons or nurses, a pharmacist is as important as any other medical personnel and therefore the majority of pharmacists can easily earn six-figure incomes. In other words, it is a kind of job that has a low-stress level and offers a good work-life balance.

Top companies like Costco Wholesale, Kaiser Permanente, Kroger, Walmart, Rite Aid, Express Scripts, Publix, and many others actively hire Pharmacists who have great skills and show passion.

Pharmacists can work in industries like hospital pharmacies, industrial pharmacies, military pharmacies, health and professional care stores, general medical and surgical hospitals, food and beverage stores, and many others.

Therefore, working as a Pharmacist is a great career choice and should be pursued by all those who wish to become a part of the medical industry.

Pharmacist Salary Statistics

This section contains salary details of a pharmacist working in different major countries including America, Canada, England, Australia, and India.

USA:

The average annual salary of a Pharmacist working in the United States is around $129,411.

Canada:

Working in Canada as a pharmacist can help you make an average annual salary of CA$111,782.

UK:

In England, an individual working as a Pharmacist can easily make an average annual salary of £48,104.

India:

Working as a Pharmacist in India can help you earn an average monthly salary of ₹61,800.

Australia:

If you are working in Australia as a Pharmacist then you can expect to make an average annual salary of A$85,000.

References/Sources:

• https://www.glassdoor.com/
• https://www.indeed.com/
• https://www.seek.com.au/
• Please note that mentioned salary stats are as of June, 2023.

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