What is a pharmacist? Upon hearing the title, most people imagine someone standing in front of a counter at CVS, counting pills from dawn to dusk. This popular misconception embeds a sense of disinterest in what is actually an extremely engaging career. In reality, pharmacists can serve various roles as healthcare professionals with a strong specialization in drugs. The abundant genre of pharmacists, such as nuclear pharmacists, regulatory pharmacists, hospital pharmacists, and compounding pharmacists, allow for a career opportunity for everyone's specific interests.
Nuclear Pharmacists
Nuclear pharmacy is a specialty area of pharmacy practice that is centralized around the preparation and precise handling of radioactive materials, otherwise known as radio-pharmaceuticals. The tasks of a nuclear pharmacist include storing radioactive drugs, preparing radio-pharmaceuticals, performing functional checks of equipment used to determine radiopharmaceutical quality, and conducting laboratory testing of new radio-pharmaceuticals and compounding procedures. Common work environments for these pharmacists include nuclear pharmacies and nuclear labs. Nuclear pharmacists encourage the improvement of societal health through their safe and effective use of radioactive drugs to diagnose and treat specific diseases. To obtain this job, you would first need to earn an undergraduate degree, whether that be an associate's or a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. Afterward, you need to complete a graduate program to earn a Doctor of Pharmacy degree, also known as a Pharm. D. For the specialty of nuclear pharmacy, residency is required and you would need to complete up to 4,000 hours of experience in nuclear pharmacy.
Regulatory Pharmacists
Regulatory Pharmacists are the group of professionals that ensure drugs meet certain pharmaceutical and government regulations before they are put up on the market. These pharmacists adhere to standards of production through collaboration with pharmaceutical companies and scientists to guarantee the successful release of a drug. The duties of a regulatory pharmacist include ensuring compliance with government rules, determining drug approval requirements, and submitting documents to regulatory agencies. Through their work, regulatory pharmacists ensure superb safety, quality, and effectiveness of approved drugs which serve to improve health status. The requirements to become a regulatory affairs pharmacist include a Doctor of Pharmacy degree. Entry-level jobs may emphasize on-the-job training while higher-level jobs may require years of experience.
Hospital Pharmacists
The primary role of hospital pharmacists is to monitor the supply of medicine and fill orders for medications. Through team collaboration and in-depth knowledge of drugs, hospital pharmacists ensure that drug supply matches demand, perform quality tests on medications, and monitor drug expiration dates. Common work environments for these drug experts include hospitals, medical facilities, and nursing homes. Hospital pharmacists play a vital role in the health industry by communicating correct dosages, evaluating the risk of side effects before medications are administered, and evaluating possible drug interactions. To become a hospital pharmacist, a Doctor of Pharmacy degree is needed and the completion of a two-year residency.
Compounding Pharmacists
Compounding pharmacists are pharmacists that make specific types of medicine prescribed by doctors for patients with certain needs that can not be met by commercially available drugs. These pharmacists customize medications depending on the patient’s needs. For example, a compounding pharmacist could customize the strength or dosage of a medication, the flavor of a medication, or the form of medication. These pharmacists work in a highly controlled, safe, and sterile environment to ensure concentration on creating safe drugs for patients. To become a compounding pharmacist, a Doctor of Pharmacy degree is needed and residency is recommended, but not mandatory.
Picking a Pathway
Pharmacy is such a broad field with countless specialty areas. With such a multitude of different pharmacist types, there are many pathways to pick from, giving everyone the opportunity to pick one that is right for them. To pick the path for you, it is crucial to be aware of your personal career goals and establish why aiding patients in their recovery is worth it for you. Take how long you would be willing to spend in training into consideration. All pharmacists need a Pharm. D and to have passed two licensing examinations: the NAPLEX and MPJE, but some pathways require additional years for residency and training. Before getting overwhelmed by the plethora of pathways to choose from, keep in mind that you always have the option to move positions. The area of pharmacy you choose at the beginning of your career does not have to be the one you stick with forever.
Comments