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Maya C. Knight

Ms. Pace

English III

08 October 2013

Career: Pharmacist

There are a great number of factors that can go into choosing a career path. For some individuals the decision is already laid out for them in the form of a several generation old family business or by way of some unbelievable talent that simply cannot be ignored. For others, choosing a career path is a much more difficult and time consuming process that can feel overwhelming or even downright frightening. When choosing a career in Pharmacist, one needs to carefully consider the various aspects of that career.

Although a pharmacist’s primary responsibility is to assist patients with their prescription drug, needs, they also perform many other duties and responsibilities daily. Pharmacists must serve patients and the community by providing information and advice on health administration, medications, and referring patients when necessary to other healthcare professionals. Pharmacist must fill prescriptions, check drug interactions, and review all medications with patients. They must also check with patients to find out what other medications they are taking. In addition to standard treatments patients look to pharmacist for detailed information on prescriptions, side effects, if you're allergic or not, and most of all to verify the correct information on the drug. By offering consultation services for the management of complex diseases, such as diabetes, or give general advice on diet and exercise. Pharmacist also educate other health care professionals such

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as physicians or nurses about pharmacology related issues or medication management. Pharmacist have the unique knowledge, expertise, and responsibility to assume a significant role in medical information, responding, and reconciling medication related events and information.

Salary for pharmacist vary according to location years of experience and speciality. The average salary for pharmacist is between 81,000 and over 1113,000 a year. That is higher than most careers including nurse, teachers and social workers. You might even start out earning more than your high school principal. Pharmacists don't earn as much as physicians, the bureau of labor statistics reported in 2011 that their average income was 112,160 , and that the highest paid 10% earned 144,090 per year or more. General Merchandise store pharmacist pay 118,630. Health and personal care stores pay an annual wage of 114,040. Hospitals pay an annual wage of 110,810. Grocery stores pay 108,890. Pharmacy is one of the most financially rewarding careers. !!!!!

To become a pharmacist it requires up to eight years of formal schooling, sometimes followed by a clinical residency or fellowship. High School Students must have taken geometry, algebra and calculus. Science classes in biology, chemistry and physics. Approximately 25 percent of pharmacy students time is spent training in supervised practices, assisting in retail or hospital pharmacies under the eye of an experience colleagues. Graduates must pass two state licensing exams before beginning to practice. At a minimum , this consist of two to three years focused course work; and many schools require a full bachelors degree. Pharmacy is a science oriented profession. Some other requirements are physics, chemistry, biology, and advanced mathematics. Advanced Training is required. Some pharmacist go on to complete a 1-2 year

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residency in an area of advanced practice, such as psychopharmacology. Pharmacist continuing education opportunities not only because they are required to in order to maintain their licenses, but because they have to train for new developments in the industry. !!!!