Pharmacists are everywhere, from major department chains to smaller local grocery stores. A pharmacist is a licensed medical professional responsible for compounding and dispensing medications to patients. In recent years, the scope of pharmacy practice have evolved rapidly and now involves additional roles such as providing information on drugs; reviewing medication interaction, safety and efficacy; and clinical services. They are highly regarded as experts of drugs and its usage. The pharmacist job description can be split into two main sections: hospital pharmacist job description and retail/community pharmacist job description.
Hospital Pharmacist Job Description
Hospital pharmacists are in charge of all the medications dispensed in the hospital. They are experts in the use and safety of medications. They work alongside physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals. They advise doctors in determining the best possible treatment for specific diseases and ensure that the patient understands the medication and any side effects and/or drug interactions. Hospital pharmacists may go on rounds with the attending physician to specific wards; this allows them to have direct interactions with patients. During the encounter, they are able to educate patients on medication use, side effects, and restrictions on diet and over-the-counter medications.
Community Pharmacist Job Description
A community or retail pharmacist has the same qualification as a hospital pharmacist and essentially does the same thing. They take in the prescription from the patient and follow the proper procedure in assessing the appropriateness of the medication in accordance to patient’s medical history. A pharmacy technician then assists the pharmacist in preparing the correct amount of the prescribed medication. A final check of the prescription by the community pharmacist is done once more before the drug is given back to the patient. Lastly, the most important aspect of a community pharmacist is to accurately maintain confidential records of all patients.
As a community pharmacist, customer relation is utterly important. Every patient is a customer, and every customer is a source of revenue for the pharmacy. Some community pharmacist only duties include processing invoices and maintaining balance sheets, directly contacting third-party insurance companies, and dealing with unhappy customers. Individuals pursuing a career in community pharmacies should have qualities of compassion, courtesy, and excellent interpersonal skills, which are a must in any retail business.
Difference Between Hospital and Community Pharmacist
The biggest difference between hospital and community pharmacists is that community pharmacists are more involved in the the business side of pharmacy whereas hospital pharmacists are usually more highly trained in clinical drug management. Job responsibilities of a pharmacist includes:
- Accept and dispense prescription medications
- Provide consultation on prescription and non-prescription medications for storage, dosage, side effects, and drug interactions
- Provide advices on selection of Over-The-Counter medications to treat common illnesses such as flu, cold sores, or headaches
- Educate patients on proper handling of medical devices such as blood pressure monitor and glucose meters
- Compound medications for external or internal use
- Prepare sterile solutions following proper procedures
- Monitor patient medication compliance and over-usage patterns
- Supervise pharmacy staff members including pharmacy technicians, pharmacy clerks, etc.
- Proper management of patient records and pharmacy files
- Maintain appropriate inventory on pharmaceutical and medical supplies
- Identify patient’s drug-related problems and effectively communicate with physicians and other healthcare practitioners
- Work in conjunction with physicians, nurses, other pharmacists, pharmacy interns, etc.
- Provide specialized educational programs and health promotions to help patients manage chronic health conditions such as hypertension and diabetes
How to Become a Pharmacist
To get into the pharmacy school program, you need to complete the undergraduate pharmacy prerequisites, which take a minimum of 2 to 3 years. Studies shows that most students who are in pharmacy schools have already obtained an undergraduate degree in Science. In addition, at least 2/3 of US pharmacy schools require their students to write a test before acceptance: the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT). For more information regarding the PCAT, visit American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy.
To become a pharmacist in the United States, the basic educational requirement that you would need is the Doctor of Pharmacy Degree, also known as the Pharm.D. This degree requires completion of 4 years at an accredited college of pharmacy. As of 2012, there are 129 pharmacy schools in US. Different pharmacy schools in US have different admission requirements and it is important that you review these requirements before you apply.
Pharmacist Training
There is no formal training for licensed pharmacists before they are hired to their positions. However, during the course of the 4-year pharmacy program, students are required to complete a certain percentage of their study in real practice. In fact, the fourth year of the curriculum consists almost entirely of advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPE). Students are required to enroll in both retail and hospital pharmacies under the direct supervision of a preceptor (a licensed practicing pharmacist) and gain practical experience through direct hands-on training.
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Pharmacist Certification
All pharmacists are required to have a license issued by the state pharmacy board before they can practice in both retail and hospital pharmacies. Before obtaining their license, the candidate must first complete the 2-4 years of necessary undergraduate pharmacy prerequisite courses, 4 years of accredited pharmacy school, and the required internship hours. Finally, they have to write and pass an test called the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX), and in some states, the Multi-state Pharmacy Jurisprudence Exam (MSPJE). Once the license is obtained, a pharmacist needs to renew their license every year by completing accredited continuing education classes and other requirements prescribed by the state of licensure.
Read About: Pharmacist Salary
Pharmacist Job Description Summary
- Dispense and counsel medications
- Work with pharmacy technicians
- Minimum 2-3 years undergraduate prerequisite
- 4 years pharmacy education program
- Must be licensed to practice
- 14% employment growth by 2022
i m mandeep singh, i m D-Pharmacsit, i have 3 years exp. in hospital pharmacy…my mob no.7895998207
Directly taken from the Florida Board of Pharmacy Website, here is a link as well: http://floridaspharmacy.gov/licensing/pharmacist-examination-application-for-foreign-graduates/
The requirements are as follows and can be found in Section 465.007, F.S;
In order to be licensed as a pharmacist in the State of Florida, you must apply to the Florida Board of Pharmacy, and have passing scores on the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) and the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE) (also referred to as the “Florida law exam”). The board is a participant in the NAPLEX Score Transfer Program. If you elect to transfer your NAPLEX score to Florida, the score is good for three (3) years from the date you took the examination and you will have to fulfill all other requirements for licensure in Florida which includes passing the MPJE.*If you passed the NAPLEX examination, please review the requirements for licensure by endorsement to see if you qualify by this method. If you would like to apply by endorsement, please download an endorsement application.
All foreign graduate applicants (graduates of non-Accreditation Council of Pharmacy Education (ACPE) accredited programs) must meet the following requirements to be deemed eligible to sit for the Florida Pharmacist Examination:
Meet the qualifications for licensure in Section 465.007(1)(b) and (c), F.S:
Submit satisfactory proof that the applicant is not less than 18 years of age.
Has obtained passing scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the Test of Spoken English (TSE), or the TOEFL iBT.Passing Scores:TOEFL:
213 (computer based test)
550 (paper and pencil test)TSE: 50ORTOEFL iBT:
Listening – 18
Reading – 21
Speaking – 26
Writing – 24
Has completed 2080 internship hours in a program that has been approved by the board. (Per Rule 64B16-26.2031(5), Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.) a minimum of 500 hours of 2080 hour requirement must be completed in a supervised work activity program in the State of Florida under the supervision of a pharmacist licensed by the State of Florida.)
Has obtained a passing score on the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Examination. To obtain information about this examination, please contact the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Commission (FPGEC) at 1600 Feehanville Drive, Mount Prospect, IL 60056, or call (847) 391-4406.
Foreign Graduate Activity Manual – The assignments and Affidavit of Completion (page 22) of the manual must be sent with your application if you have not already mailed this information to the board office. You will not be approved for the examination until all work assignments have been received and approved by the Board. Your preceptor must be approved prior to beginning the work activity manual.
All sections of the application must be completed in full. If an item is not applicable, indicate with N/A. N/A is not an acceptable answer for yes or no questions and could result in a delay of processing. Failure to submit a complete application will result in a processing delay. If you provide false information, the board may deny your application for licensure.
If you have been licensed in any other state, each state must submit a written verification of the current status of your license. The verification must be received directly from the state board of pharmacy, or it will not be accepted. The state board of pharmacy does not have to use the form included in this packet, they may submit their own. This information is required even if you are no longer licensed in the state.
All applicants must complete a Florida Board approved course on medication errors prior to licensure. The course shall be no less than two (2) contact hours and shall cover the subjects listed in Rule 64B16-26.103(1) (c), F.A.C. (Submit a copy of the course completion certificate to the Florida Board of Pharmacy.) Board approved courses can be found online at http://www.cebroker.com.
I am a Canadian pharmacist who is moving to Florida later this year. How do I go about doing that? Has anyone done it before and can give me some tips? Thank you.