| When people think of the role of a Pharmacist, | | | | medications. They can provide assistance with |
| they normally think of a person whose job is filling | | | | community service organizations that help in-home |
| prescriptions. Filling prescriptions is one function of | | | | patients get their required medications and medical |
| a pharmacist, but there are many more | | | | information. They also assist physicians with drug |
| pharmacist career options available. | | | | information and dosages. |
| A pharmacist is a trained and educated health | | | | Retail Pharmacy: The retail pharmacy is the |
| expert in the field of pharmacy. Pharmacists can | | | | general pharmacy that dispenses prescribed |
| not only be found working in Pharmacies, but also | | | | medications to the public. They also sell drugs to |
| in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, home health | | | | physicians. They are knowledgeable about both |
| centers, pharmaceutical research institutions, | | | | prescription and non prescription drugs. There are |
| educational institutions, community organizations, | | | | many retail pharmacy chains. As well, pharmacists |
| and government agencies. | | | | can own and manage their own retail pharmacy. |
| The following is a list of medical areas where | | | | Compounding Pharmacy: Compounding is the |
| Pharmacists can be found working: | | | | mixing of drugs by a pharmacist to fit the unique |
| Hospitals: In a hospital, pharmacists assist doctors | | | | needs of a patient. Compounding is performed |
| with the constitution, dosage, and effects and side | | | | when a patient is unable to take a particular |
| effects of specific medications for patients. They | | | | medication or dosage strength in the traditional |
| also educate patients about the medications that | | | | manufactured manner. For instance, if a person is |
| they are taking. Pharmacists are basically a part | | | | unable to swallow, a drug will be modified to be |
| of the hospital health care team. | | | | taken another way such as through injection. In |
| Pharmaceutical Industry: In the pharmaceutical | | | | research, compounding pharmacists develop and |
| field, pharmacists will study and report on the | | | | test pharmaceutical formulations for new drugs so |
| efficacy of drugs to help determine what drugs | | | | that the active ingredients are effective, stable, |
| are safe for patients. They can also be involved | | | | and easy to take by the patient. |
| with the marketing of drugs where they work on | | | | Pharmacy is the third largest health profession in |
| behalf of a drug manufacturing company to | | | | the US. It is often described as the skill of |
| promote and sell their drug products to clinics, | | | | researching, manufacturing, and the authorization |
| hospitals, etc. | | | | and dispensing of various drugs and medications. |
| Teaching: A pharmacist can be found teaching in a | | | | Pharmacists are an essential part of the health |
| medical or pharmacy school. They will require a | | | | care industry and play a fundamental role in |
| post graduate degree and experience working in | | | | providing patients with the best possible health |
| the pharmacy field. | | | | care. There are many options available with a |
| Community Pharmacy: A pharmacist can be found | | | | career in pharmacy. It is a very lucrative and |
| working in a community pharmacy which is a | | | | rewarding career that is in great demand. A |
| privately owned pharmacy that helps patients by | | | | career as a pharmacist is a great choice for those |
| dispensing both prescribed and non prescribed | | | | who enjoy science and helping people. |