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What does being a pharmacist look like?

I think about going into pharmacy, and I want to know what being a pharmacist looks like so I can get an idea of what I’m going into. I would also like to know about the class that I will be taking in college. Any tips will help.

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Yolanda’s Answer

The field of pharmacy has changed dramatically over the years. I have been a pharmacist for over 20 years, and even though I love what I do, I would not advise the future generation to go into pharmacy. I say that because now you have to do at least 2 residencies to be competitive. Plus there are so many pharmacy schools now, that the market is overly saturated. To get a job you may have to move to the out skirts where no one wants to be. I would seriously reconsider your path. But don't take my word for it. Research the profession. Speak to other pharmacists. I would look into becoming a PA or nurse practitioner. Less time in school, better pay, and they are in demand. If you really want job security, look into the mental health profession. Hope this helps. Wish you the best.
Thank you comment icon Thank you for the advice, Yolanda. Rachael
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Erik’s Answer

There are so many paths when it comes to becoming a pharmacist! From one-on-one direct patient interaction to working behind the scenes in R&D. There may be on-the-spot clinical decision making, drug interactions, finding a better medication option based on patient factors, providing recommendations to providers and patients… and more! It really just takes researching different settings/roles of pharmacy and factoring in what you want out of your future career. I feel like as a current fourth year student, I am still finding out about new roles a pharmacist can have.
Which courses to expect can depend on the prerequisites required by the pharmacy school when applying. It can typically be science-heavy such as biology, chemistry, biochemistry, and anatomy; some math like calculus.

It may be helpful to get experience as a pharmacy technician to get a better idea of pharmacy. It can help you narrow down the type of knowledge you may need, practice settings, and if you truly enjoy it in the first place.
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Dianna’s Answer

Even though I’m a tech, there’s a lot of studying that goes into becoming a pharmacist. It might also take a lot of discipline as well. In the workplace, depending on where you work depends on if you’re taking the lead or assisting. There will be new opportunities to learn more than what is taught in school. Retail and Hospitals stick to the textbooks, while Compound Pharmacies teach you more than what you could ever imagine. It depends on you what you are willing to learn and take away from each opportunity. I hope this helps.
Thank you comment icon Thank you, this is really helpful. Rachael
Thank you comment icon You’re welcome :) Dianna Soto
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Seth’s Answer

There's a lot of possible answers to that. I've worked in retail pharmacy, hospital pharmacy, specialty pharmacy, compounding pharmacy and hospital/pharmacy informatics. I haven't worked in managed care pharmacy, nuclear pharmacy, long-term care pharmacy or mail-order pharmacy. I probably haven't worked in other specialties that I can't name at this moment. Each of them had different pros and cons, and each of them led to different amounts of job satisfaction and career possibilities.

You're in New Jersey; Rutgers has an excellent Pharmacy School. Of the pharmacy roles I've worked, I've enjoyed informatics the most, but the available roles in that field comes and goes with changes in information technology. Health care itself doesn't go out of style because it's not something subject to trends the way fashion is. People will always need health care, and as much as AI may aid health care it doesn't alter all the roles filled by humans because there is no general-purpose robot capable of working as well as a human can, doing all the things humans do.

I can answer more specific questions, but I can give you one piece of information I learned the hard way. I had never worked in Pharmacy prior to going to Pharmacy school. My classmates who had came in with more knowledge, simply from having handled meds on a regular basis. If you have other questions, feel free to ask.
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