How to become a Hospital Pharmacist
Pharmacistsdistribute prescription drugs prescribed by medical professionals to patients. They work in many environments, including hospitals. They advise and collaborate with physicians and other healthcare professionals on dosages of particular drugs, interactions of various drugs with other medications, and the side-effects of various drugs. They are very careful to do everything they can to avoid errors as the wrong medications, dosages, or dosage instructions as errors could severely harm a patient.
Pharmacy work involves a lot of standing and very little sitting or relaxing. Thinking and being cautious are continual traits that must be displayed all of the time on the job. Pharmacists can never have lapses in thinking or judgements, they must be on cue with their actions and decisions at all times to ensure patient safety, their number one priority. Having ascientific aptitude, good communication skills, and the true, innate desire to help others is also extremely important for pharmacists.
Becoming a pharmacist involves graduating from high school and then working towards and obtaining a four-year bachelor's degree in pre-pharmacy or a closely related field at an accredited college or university. While in college, it is a great idea to find work or some sort of experience as a pharmacy assistant or tech or in some sort of health care system, whether the work is paid or volunteer. The more experience a person has or the more familiar they are with a particular healthcare organization, the more likely they are to have a wide variety of employment options after successfully completing a pharmacy program.
After completing a bachelor's degree, prospective pharmacists must then go on to aspecialized pharmacy schoolwhere they intensely study pharmacology, professional ethics, public health, pharmacy laws and practices, etc. for at least two years if not longer. This schooling offers future pharmacists hands-on learning in labs and actual work settings. After graduation, pharmacists earn Pharm.D. degrees and then must take a certification exam. All states require that pharmacists apply for and receive a license from the state or states they plan to practice in.
Pharmacists who want to work in hospitals should have healthcare experience of some sort or work experience with the hospital or hospitals that they would like to work for. This is not required, but is a huge advantage when trying to land a job in a hospital pharmacy.
