Top 5 Careers in Pharmacy

Pharmacy is a field that has many diverse and exciting careers. Pharmacy professionals can work in hospitals, retail, or even their own pharmacies. Pharmacists also have the opportunity to specialize in areas such as research and teaching.

Most people think that a pharmacy professional just gives you your prescriptions and then sends you on your way, but that couldn’t be further from the truth! The following is a list of the top 5 careers in pharmacy.

A pharmacy technician’s job description can vary widely based on the type of facility where the tech is working. Some work in hospital pharmacy teams, others work in private or community pharmacies, and some work in private practice.

To become a pharmacy technician, you will first need to gain the right qualifications. A certification that might be necessary to be employed as a pharmacy technician in your state and there are exams you must take to get one. Often primary training will also be required in order to show you have some history with the subject and to help you prepare for the aforementioned exams. This can be acquired through a pharmacy training program and an externship. Certain pharmacies offer hands-on training, but it helps to have a decent background in pharmacy tech before attempting to work in this field.

Depending on the pharmacy, you might be required to carry out some specialist training. 

Specialists work mostly in hospital pharmacies, where their tasks tend to revolve around the clinical function of pharmacy. They are highly trained to manage medical waste and to help patients who need an extra hand.

Pharmacy technicians work with many different pharmacies, as they are the foundation for the other jobs in the pharmacy. They work with many different departments, and they may work closely with a pharmacist, other technicians, managers, and patients.

Pharmacists with the CPhS title specialize in the study of medicines and pharmacology and can diagnose diseases. The person in the role must be highly qualified and experienced, and must pass a rigorous exam.

They work closely with a range of doctors and other healthcare professionals, and they tend to work in clinical settings. Clinical pharmacy specialists work with hospitals or private entities, and they can work alone or with teams.

Drug store supervisors are store managers and vice presidents. They plan and direct the work of the pharmacies under their responsibility, and can look after the well-being of staff.

A drug store supervisor needs to have a college degree in business management. They will run the daily operations of the store, including the distribution and inventory of stock. They will also need to ensure the optimal running of the store.

They have management skills and understand the business of running a pharmacy, and they have worked with various pharmacists to get the job done right. They are relied on in a crucial role to be able to deal with the problems that come up in the pharmacy.

Clinical lab scientists work with drug-screening tests and medication analysis. They tend to work in hospitals or community pharmacies. They have a degree in the field, and may be employed by hospitals or privately.

They need to know a range of specialties, including chemistry and biology, and they will usually work alone or with a colleague. Clinical laboratory scientists provide many testing functions, such as checking how well blood counts are working.  Taking blood can also be a part of the job description, therefore finding phlebotomy training might be worth your while.

They will also handle and supervise the pharmacists at the laboratory, ensuring that the processes are carried out correctly. Clinical laboratory scientists are always asked to work in complex environments, such as acute and chronic hospitals and airports.

A medical writer creates scientific documents which typically include clinical research documents, safety pharmacologic summaries, patient care articles, new drug applications and support documents.

The job of a medical writer is to provide professional medical writing services to pharmaceutical companies or health care institutions. There are some notable characteristics of pharmacologic-based articles which the drug writer needs to have. The job requires individuals with excellent writing skills and knowledge of pharmacologic/pharmacologic-based studies.

To be eligible for a job in medical writing, a bachelor's degree is typically required in a scientific field such as biology or chemistry, and subject matter expertise.