Jane Fern's Pharmacists Guide
Monday, October 12, 2009
Considering a Career As a Pharmacist
By Amy Nutt
A pharmacist is a professional responsible for dispensing medications and handling prescriptions. The role of the pharmacist is as important as that of any other medical professional. The relationship that pharmacist's share with their patients is an important part of the care-giving circle. That relationship ensures that patients take their medications as prescribed so they may enjoy healthy lives.
The pharmacist of an age ago was seen as an individual who donned a white coat, dispensed root beer floats, and Coca-Cola at the same rate in which they prepared prescription orders. The days of the pharmacist and the soda jerk are gone but the pharmacist maintains their standing as the individual responsible for maintaining the well-being of a doctor's patients.
To become a pharmacist, an individual must attend a 4-year baccalaureate program and complete a set of additional requisites to in order to receive their Doctorate in Pharmacology or PharmD degree. An individual who desires to become a pharmacist must be strong in science and math as a lot of their certification is based on a study of chemistry, pharmacology, anatomy and physiology. Although pharmacists do not operate on patients, they must have an understanding about how the body works and the basic chemical make-up of the human body.
Pharmacists are board certified practitioners who must pass a rigorous licensing examination in order to be able to practice. Once these requirements have been met, a pharmacist begins practicing their profession. Pharmacists are licensed by the state in which they do business, but are subject to both state and federal laws with respect to the dispensing medication.
Pharmacists are employed by hospitals, retail chains and pharmacy stores or work as consultants on policy regarding prescription medicines. It is the role of the pharmacist to understand the make-up of the human body and the chemical interaction between certain drugs and the body. This understanding may be the difference between life and death in certain circumstances.
A pharmacist earns a little more than $100,000 a year in salary. When you consider that, the pharmacist does not complete quiet as much training as a medical doctor that number translates into a heath amount. The trade-off is the amount of scrutiny and oversight that a pharmacist faces, from state officials up to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and Food & Drug Administration (FDA).
If you are planning a career as a pharmacist, you should spend some time at your local pharmacy and get a feel for the type of work that goes on from day to day. If you are old enough, you may consider a summer position in the pharmacy as a way to gain a first-had perspective. You should also take care to make sure that your chemistry and mathematical skills are very good.
The field of pharmacology is growing as the baby boomer population ages, requiring an urgent need for additional trained professional pharmacologists. This need promises a good paying career that comes with the added benefit of being part of the community.
Staffing agency offering full time and part time pharmacy jobs. Visit us to learn more about the wide range of pharmacist jobs opportunities.
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Amy_Nutt
A pharmacist is a professional responsible for dispensing medications and handling prescriptions. The role of the pharmacist is as important as that of any other medical professional. The relationship that pharmacist's share with their patients is an important part of the care-giving circle. That relationship ensures that patients take their medications as prescribed so they may enjoy healthy lives.
The pharmacist of an age ago was seen as an individual who donned a white coat, dispensed root beer floats, and Coca-Cola at the same rate in which they prepared prescription orders. The days of the pharmacist and the soda jerk are gone but the pharmacist maintains their standing as the individual responsible for maintaining the well-being of a doctor's patients.
To become a pharmacist, an individual must attend a 4-year baccalaureate program and complete a set of additional requisites to in order to receive their Doctorate in Pharmacology or PharmD degree. An individual who desires to become a pharmacist must be strong in science and math as a lot of their certification is based on a study of chemistry, pharmacology, anatomy and physiology. Although pharmacists do not operate on patients, they must have an understanding about how the body works and the basic chemical make-up of the human body.
Pharmacists are board certified practitioners who must pass a rigorous licensing examination in order to be able to practice. Once these requirements have been met, a pharmacist begins practicing their profession. Pharmacists are licensed by the state in which they do business, but are subject to both state and federal laws with respect to the dispensing medication.
Pharmacists are employed by hospitals, retail chains and pharmacy stores or work as consultants on policy regarding prescription medicines. It is the role of the pharmacist to understand the make-up of the human body and the chemical interaction between certain drugs and the body. This understanding may be the difference between life and death in certain circumstances.
A pharmacist earns a little more than $100,000 a year in salary. When you consider that, the pharmacist does not complete quiet as much training as a medical doctor that number translates into a heath amount. The trade-off is the amount of scrutiny and oversight that a pharmacist faces, from state officials up to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and Food & Drug Administration (FDA).
If you are planning a career as a pharmacist, you should spend some time at your local pharmacy and get a feel for the type of work that goes on from day to day. If you are old enough, you may consider a summer position in the pharmacy as a way to gain a first-had perspective. You should also take care to make sure that your chemistry and mathematical skills are very good.
The field of pharmacology is growing as the baby boomer population ages, requiring an urgent need for additional trained professional pharmacologists. This need promises a good paying career that comes with the added benefit of being part of the community.
Staffing agency offering full time and part time pharmacy jobs. Visit us to learn more about the wide range of pharmacist jobs opportunities.
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Amy_Nutt
Labels: clinical pharmacy, pharmacist, pharmacists, pharmacology
Monday, October 5, 2009
Clinical Pharmacy
Clinical pharmacy is the branch of Pharmacy where pharmacists provide patient care that optimizes the use of medication and promotes health, wellness and disease prevention. Clinical pharmacists care for patients in all health care settings but the clinical pharmacy movement initially began inside hospitals and clinics. Clinical pharmacists often collaborate with physicians and other healthcare professionals.
Clinical pharmacists have extensive education in the biomedical, pharmaceutical, sociobehavioral and clinical sciences. Most clinical pharmacists have a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree and many have completed one or more years of post-graduate training (e.g. a general and/or specialty pharmacy residency). Many clinical pharmacists also choose to become Board Certified through the Board of Pharmaceutical Specialties (BPS) which was organized in 1976 as an independent certification agency of APhA (American Pharmacists Association). A pharmacist may become a Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist (BCPS), a Board Certified Oncology Pharmacist (BCOP), Board Certified Nuclear Pharmacist (BCNP), Board Certified Nutrition Support Pharmacist (BCNSP), or a Board Certified Psychiatric Pharmacist (BCPP) through the Board of Pharmaceutical Specialities (BPS). There are also subspecialties within the Pharmacotherapy specialty: Cardiology and Infectious Disease. It is denoted as an "Added Qualification" or AQ. In order to obtain one of these specialties you must first be a Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist and then submit a portfolio to the Board of Pharmaceutical Specialties for review to determine if they will grant you the added qualifications.
Within the system of health care, clinical pharmacists are experts in the therapeutic use of medications. They routinely provide medication therapy evaluations and recommendations to patients and other health care professionals. Clinical pharmacists are a primary source of scientifically valid information and advice regarding the safe, appropriate, and cost-effective use of medications.
A more appropriate definition for clinical pharmacy is, "Clinical pharmacy is the branch of pharmacy which deals with various aspect of patient care, dispensing of drugs and advising patient on the safe and rational use of drug." In some states, clinical pharmacists are given prescriptive authority.
Basic components of clinical pharmacy practice:
1. Prescribing drugs
2. Dispensing and administering drugs
3. Documenting professional services
4. Reviewing drug use
5. Communication
6. Counseling
7. Consulting
Scope of clinical pharmacy:
Drug Distribution Systems
Drug Information
Drug Utilization
Drug Evaluation and Selection
Medication Therapy Management
Formal Education and Training Program
Disease State Management
Miscellaneous:Application of Electronic Data Processing(EDP).
Source: Wikipedia
Clinical pharmacists have extensive education in the biomedical, pharmaceutical, sociobehavioral and clinical sciences. Most clinical pharmacists have a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree and many have completed one or more years of post-graduate training (e.g. a general and/or specialty pharmacy residency). Many clinical pharmacists also choose to become Board Certified through the Board of Pharmaceutical Specialties (BPS) which was organized in 1976 as an independent certification agency of APhA (American Pharmacists Association). A pharmacist may become a Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist (BCPS), a Board Certified Oncology Pharmacist (BCOP), Board Certified Nuclear Pharmacist (BCNP), Board Certified Nutrition Support Pharmacist (BCNSP), or a Board Certified Psychiatric Pharmacist (BCPP) through the Board of Pharmaceutical Specialities (BPS). There are also subspecialties within the Pharmacotherapy specialty: Cardiology and Infectious Disease. It is denoted as an "Added Qualification" or AQ. In order to obtain one of these specialties you must first be a Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist and then submit a portfolio to the Board of Pharmaceutical Specialties for review to determine if they will grant you the added qualifications.
Within the system of health care, clinical pharmacists are experts in the therapeutic use of medications. They routinely provide medication therapy evaluations and recommendations to patients and other health care professionals. Clinical pharmacists are a primary source of scientifically valid information and advice regarding the safe, appropriate, and cost-effective use of medications.
A more appropriate definition for clinical pharmacy is, "Clinical pharmacy is the branch of pharmacy which deals with various aspect of patient care, dispensing of drugs and advising patient on the safe and rational use of drug." In some states, clinical pharmacists are given prescriptive authority.
Basic components of clinical pharmacy practice:
1. Prescribing drugs
2. Dispensing and administering drugs
3. Documenting professional services
4. Reviewing drug use
5. Communication
6. Counseling
7. Consulting
Scope of clinical pharmacy:
Drug Distribution Systems
Drug Information
Drug Utilization
Drug Evaluation and Selection
Medication Therapy Management
Formal Education and Training Program
Disease State Management
Miscellaneous:Application of Electronic Data Processing(EDP).
Source: Wikipedia
Labels: clinical pharmacy, pharmacy
