Clinical Pharmacist: Career in Health Care - Essay Example

Career Review: Clinical Pharmacist Summary of the field Pharmacy is part of the wider health field that gives a link between health and chemical sciences. It deals with drugs and chemicals which are administered to the body after a prescription from medical personnel. The personnel in this field are known as Pharmacists who administer pharmaceutical drugs. It is a field which is exciting for students who excel in chemistry and aspire to do medicine but want to mix the two fields according to Jerry (2004). Pharmacists are the backbone of medicine. Job description of Clinical Pharmacists The main activity in this career is dispensing medicines to the patients that are either referred by doctors or self referred. However, their actual job description includes several medical and non-medically related duties which Strand (1990) explains. They verify medicines and chemicals that are to be used for human treatment. Pharmacists are employed by hospitals or private practitioners to test for drugs from industries which are to be used for treatment. Most of them are entrepreneurs of private practice hence do this duty themselves. Secondly, pharmacists perform pharmaceutical operations. This means they are responsible to stock the right type and quantity of specific medicines and store them in a safe manner. Amateurs may not know these drugs and technicalities involved hence pharmacist are required in these medical stores. Pharmacists have as medical consultants. They are able to specify the right drug type with the right quantity for the body’s use. Doctors and nurses rely on the pharmacists to establish the purity and relevance of the drugs that are administered to their clients. Pharmacists teach students in medical and pharmaceutical fields. They act as tutors and instructors in technical courses at some higher learning institutions. Therefore, pharmacists are part time teachers. They perform other tertiary duties such as completing forms for insurance from companies that are related to medical fraternities which Hadzovic (1997) identifies in his publication. Pharmacists give advice to clients with private clinics on the best medical equipment and supplies that ought to be purchased. Lastly, pharmacists do all managerial duties in drug stores and pharmacies on private or public capacities. Education and Certification Just like all other fields in medicine, clinical pharmacists have must have a strong scientific background which must be coupled up with mathematics and chemistry. For a complete portfolio of qualification that a person requires to be a practicing clinical pharmacist, they must possess the following: A high school certification that shows a background in chemistry and to a smaller extent, biology qualification is the basic requirement. Doctor of pharmacy (Pharm. D.) which is a graduate degree from medical school is a basic requirement for one to be employed in a reputable institution. This takes 3- 4 years in medical school of repute. The top institutions in America according to collegesurfing.com give in the state and Outstate offers for pharmacy. Public schools charge anything between $63,000 and $115,000 for the four year program while private institutions can offer up to $122,000 premium costs. However, the costs for books, registration fees and important exams are not included in the equation. Buffalo University and University of California are some of the recognized institutions for the degree. Post graduate training in pharmacy is specialty training especially for those who want to have a specific qualification such as oncology pharmacy, nuclear pharmacy, psychiatric pharmacy and others which are in their hundreds( Justin, 2009). Certifications Pharmacists must be certified by recognized boards around the areas of jurisdiction. The American Pharmacists Association (AMA) is the national body that is mandated to oversee all certifications for pharmaceuticals. The main certificate is granted by the American Board of Certified Clinical Pharmacists (BCCP). Employment for General Pharmacist Despite the specific specialties that pharmacists have, there are several places where pharmacists can give their services. Schools and institutions that offer pharmacy and pharmaceutical classes require technical specialists. Tuition fees that have been hinted above clearly give a statement of how much the salary of these specialists. Private hospitals and clinics hire most of the medical specialists especially pharmacists. This is because it is expensive and unreliable to hire freelance pharmacists. Therefore, many pharmacists start as interns in these hospitals and eventually get absorbed on permanent basis. Private practices and drugstores are the ultimate aim for majority of pharmacists. This is because of the independence and the profit margin which private pharmacist report. In a good month, an average pharmacy in America can generate $30,000- $50,000 gross in revenue as Sheridan (2013) portrays in her article. This shows that private practice in health sector is expensive yet rewarding to entrepreneurs. Government chemistry and laboratories provide another source for employment for the pharmacists. Although the government does not offer good packages as compared to the private practitioners, the aspect of job security and access to loaning facilities makes the deal worth catching. The entry level is about an annual salary bulk of $70,000 while the highest can take an annual pay of $131,000. This is a fairly good package for an employed individual according to Superscholar.org (2012). Professional Activities There are training programs that give pharmacists an edge in their work. Governmental sponsored activities as well as private courses can help in making a career of a practicing pharmacist be better and thriving. The American associations of pharmacists offer brilliant chances for networking and expanding their business. This association also gives an opportunity for internship and placement for new entrants in the field. Conclusion Pharmacy is a career than one can recommend to their children especially those with a keen interest in the sciences. This is due to the money involved, work satisfaction and a relative level of independence of the practice. The college entry fees in some colleges are very high but can easily be regained if one lands in a good job from the market. Self employment is also the key through which people in this career make it to their millions. Apart from a good reputation, the job market is lucrative both in and outside the United States. Some practitioners export their consultancy outside the country. Ultimately, a career in healthcare is worth trying because it offers an opportunity for to explore their potential to the maximum. References Hadzovic, S (1997). Pharmacy and the great contribution of Arab-Islamic science to its development. Medicine Affairs Journal 51 (1) p47–50 Jerry A. (2004). Powerful Medicines: The Benefits, Risks, and Costs of Prescription Drugs, Random House: Oslo Justin, F.(2009). Pharmacy in the 20th Century. McMillan: London Sheridan, T (2013). Top 15 Jobs by Salary and Growth Retrieved on 13 April 2013 from http://career-news.healthcallings.com/2012/04/23/top-10-jobs-by-salary-and-growth/ Strand, L. M (1990). Pharmaceutical care and patient outcomes: A note on what it is we manage. Top Hosp Pharmaceutical Management 10 (2): 77–8 Superscholar.org (2012). The 20 Best Paying Health-Care Careers Where You Don’t Need to Be a Doctor Retrieved on 13 April 2013 from http://www.superscholar.org/best-paying-jobs-health-care-not-doctor-career/ Watkins, E. S. (2009) From History of Pharmacy to Pharmaceutical History, Pharmacy in History, 51(1), p3–13 Read More