Pharmaceutical jobs
Because pharmacists are so overlooked, there is often a great demand for these types of jobs, even more so than doctors and nurses, of which there is also a shortage. Historically, pharmacists have manufactured and supplied medicines, but have increasingly been faced with other responsibilities, too.
Because of their increased role in patient care, pharmacists often get to spend a lot more time one-on-one with patients than doctors or even nurses do. Therefore, pharmacy jobs are also people oriented, sometimes to a greater extent than other medical professions are. If you are a people person, you may enjoy being a pharmacist simply because of the time you get to spend with people. And of course, you're helping people, too, since doctors and nurses may not have the time to fully explain the medications they must prescribe patients. You as a pharmacist can do that.
If you're looking for a pharmacy jobs, make no mistake that even though these are jobs that rarely get glamour or recognition, they are still very important. Pharmacists are responsible for medicine supply logistics and dispensation.
While historically, pharmacist simply supplied medicines, today, they are focusing much more on patient care because of the intense patient load doctors and nurses must undertake. For example, in the management of HIV and AIDS, protocols are often complicated and complex, and patients must adhere to a strict regimen of a precise mix of pills and liquids to control their disease. In addition, these protocols may change often as the disease progresses.
Counseling
Pharmacist jobs also include quite a bit of one-on-one counseling with patients and customers. Customers may be under significant stress either because of their own illness or because a caretaker is having to deal with the illness of a loved one and needs his or her hand held, in addition to the medical information you can dispense. Truly, your involvement can mean the difference between a patient "just getting along" and truly thriving in spite of illness. Therefore, pharmacist jobs also directly impact patients' quality of life, not just the control of their disease.
Choosing pharmaceutical jobs
If you decide you want to be a pharmacist, you may decide that you want to specialize in patient centered care, such as that we think of when we think of a traditional pharmacist, or you may want to work with a team of doctors and nurses in clinical pharmacy work, such as assessing patients and then making specific therapeutic recommendations along with your team. This type of work moves more into the sector of what used to be considered the duties of doctors and nurses, but has shifted because of increasing pressures on the healthcare system.
Make no mistake that in spite of their relative invisibility in the healthcare industry, pharmacy jobs are much needed; this is a sector you may want to get into if you're looking for a career in the healthcare industry that's truly unique.
