A Presentation by Kayla Kian

Pharmacist
A pharmacist dispenses medication to patients and offer
expertise in the safe use of prescriptions.
Pharmacists dispense medications prescribed by physicians
and other health practitioners and monitor patient health.
They advise physicians and other health practitioners on the
selection, dosages, interactions and side effects of
medications.
Pharmacists must understand the use, clinical effects and
composition of drugs, including their chemical, biological and
physical properties. Pharmacists are the medication
experts. They protect the public by ensuring drug purity and
strength.
The goal of pharmacy care is to maximize positive health care
outcomes and improve patients' quality of life with minimum
risk. Most pharmacists work in a community setting, such as a
retail drug store, or in a hospital or clinic.

What do pharmacists do?
Fill prescriptions, verifying instructions from physicians on the proper
amounts of medication to give to patients
Check whether the prescription will interact negatively with other drugs
that a patient is taking or any medical conditions the patient has
Instruct patients on how and when to take a prescribed medicine and
inform them about potential side effects they may experience from
taking the medicine
Advise patients about general health topics, such as diet, exercise, and
managing stress, and on other issues, such as what equipment or
supplies would be best to treat a health problem
Give flu shots and, in most states, other vaccinations
Complete insurance forms and work with insurance companies to ensure
that patients get the medicines they need
Oversee the work of pharmacy technicians and pharmacists in training
(interns)
Keep records and do other administrative tasks
Teach other healthcare practitioners about proper medication therapies
for patients

Responsibilities and duties
A Bachelor of Science degree (BS) from a four year institution to
apply to pharmacy school.
At least two years of pre-pharmacy coursework during this time
including anatomy, biology, calculus, chemistry, physics, and
sociology.
Take the PCAT (Pharmacy College Admission Test) this test is
created and designed to be used in the admissions process for
pharmacy schools. It measures both overall academic activity and
scientific knowledge.
Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree from an accredited pharmacy
school. These programs usually takes four years to complete. Study
subjects include pharmacology and medical ethics.
To get licensed its required to have a license to practice pharmacy in
the U.S. Pass the NAPLEX (North American Pharmacist Licensure
Examination) and take the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Exam
(MPJE) for most states.
Some pharmacists who own their own pharmacy may choose to get a
masters degree in business administration (MBA) in addition to their
Doctor of Pharmacy degree. Others may get a degree in public health



Analytical skills. provide safe medications
efficiently. To do this, they must be able to
evaluate a patients needs, the prescribers orders,
and have extensive knowledge about the effects
and appropriate circumstances for giving out a
specific medication.
Communication skills. frequently offer advice to
patients. They might need to explain how to take
a medicine and what its side effects are. They also
need to offer clear direction to pharmacy
technicians and interns.
Computer skills. need computer skills to use any
electronic health record (EHR) systems that their
organization has adopted.
Detail oriented. responsible for ensuring the
accuracy of the prescriptions they fill, because
improper use of medication can pose serious
health risks. Be able to find the information that
they need to make decisions about what
medications are appropriate for each patient.
Managerial skills. Pharmacistsparticularly
those who run a retail pharmacymust have
good managerial skills, including managing
inventory and overseeing a staff.

Important Qualities
Most full-time salaried pharmacists worked about
43 hours a week. Some, including many self-
employed pharmacists, worked more than 50
hours a week. Part time.
The median annual salary for a pharmacist was
$116,670, or $56.09 per hour, in 2012. The best-
paid 10 percent made $145,910 in 2012, while the
lowest-paid made $89,280. The best-compensated
pharmacists are employed in the pharmaceutical
and medicine manufacturing industry.

Salary
Each state has different requirements but for Texas they have to be
at least 18 years of age and have a Pharm.D. degree from a Board
approved, ACPE Accredited College (pdf) of pharmacy program, or
have graduated from a college of pharmacy program outside the
U.S. and have obtained full certification from the Foreign
Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Committee (FPGEC); take and
pass both the NAPLEX and MPJE (minimum of 75); and have
completed 1500 hours of Board approved internship.
The examinations are administered by the National Association of
Board's of Pharmacy (NABP).
Texas examination applicants must pass the NAPLEX (North
American Pharmacist Examination) and the MultiState Pharmacy
Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE) for Texas.
Apply to Texas State Board of Pharmacy (TSBP) for License by
Examination by submitting the application and fee online. This
application may be submitted as early as 6-months prior to the
expected graduation date.
Apply to NABP to take the MPJE and NAPLEX by submitting the
application and examination fees online. This application may be
completed preferably during the first week of the expected
graduation month.


Eligibility required
What is the publics opinion or view of this
career/occupation?
I think people view pharmacy as an easy and
irrelevant thing and sometimes as un honest drug
dealers. They do deal drugs but safely and they
had to get a degree to do this but its very
important and takes lots of hard work, passion ,
determination, and honesty.
What was your opinion or view of this
career/occupation before your research?
I knew being a pharmacist was difficult
because my cousin is a pharmacist and I
admire her so much after seeing all the work
and effort she put in and the happiness she
gets out of it. She plays a vital role in patients
lives. Before my research this career was on
my top list of majors that I want to pursue.
Now that you have had a chance to research this
career/occupation has this knowledge changed
your views or thoughts about making this your
career/occupation?
I have enhanced my passion for this career and
heightened my awareness of how lovely it would
be to do this because I love biology and chemicals
and making medicines and drugs. The idea sounds
fun and I would love to try something new that I
haven't done before. I'm an honest and
trustworthy person and I think thats vital so they
know I wouldnt abuse my right by stealing the
medicines/drugs or distributing them illegally.