Keshishyan1

Vardevar Keshishyan
Robinson
English 101
11/02/2016
Pharmacist Career Exploration
"What do you want to be when you grow up?" A question that pretty much every
American has heard during primary school. My answer to this when I was a child was a doctor. It
made my parents happy to hear that I aspired for such a worthy career. Also doctors have the
option to essentially work anywhere in the world and a fairly decent income. As I grew up I
realized that being a doctor was too much for me as I don't want to deal with patients on such a
personal level. I looked into other options but I felt one of my best options was to become a
pharmacist. Becoming a Pharmacist seems to be the perfect fit for me, as it has flexible work
locations, decent pay, and the satisfaction that I'm in the medical field.
Pharmacists are healthcare professionals who practice the safe and effective use of
medicine. They often work with technicians who deal with customers and fill prescriptions. The
pharmacists job is to verify that the prescriptions are accurate and that there isn't any drug
interaction that could be harmful to the patient. They also give vaccines, like the flu vaccine, to
patients. Some pharmacists also deal with children as well as adults. Pharmacies need the
pharmacist to make sure that the patient is following the law in the prescriptions they pick up. In
2011, it was projected that Americans consumed 99% of the worlds hydrocodone (Avila). This is
a scary number as it shows how dependent doctors and patients are to opioids. In a recent study,
it was shown that children who actually with their parents to pick up their medicine often receive
counseling from pharmacists and have a greater understanding of the drugs they are taking

Keshishyan 2
(Abraham). This led to the children managing their own daily medicine as opposed to the parents
having to keep track of them. Pharmacists also tend to work in either chain or private practice
pharmacies. They work every day of the year except on national holidays. Pharmacists have the
option to be "floaters," who don't have a permanent store to work for or stay at one location. The
uniform consists of a lab coat and occasionally gloves. Pharmacists also work 8+ hours, usually
without breaks.
The main reason why I chose to be a pharmacist is the pay. Salaries that range from
$85,000- $121,500 sound just amazing compared to my current salary(BLS). Another advantage
of the job is that the workplace is generally clean and always indoors. The cream of the crop to
being a pharmacist is without a doubt the satisfaction of helping people stay and feel well. A
2006 study shows that patients who receive counseling from a pharmacist often have greater
recovery as opposed to those who dont (Schnipper). The big problem that I could face with this
career path is the schooling. A bachelors degree and 3-4 years of pharmacy school are required
by every state's pharmacy board (BLS). While other disadvantages like long shifts or the
chances of a robbery do exist, I feel the pros are definitely in favor.
In all, being a pharmacist is where I see myself in 10 years. I'll hopefully have a stable
life and a happy family. With the 80k+ salary and the flexible work hours, I'll be able to provide
for my family and spend time with my family. The joy of being able to provide patients with the
medicine they need to stay alive is enough to fuel my life. Without me to give them proper
counseling they could end up being addicted or get into a fatal accident while on their medicine.
While the schooling may be tough, I'm positive that with a healthy ambition, I'll get my
pharmacy license in a few more years. With the proper schooling and adherence to the law, I'll
make a great pharmacist.

Keshishyan 3

Keshishyan 4
Works Cited
Avila, Jim, Murray, Michael. Prescription Painkiller Use at Record High for Americans. ABC
News. 20 April, 2011. Web. 11 November, 2016
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 201617Edition. Web. 11 November 2016
O. Abraham, A. Brothers, D. Alexander, D. Carpenter. Pediatric medication use experiences and
patient counseling in community pharmacies: Perspectives of children and parents, Journal of
the American Pharmacists Association, 21 April 2016. Web. 11 November 2016
Schnipper JL, Kirwin JL, Cotugno MC, Wahlstrom SA, Brown BA, Tarvin E, Kachalia A, Horng
M, Roy CL, McKean SC, Bates DW. Role of Pharmacist Counseling in Preventing Adverse Drug
Events After Hospitalization. Arch Intern Med. 2006;166(5):565-571.
doi:10.1001/archinte.166.5.565. Web. 11 November 2016