Pharmacist

By: Kelsey Lee Block: 3

Medicines arrive pre-prepared, so

pharmacists and pharmacy technicians count them out and package them.

Pharmacists also provide information to patients and customers.

Nature Of Work

This career requires an

in-depth knowledge of chemistry, biology, and medicine.

Helpful personality traits are reliable, punctual, friendly, and supportive.

Nature Of Work

Main Duties

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• Before filling prescriptions, pharmacists check the patients’ medical histories to make sure sure that patients are not allergic to the medication and are not taking any drugs that might interfere with their new prescriptions.

• Then they tell patients how and when to take the medications and warn them of possible side effects and answer any questions they might have.

Main Duties• Their responsibility is to know all the answers,

or at least where to look them up.• If anything serious happens with medication, a

pharmacists are expected to know the problem and deal with it.

Working Conditions

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• Pharmacists that work in a hospital work 12 hour shifts. • These shifts include nights, weekends, and holidays.• Pharmacists that work in normal pharmacies work the hours that

pharmacy is open. Usually 7am-8pm.• Some may even do the 7 on 7 off shifts where they would work 7 days

and get the next 7 days off.

Earnings • Pharmacists start off as an intern first. Usually earning

anything from nothing to $22 an hour. • After completing the internship they become part-time/relief

pharmacists. They usually earn $40,000 to $45,000 a year.

After becoming a part-time pharmacist and

having experienced part-time, they could get to be a staff pharmacist. Usually earning around $60,000 to $90,000 a year.

Lastly, after several years of experience, they could become a pharmacy manager. Usually earning about $80,000 to $150,000 a year.

Earnings

I could find work in clinics or

hospitals .

Becoming a pharmacist offers excellent job security.

Over the 2011-2020 period, job openings are expected to total 13,093 and 15,097 job seekers are expected to be filling these job openings.

Employment Prospects

Employment

Prospects It is expected that the

number of job seekers will remain high enough to fill the job openings over the 2011-2020 period.

Job openings will arise especially from replacement due to retirement and from growth and expansion demand.

Education and Training Requirements

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• To become a pharmacist, you must complete a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy.

• Some universities require applicants to have completed at least 1 year of undergraduate university studies before applying, completing chemistry, biology, math, and English, or they are required to take the Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT)

Education and Training Requirements• Pharmacy programs take about 4 years to complete and

provide instruction in subjects such as drug therapy, communicating with patients, and developing and managing medication distribution systems. They may also have practices in pharmacy settings.

• Pharmacists must complete an internship before they can be licensed, and pass the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada exam.

Training

One university that I could develop the skills and knowledge required is The University Of British Columbia.

They have a bachelor of science in pharmacy degree program.

This program takes about 4 years to complete.

Another university that

could help me develop skills is Simon Fraser University.

They have a Bachelor of Science (Major or Honours in Health Sciences) Degree program.

This program also takes about 4 years.

Training

Work Experience/Volunteer Experiences/External Courses

• Surrey has an Surrey Emergency Volunteer Program.• This program could help me learn skills that I would need to

know working with patients and how to act if something unexpected happens.

• Surrey Memorial Hospital also has a volunteer program.• This volunteer program could give me the experience of

working in the hospital, with patients, and the technology.

https://

www2.careercruising.com/careers/job-description/326

http://www23.hrsdc.gc.ca/occupationsummarydetail.jsp?&tid=48

https://accesscdn.bridges.ca/choices/work/WhatTheyDo.do?id=3131100

http://www.workingincanada.gc.ca/report-eng.do?area=25565&lang=eng&noc=3131&action=final&backurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.workingincanada.gc.ca%2Foccupation_search-eng.do&ln=l&regionKeyword=Surrey%2CBritish+Columbia&s=0&source=0&titleKeyword=pharmacist#report_tabs_container2

http://www.educationplanner.ca/program/view/UBC/33362/bachelor-science-pharmacy-degree

Bibliography

I want to be a pharmacist because I get to

help others and learn about health and medicine. It incorporates all my best traits and skills. It is social and I get to educate the patients about medication they need. I am also good with numbers, which is necessary for counting medicine and such. I also get to work with a lot of other educated people that share the same interests as me. Pharmacy is definitely the career I am working towards.

 

Conclusion