Do pharmacists have to deal with all that gross doctory stuff? Like blood?

Question

I'm thinking about a career as a pharmacist, but what do they actualy do? Like at a hospital or behind the counter at Walgreens (drug store). Do they ground up stuff for pills? Or just perscribe? Or simply fill out orders?

Answer 1

Rarely does a pharmacist deal with "blood and guts." But as previously mentioned, some areas of clinical pharmacy practice does involve physical examination of patients, but it rarely involves trauma patients - although some major trauma centers and intensive care units (ICU) in hospitals employ clinical pharmacists in critical care. These are highly specialized positions and require a year's residency to work there. In other words, you'd only see blood and guts if you decided to choose that field of specialization.

Most pharmacy schools include an anatomy course that involves some use of human cadavers (dead bodies). The class is usually limited to a few weeks instead of the year long courses for medical and dental students. There's no blood, it's all been drained and replaced with formaldehyde and red and blue colored latex, like that seen in fetal pigs used for dissection in biology/zoology courses.

As far as "grinding stuff" in the traditional mortar and pestle, it is still done occassionally. There are specialty pharmacies called "compounding pharmacies" where "trituration" (the scientific term for grinding) occurs every day.

Only a few states allow pharmacists with special training to prescribe "legend" drugs (drugs that require a prescription) and the lists of drugs allowed are very limited. However, many federal gov't facilities such as military or VA centers allow pharmacists to write prescriptions, but again on a limited basis. I'm sure that as time passes pharmacists will be given more freedom in prescribing, or the FDA may create a third-class of drugs - "pharmacist only" - instead of the two-tiered system we have now - prescription only or over-the-counter (OTC). As you mentioned, the vast majority of work performed by most pharmacists involves the filling of prescription orders issued by physicians, dentists, nurse practitioners, etc.

Here's a list of some pharmacy practice areas. Please see the links below for more info, especially the Pfizer link.

Be well & good luck.

Rick the Pharmacist
U of Md Rx School - 1985

Academic Pharmacist
Chain Drug Store Pharmacist
Community Pharmacist
Compounding Pharmacist
Critical Care Pharmacist
Drug Information Specialist
Home Care Pharmacist
Hospice Pharmacist
Hospital Staff Pharmacist
Industry-Based Pharmacist
Infectious Disease Pharmacist
Long-term Care Pharmacist
Managed Care Pharmacist
Military Pharmacist
Nuclear Pharmacist
Nutrition Support Pharmacist
Oncology Pharmacist
Operating Room Pharmacist
Pediatric Pharmacist
The Pharmacist in a Grocery Chain
Pharmacy Benefit Manager
Poison Control Pharmacist
Primary Care Pharmacist
Psychiatric Pharmacist
Public Health Service Pharmacist
Regulatory Pharmacist
Veterinary Pharmacist

Answer 2

Generally, no, although I have seen some serious wounds (happens when you're open late in a small town with no after-hours medical centre, or when people can't afford a doc). But you will likely deal with vomit, urine, faeces and infected skin (again, I've seen some horrendous skin infections). In some countries pharmacists also administer vaccinations, so again, there is a chance for blood (although nothing major)! How long it will take to become a full pharmacist depends on where you are in the world, and where you intend on practising. Generally you're looking at 4-5 years of university study, and possibly an internship (where you practice under supervision of a full pharmacist) for about a year after that.

Answer 3

Pharmacist can be one of the following
- Clinical pharm
- Pharmacy dispencer
- Industrial pharm
- Sales rep
- Pharmacology
and many other things. avoid clinical pharmacy to avoid seeing blood.

Answer 4

Many work at Walgreens filling out prescriptions and giving advice about over-the-counter medications. They don't deal with blood or needles, just pills and medications

Answer 5

i dont think so