What does a pharmacist do all day?

Question

Hi. I would like to know what a pharmacist would do during his or her work hours. Do they mix the chemicals needed for the drug all day behind the counters of a drug store? Or do they just hand our the prescriptions?

Answer 1

Commuinity pharmacists manage the pharmacy that distributes drugs to patients. They counselthe patients about how to use the drugs and answer questions about the drugs. They surpervise the stocks of drugs to be sure that they have all the proper drugs and that they are up to date. Often they consult with physicians about the drugs that the patients have been prescribed.

Hospital pharmacists do the same, except they are like to have to handle much more powerful drugs that are being used with acutely sick patients. They supervise the preparation of all kinds of specially prepared drugs and liquids used for IVs and radioactive materials used in nuclear medicine.

Clinical pharmacists spent most of their time consulting with physicians about patients who are extremely sick with multiple diseases that require the use of several drugs at once. The physicians often do not have a very good understanding of how the drugs will interact, so they talk it over with the clinical pharmacist before they make their decisions. One pharmacist I know spends her entire work day in team meetings with doctors reviewing how the intensive care patients are being treated.

Some pharmacists work for drug companies discovering and testing new drugs.

Some pharmacists are drug sales representatives who go around and teach doctors about new drugs and then take orders for the drug supplies - this is a complciated task because most hospitals have only a restricted list of drugs that doctors can use. If a new drug comes along, then the pharmacist has to convince the hospital board that the new drug is an improvement and gives more benefit for the money.

Answer 2

it's a long-time Pharmacist secret that we sit behind the counter and do ABSOLUTELY nothing....all day long.

Things we NEVER do are:

1) Counsel patients on what their medicine is for, potential adverse effects, interactions, and general health advice. We never listen to how things are going for patients with their health because there is nothing that can be learned from listening and asking probing questions.

2) Oversee all aspects of Pharmacy operation. After all the computer systems, accounts receivable/payable, inventory management, licensing, federal and state regulations, etc. etc. etc. and all the volumes of paperwork that accompany the most tightly regulated profession just magically take care of themselves.

3) Resolve issues with insurance companies, physicians, third-party administrators.

4) And of course process prescriptions in a timely fashion.

Yup, it's so easy being a Pharmacist! That's why there is a national shortage of them. Don't believe those stories you hear about us having to complete about 4 years of school before even getting into Pharmacy school........my license was in a box of Cracker Jack.

Answer 3

it really depends on where you work. hospitals are way different than a place like walgreens.

in retail pharmacies, the pharmacists usually counts pills/measures liquid rxs, counsels patients, verifies prescription information, deals with insurance companies, a lot of computer work (inventory, entering prescription info, patient records), mails prescriptions, verifies controlled substance quantites, does inventory on stock, compounds prescriptions (mixing lotions/powders/liquids to make a rx specified by the physician).

ive never worked in a hospital pharmacy so i couldn't tell you about that.

if you're looking into becoming a pharmacist, see if you can get a job as a pharmacy technician. they work directly under the supervision of the pharmacist and you can get some experience firsthand and see if you would like it before you spend all that money on school.

Answer 4

They are responsible for all activities that go on behind the counter of a pharmacy. That is from receiving medications in the mail/delivery for narcotics as this has to be properly documented, to counting medications to counselling patients about their medications and making sure that patients do not have drug interactions from taking two or more medications perhaps issued by different physicians. A pharmacist responsibility is as great as your physicians, if not more. Their education is on the same level and they have to do continuing education as well.

Answer 5

What Do Pharmacist Do

Answer 6

There are many different kinds of pharmacists. Some are into research others work in local pharmacies. While others are employed by hospitals. Try looking at princetonreview.com to look into careers

Answer 7

Pharmacists do alot more than handn out prespcriptions they keep stocck of all drugs comin in and out of d pharmacy... regulate coming in of drugs in and out of d country check quality of drugs.... (quality control), besides a serious pharmaacy has to be approved by a pharmacist. they also may be doin alot more than av put here

Answer 8

they study pharmacology :-)