Pharmacist...

[SunnyD]

Just wondering... I always considered pharmacy, but since I lived/breathed computers growing up I went into software. I'm wondering if pharmacy is worthwhile enough to consider retraining to in time.

 

[pstylesss]

Doesn't it take 8 years of schooling to be a pharmacist?

 

[amdhunter]

If you like dealing with drug addicts, sure.

 

[oiprocs]

"How many pills can I fit into the bottle today? Dare I break the current record? Hmmmm"

-thoughts of a PharmX

 

[Kev]

seems like it would be really boring, but other than giving out drugs i have no idea what pharmacists do...

 

[CRXican]

Originally posted by: Kev
seems like it would be really boring, but other than giving out drugs i have no idea what pharmacists do...

srsly

 

[vi edit]

Clinical - maybe
Retail - no way

Retail is basically a really high paid customer support position.

 

[Modular]

I don't know how boring it would be...you'd have lots of time to try and figure out what to spend the huuuge paycheck on.

 

[vi edit]

More detail here:
http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=y&keyword1=pharmacist

 

[SunnyD]

Originally posted by: vi edit
More detail here:
http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=y&keyword1=pharmacist

Cool thanks. I skimmed a bit, will go back when I have more time later. :thumbsup:

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: ZeroIQ
Doesn't it take 8 years of schooling to be a pharmacist?

no, 4 year degree though is usually a prereq due to classes you'd need. Then its between 2 to 4 years or more depending on level of pharmacist you'd like to be.

Usually you will need calculus 3 or equivalent, biochem and anatomy ususually. Biochem requires general chem and organic, Calc 3 is usually started with college algebra, trig, then calc 1, 2 for most...it's hard to get the credits needed for acceptance in less than 3 years.

You need to do well on the PCAT

I was accepted to Pharmacy school as a undergrad. I interned and it just wasn't for me. Looking back I'd have done it and just brought in a book or laptop to keep myself busy.

$75k and great benefits down here.

Usually you have 1-2 techs filling the scripts...all you do is verify there work and sometimes the accounting. The biggest problem I had with the profession is how little you are wanted to help the customer due to lawsuit worries. Also you usually answer to the general manager which more often than not is probably making less than you and has an attitude about it.

 

[Insomniator]

Your job will remain boring and exactly the same for 50 years but you get paid well I guess.

Don't think I could do it...

 

[OCGuy]

Free oxycontin!

 

[Passions]

You stand on your feet most of the day and deal with inpatient cranky sick people.

But you make alot of money.

Worth it to you?

 

[RagingBITCH]

vi made some good points. My current GF is doing her first year residency in clinical pharmacy, looking to get a specialist position when her residency is up. (Although specialists usually need a 2nd year of residency and/or clinical + staffing before being able to be named a specialist)

It's 4 years of a lot of studying...prepare to have absolutely no social life. I cracked open a book of hers just to see what it contained - I have no idea how she memorized all that stuff...there is a lot to learn and remember.

Retail - expect to make good money out of that...everyone in her class got offered 6 figures in retail upon graduation, but like others have said, high turnover and you get to hear customers bitching and arguing...it takes a toll on you. (Many of her friends have already left retail and are taking up residency or staff/clinical pharmacist positions in hospitals)

 

[Zombie]

My wife is retail pharmacist at Target. As other has said it is a very well paid job but could be boring at times. She also has to report to the store manager who has no clue of what is going on behind the counter.

She is happier at Target than she was at walgreens or CVS because she actually counsels the customers and the clientele is not as bad. From what I have heard retail pharmacists get paid the most but clinical might be more rewarding. Also she has never been out of a job and always keeps on getting new offers. Worst part of job is the hours. 10 hrs/day plus every other weekend.

 

[ivan2]

with that 120k at CVS, you can bitch all you want at me.

 

[skim milk]

my friend just graduated pharm school and signed the offer @ 125k at age 24.
the cost of living in the area is also VERY low

 

[vi edit]

The gap is narrowing between retail and clinical pay depending on the facility. State university pharmacists don't make very good pay. Some smaller, private, or rural hospitals can pay very well. My wife took almost a 40% pay increase moving from a state hosptial to a private one. She's within a few % of what retail pharmacists make.

The great thing about a pharmacist is that there is virtually endless overtime available. My wife picks up an extra shift once every other month or so and gets paid almost $700 for 8 hours of work.

A lot of her coworkers moonlight at Target or CVS every other Saturday or so and pull in $65 an hour and work a 10 or 12 hour shift. That's a lot of money for one day of extra work.

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

When I worked at CVS I definitely thought about it. The overnight pharmacists had it made. Worked 8p-8a on a 5 days on-5 days off schedule IIRC (it might have been 7). The one had like 4 cars and bought a brand new BMW that was something like $80k. I believe his wife was a doctor though, and no kids, but still quite a nice gig. The second one was more of a make money and stockpile it sort of guy, but I would bet he had a nice fat bank account.

All the pharmacists at my location were making $125k+, with overnights and the head pharmacist making $175k or so.

The overnight guys had some stocking to do, and some paperwork stuff but they would usually either read or sit on their laptops all night. Maybe have 15 people all night to deal with, and not a bad gig if I do say so myself.

 

[SunnyD]

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH
It's 4 years of a lot of studying...prepare to have absolutely no social life. I cracked open a book of hers just to see what it contained - I have no idea how she memorized all that stuff...there is a lot to learn and remember.

Hahaha... I have 4 kids... this is a non-issue.

 

[Syringer]

Retail pharmacists = most over-edcuated, under-utilized profession in the world

Computers do most of the work for them nowadays anyway.

 

[Gibson486]

My gf's sis wants to become pharm. She just got a job at walmart passing out prescriptions. It pays $11/hr with no experience. That is pretty good. She saw how much the payout was with a pharm degree and now she wants to do it. I say good for her, she is finally trying to do somethig with her life...That said, she thinks it is gonna be a walk in the park because she "did well in high school" even though she graduated 3 years ago . This is from a person who failed "College Algebra".

I am gonna root for her, but she has a really big uphill battle. 1, she is gonna be doing this part time. 2, she is really lazy. I remember when I was leaving teh library during college. At 1 AM, the Pharm majors were still up and studying. It's a hard major and anyone, even my enemies, who finishes it will get my respect.

 

[KentState]

My brother's girlfriend just got her degree and license and decided to do a residency with the university and Kroger. She had a pretty good social life when in school, though she did do a lot of reading and papers. As far as pay, everyone that graduated with her was making 6 figures and many had a nice signing bonus. If you want a job that has a secure future and in a growing field, then it's for you.

 

[oiprocs]

If you do end up going, try to get in to a CA school. No PCAT requirement, so all you need is a high GPA and maybe some pharm experience to get in.

Hell, with a good enough GPA you don't even need the rest. Just have Perknose edit your personal statement.