The Pharmaceutical Industry Has And Is Still An Evolving Field

It was near the end of winter 2005, when my grand-aunt suddenly fell ill. In a short period of time her illness worsened and the doctors informed my family, my grand-aunt only had a couple of months to live. The news was devastating to my family as we watched a vivacious, independent, and outspoken woman, who enjoyed shopping, reading mystery novels and spending time with family become very weak and confined to her bed. Instead of placing my grand-aunt in a hospice facility, my family and I, with the assistance of a hospice nurse cared for my grand-aunt in her home until her passing.

Now days there are many great aspects in the pharmacy field and pharmacy is looking to become even better. For example, the job descriptions for pharmacy technicians are limited. Some of their duties are to input information in the system, count the drugs before they are packaged, and even speaking to insurance companies to process payments. In the future their duties are looking to expand. Pharmacy technicians will take over more of the pharmacist roles

Pharmacists are highly educated in the form, uses, and interactions of certain medicines and also in how those medicines affect normal body functions. They keep thorough patient medication records, which contain

As a clinician in a hospital, the pharmacist becomes a member of a professional healthcare team. In their clinical practice, pharmacists are directly involved in ensuring optimal medical therapy for patients by devising therapeutic regimens specific to individual patients. They also staff the Drug Information and Poison Centers whose task is to provide information to other healthcare professionals to assist with therapeutic decision making (uq, 2012).

“Pharmacist dispense prescription medications to patients.” They also describe the proper way to use the medication. “They also may conduct health and wellness screenings, provide immunizations, oversee the medication given to patients and provide advice on healthy lifestyles.” (bls.gov) some pharmacist specialize in specific drug therapies such as cancer or mental health treatments. (bls.gov)

Pharmacists have many different responsibilities to their patients, these include promoting patient’s safety through checking the patient’s medication and keeping good records every time a patient fills a new prescription or refills prescription filled (Leagle, 1994). Pharmacists should also improve

As the first generation in my family to go to college I learned the importance of education. I graduated from Benedictine University with a Bachelors in Science and an Environment Certificate. I became intregted by pharmacy when I started to spent countless hours at a hospital watching my grandfather go in and out of surgeries and treatments for cancer. Seeing the different medication being handed to him inspired me to understand biological and chemical processes that happened. A Pharmacists, role is to aim to help patients treat illness by introducing new developed treatment of medicines with a range of patients. I began to take special interest in memorizing all my grandfather’s medications and how practical and clinical aspect pharmacy worked.

What does it take to be a pharmacist? Pharmacy involves more than just handing out drugs, otherwise anyone could do it. “A pharmacist is a health professional who follows instruction from physicians regarding the amount of education to distribute” (“Pharmacy requirements”). The pharmacy profession requires a lot of education, demands patience and attentive work, provides good pay, and offers a satisfying job.

When I was in high school, I had a mentor ask me, “What career would you like to have when you graduate”? Those words still lingering in my head until this day and to be honest I really didn’t know what answer to give him because I was still unsure. He then chose to put it in my mind that Pharmacy Technicians are important and they are needed just about every day. I took it upon myself to do some research. In 2010, I read that in 2009, there were approximately 267,000 pharmacists and, in 2008, 326,300 pharmacy technicians. Between 2003 and 2009, the number of pharmacists in the workforce increased by 35,000.

Pharmacist have the knowledge and expertise about allergies, medications, and drug interactions. They are the best individuals to educate the patients, physicians and nurses. As nurse leaders, we can reinforce that information in terms the patient can understand. We can advocate for both sides, the pharmacist and the patient. We link the parties together to connect the information together. We are that vital relationship. When the patient has that crucial information and understand, remittance rates are down and drug interactions are less common.

I am currently working as a pharmacy technician at Kroger. This has given me the opportunity to see what a pharmacist does on a daily basis. The pharmacists have taught me how to handle insurance questions, comply with HIPAA laws, and different functions of medications. I have observed the pharmacist order different supplies and medications needed for the pharmacy, contact doctors, and handle transfers from other pharmacies.

Which is another reason why I plan to pursue a career in the medical field. I have personally witness the many difficulties patients and their family, I being a relative, have encountered. Even when those who are suffering are at their last breath, they manage to do the impossible and survive. From being at the lowest to coming to the top, I see the resiliency people have. Fortunately in my family we have not faced a relative die from a disease or an illness.

Today in the 21st century the roles of pharmacist have expanded tremendously. Before pharmacist had the role of solely dispensing drugs. Pharmacists were limited to only being regulatory or clinical pharmacist. Back then they were called medical purveyors who were much like today’s regulatory pharmacist and hospital pharmacist who are similar to hospital pharmacist. Now pharmacists carry many roles in healthcare. Pharmacist can play roles in public health, community, health systems, state, and federal government.

Yes, there is an impact on the pharmaceutical company, like those in the US as a result of differential prices between that country and other nations.

This career goes unnoticed because many do not see the importance of it. Without this field, the balance in the medical community would be disrupted due to patients not receiving their medication to sustain their life. Although this career may seem easy, there are important characteristics one must hold in order to be a successful pharmacist.