Hospital Pharmacist |
Career OverviewAs the name indicates a hospital pharmacist works within the pharmacy located in the hospital. They receive prescriptions either electronically from data entry devices used by physicians working in the hospital or by more traditional written prescriptions.
The hospital pharmacist then prepares the required medication, drug therapy or intravenous medication and notifies the prescribing doctor or designated staff member that the prescription is filled.
Often the hospital pharmacist must be able to accurately manage dosages based on information located on the patient’s charts. With new data entry and electronic charting programs this information is now readily available to assist the hospital pharmacist in determining the correct dosage without having to rely on more of a trail system that was previously used.
The hospital pharmacist must be very aware of sterile treatments and should be able to prepare intravenous and other medications in sterile conditions within the hospital pharmacy. They should provide the prescribing physician or treatment team with any information on possible adverse reactions or potentially dangerous issues with taking the prescribed mediation.
Many times the hospital pharmacist will find that combinations of drugs that have been prescribed are not in the best interest of the patient. At that point the hospital pharmacist contacts the doctor and makes recommendations for safer or more effective drug therapy treatments. The hospital pharmacist may also be able to suggest more cost effective generic type medications for the patient both in the hospital and after they are discharged.
The hospital pharmacist must be knowledgeable in prescription and drug tracking, as well as keep accurate and clear records on all medications prescribed through the hospital pharmacy.
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Career RequirementsThe hospital pharmacist must be licensed in the state that they are working. That means that they must have met the minimum requirements, usually a Pharm-D or Doctor of Pharmacy or equivalency, plus they must have passed the mandatory NAPLEX and, if required by the state, the MPJE exam and hold a current pharmacists license.
Most hospital pharmacists have also completed either a one or two year residency although this is not always required.
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Job OutlookThe United States Department of Labor anticipates that the demand for pharmacists will exceed the number of pharmacists graduating until at least the year 2014.
Increasing numbers of hospitals opening in the next several years plus average retirement and movement within the field will create more vacancies than candidates to fill them. This will result in an overall above average increase in the number of hospital pharmacists needed.
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Career TrackA hospital pharmacist can easily move into management or supervisory roles within larger hospitals and healthcare facilities pharmacy departments. In addition some hospital pharmacist may choose to return to teaching in schools of pharmacy.
These schools are currently actively recruiting senior hospital pharmacists and other pharmacists to return to teaching on a full and part-time basis to fill positions as faculty members.
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CompensationThe average hospital pharmacists working in a general or surgical hospital in the United States makes slightly more than $84,500 per year. Entry level hospital pharmacist may be required to work evening or weekend shifts but those with seniority usually work standard business hours.
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