National
| Median wages (2008) |
$51.16 hourly, $106,410 annual |
| Employment (2006) |
243,000 employees |
| Projected growth (2006-2016) |
Much faster than average (21% or higher)
|
| Projected need (2006-2016) |
95,000 additional employees |
29-1051.00 - Pharmacists
Compound and dispense medications following prescriptions issued by physicians, dentists, or other authorized medical practitioners.
Sample of reported job titles:
Pharmacist, Staff Pharmacist, Clinical Pharmacist, Pharmacist in Charge (PIC), Pharmacy Manager, Registered Pharmacist, Hospital Pharmacist, Outpatient Pharmacy Manager, Pharmacy Informaticist
Tasks
- Review prescriptions to assure accuracy, to ascertain the needed ingredients, and to evaluate their suitability.
- Provide information and advice regarding drug interactions, side effects, dosage and proper medication storage.
- Assess the identity, strength and purity of medications.
- Maintain records, such as pharmacy files, patient profiles, charge system files, inventories, control records for radioactive nuclei, and registries of poisons, narcotics, and controlled drugs.
- Compound and dispense medications as prescribed by doctors and dentists, by calculating, weighing, measuring, and mixing ingredients, or oversee these activities.
- Plan, implement, and maintain procedures for mixing, packaging, and labeling pharmaceuticals, according to policy and legal requirements, to ensure quality, security, and proper disposal.
- Teach pharmacy students serving as interns in preparation for their graduation or licensure.
- Advise customers on the selection of medication brands, medical equipment and health-care supplies.
- Provide specialized services to help patients manage conditions such as diabetes, asthma, smoking cessation, or high blood pressure.
- Collaborate with other health care professionals to plan, monitor, review, and evaluate the quality and effectiveness of drugs and drug regimens, providing advice on drug applications and characteristics.
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Tools & Technology
Tools used in this occupation:
| Ampoule filling equipment — Ampoule filling machines |
| Laminar flow cabinets or stations — Horizontal air flow laminar hoods; Laminar flow hoods; Vertical air flow laminar hoods |
| Liquid scintillation counters — Multiple channel well scintillation counters; Single channel well scintillation counters |
| Medical radiological shielding freestanding or portable screens — Lead transport shields; Radiation shields for syringes and vials |
| Pestle or mortars — Mortars; Pestles |
Technology used in this occupation:
| Accounting software — Insurance claim processing software |
| Analytical or scientific software — TPNassist software; TTP LabTech comPOUND |
| Data base user interface and query software — Computer records systems; Healthprolink MedAtlas; Pharmaceutical Care Network software; Recordkeeping software |
| Inventory management software — Cardinal Health Pyxis CII Safe |
| Label making software — Label-making software; RxKinetics UD Labels for Windows |
