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Medical Forum / General / Pharmacy / March 2004Is Pharmacy a tough degree to get?
I want to pursue a career in Pharmacy maybe. But I'm scared about the 5-6 years. When you went to get your Pharmacy degree, did a lot of your peers fail? Did you struggle through it? Do you still remember most of what you learn? Also, what do you learn in college? Thousands of names of drugs? Sounds awful hard. lil46john@yahoo.com (John) asked: >...I'm scared about the 5-6 years. Nothing to be scared of. (Listen to the song, Fifteen Years, by Five for Fighting.) >When you went to get your Pharmacy >degree, did a lot of your peers fail? About 5% of the people who get into Pharmacy school drop out. >Did you struggle through it? Some struggle, some slide. Probably >90% find it challenging. >Do you still remember most of what you >learn? Yup. ;-) >Also, what do you learn in college? :-) >Thousands of names of drugs? Sounds >awful hard. Names of drugs? No. To distill pharmacy school to a single concept: in pharmacy school you learn, in excruciating detail, how the drugs work. >I want to pursue a career in Pharmacy maybe. But I'm scared about the >5-6 years. When you went to get your Pharmacy degree, did a lot of [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >Also, what do you learn in college? Thousands of names of drugs? >Sounds awful hard. Never be afraid of a little work... just no reason to be... Honestly not that many of the ones that got accepted to Pharmacy School dropped out or failed... more dropped out for a year for financial reasons then flunked out... Did I struggle....? You BET I did .... Got out of school with a 2.000000000 average and I had to work hard just to get that grade point average... I forgot 80 percent of what I was taught in Pharmacy School within a week after each exam... However the 20 percent I retained was more then enough to assure I had a successful career... I learned (or must have learned) how to THINK .... Good Luck... Bob Griffiths How hard is it to keep a 3.0 average? Also, with new technology, how will the pharmacy curriculum possibly differ in the future? How did guy with 2.o average get a degree? ? >Also, with new technology, how will the pharmacy curriculum possibly >differ in the future? The curriculum will differ ... NOTHING ever remains the same... >How did guy with 2.o average get a degree? Pretty damn easy.... That is what I graduated with (1967) and when the results of the State Boards were released I was in the top 10 percent... go figure? However a persons performance in the work place will determine how well he succeeds in life... Bob G. Can someone tell me what a Pharmacist does? Like when you get a prescription, what do you do? Also, is filling prescriptions and consulting costumers the only thing you do? > Can someone tell me what a Pharmacist does? > Like when you get a prescription, what do you do? > Also, is filling prescriptions and consulting costumers the only thing you do? Think about it---SOMEONE has to be LISCENSED to distribute drugs, & know what they're doing. OTOH though, some pharmacists f**k s**t up sometime & distribute the wrong Rx, on occasion, & sometimes results in severe injury or death. > Can someone tell me what a Pharmacist does? > Like when you get a prescription, what do you do? > Also, is filling prescriptions and consulting costumers the only thing you do? There are lots of career paths for Pharmacists. I work in Research now. I used to work in a Hospital and specialized in Nutrition Support. I have worked with Oncology and at one time Critical Care. I think its a great career. I have alot of fun looking at many aspects of drug delivery. Currently I am studying the changes which occur when drugs are administered through feeding tubes. Some drugs adhere to the tubes. I found retail pretty boring, but the patient interaction is a nice benefit. Most patients want to hear all you can tell them about their drugs. Mark Klang Bob G. <rg327_remove_@adelphia.net> wrote in message > > I learned (or must have learned) how to THINK .... > > Good Luck... > > Bob Griffiths I have a related question. I am young enough to still change my path in life, and my interest in how the mind works, along with chemistry, has peaked my interest in being a pharmacist. You list "how to THINK" as the main issue, and I hope that is an issue with every degree. That said, do you find that your knowledge and talents are wasted? I don't know exactly what my friendly neighborhood Walgreen's pharmacist does, but it seems they do tedious jobs. Of course, there have been several times when my pharmacist has intercepted a mislabeled Rx, and talked to the doctor to correct it. While this is great, and can make a big difference, how fulfilling can it be? I'd love to know what makes you want to get up and go to work in the morning. With more schooling than %95 percent of the population, you still hear phrases like "I hope to be a doctor/lawyer" but never a pharmacist. In history, the image of a mortar and pestle, along with some various powders, was the idea of a pharmacist. Now I see an educated man measuring out 30 viagra for a patient. Any comments on your career, education, or public image? I've been curious about this for years, and have yet to find a good answer. > Bob G. <rg327_remove_@adelphia.net> wrote in message > > > I learned (or must have learned) how to THINK .... [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > education, or public image? I've been curious about this for years, > and have yet to find a good answer. Yeah, but like me---I'm taking pharmacology right now, mainly because it's the continuation of a Medical Terminology class I had last semester. I am so fascinated by drugs & pharmacology/pharmicokinetics/chemistry that I want to pursue all there is to know about drugs, their chemistry, & uses to the best of my ability, & f.ck, if I get a degree out of it all, then that's great. But for now, I want to learn all there is to know regarding pharmacology & the uses of drugs, & as well, I would like to study Latin & chemistry when I get the chance, which I plan to do. I think people that go into pharmacology either love drugs or didn't quite make it all the way to, or through, med. school, or simply know what it takes to be a pharmacist & get the degree & finally obtain a position at a local pharmacy/hospital & don't go any furhter & are happy where they are. [snip] > Yeah, but like me---I'm taking pharmacology right now, mainly because it's > the continuation of a Medical Terminology class I had last semester. I am so > fascinated by drugs & pharmacology/pharmicokinetics/chemistry that I want to [snip] I know-I misspelled "pharmacokinetics" > [snip] > > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > I know-I misspelled "pharmacokinetics" I don't think a pharmacist has ever consulted with me about my drugs, but when they do, do they have to know the drug of the top of their head or is their a handy drug book that lists effects of drugs,etc > > [snip] > > > [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > but when they do, do they have to know the drug of the top of their > head or is their a handy drug book that lists effects of drugs,etc Yeah, that's a good question. I wouldn't say that they HAVE to know the drug in question, but it would be very helpful for obvious reasons. I would think that it depends on how much experience you have with pharmacology & being a practicing pharmacist. I think if the pharmacist was asked about a certain drug or drugs by a customer, he/she would explain it's effects to the best of their ability, but really I think the doctor should explain what the drug is that they're prescribing in the first place. If you have questions about a drug or drugs, ask your doctor. >I'd love to know what makes you want to get up and go to work in the morning. I am retired now but when I worked it was for old fashion family values. I had a wife and three kids. I needed the money! . > Bob G. <rg327_remove_@adelphia.net> wrote in message > > > I learned (or must have learned) how to THINK .... <snip> > That said, do you find that your knowledge and talents are wasted? I > don't know exactly what my friendly neighborhood Walgreen's pharmacist [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > schooling than %95 percent of the population, you still hear phrases > like "I hope to be a doctor/lawyer" but never a pharmacist. <snip > >I'd love to know what makes you want to get up and go to work in the > >morning. > > I am retired now but when I worked it was for old fashion family values. I > had a wife and three kids. I needed the money! <snip> LOL, a perfectly reasonable answer. I know there is a shortage of qualified people around my home. The money factor certainly makes it a more attractive option for an occupation. I think I would be too ego-centric to make a good pharmacist. I would laugh at someone filling an antibiotics Rx for a mild case of the common cold, or I would second-guess a mild darvocetN100 Rx for someone I know was in tons of pain. I doubt my career would last, as I would always want to have more of a say in the matter than I would be allowed. However, with a wife and three kids, I think I could swallow my pride for the sake of the family and a hot meal. Just one final question: How much does it "cost to live" like pretending rent=800 utilities,food,insurance,movies,taxes everything Can someone outline this? I'm not sure if I'm suited up for Pharmacy. I always thought that 40k was poor and 60k was average so Pharmacy seemed appealing, but I'm good in math, so 45k accountant seems better now > Just one final question: > How much does it "cost to live" [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > was poor and 60k was average so Pharmacy seemed appealing, but I'm > good in math, so 45k accountant seems better now Wouldn't it depend on where you live? > > Just one final question: > > How much does it "cost to live" [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Wouldn't it depend on where you live? Yeah, but prices aren't that different from Georgia and Florida. Just wondering about a good number of the price of living... Still no feedback > > > I'm not sure if I'm suited up for Pharmacy. I always thought that 40k > > > was poor and 60k was average so Pharmacy seemed appealing, but I'm > > > good in math, so 45k accountant seems better now Just joined this news group and this caught my eye. I'm a final year pharmacy student in the UK and if my uni is anything to go by then pharmacy is pretty easy degree to get. I decided to do a pharmacy degree after a few years working as a counter assistant in a pharmacy and had really high hopes for the degree. But some of the people on my course have no clue as to what they are doing even now and I don't know how on earth they have got so far on the course. Don't get me wrong I am not disheartened by pharmacy as a career and am looking forward to my future career - I know I'll be a good pharmacist but it makes me worried about the other pharmacists that are going to be out there. Sorry have got a bit off topic but as you can probably tell this is something that really bugs me! Shell It is difficult I have been qualified for 20 years and I am still learning. You never know everything, just keep up to date. Should be starting the supplementary prescribing course soon, so should be good. Pharmacy is a lot about dealing with people as well as drugs and data, I know some people with first class degrees who are lousy pharmacists. Can't tell you the answer but still love the job. Welcome to the tight rope.  SignatureNikki Passmore |
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