what is a pharmacist?
As a pharmacist, you handle prescriptions and inform customers or patients about how to use medicine correctly and safely. You manage prescriptions issued by, for example, doctors. If the medicine is not available, you can advise the patient on other options and explain any possible side effects of these medicines.
A pharmacist traditionally works at a pharmacy, dispensing prescription medicine to patients. You also help customers choose among non-prescription medicines by answering questions and explaining their uses. As a pharmacist, you need to be able to answer health-related questions and explain how different medicines are intended to be used. From a historical perspective, you can see how the job of a pharmacist has changed, from being a role focused only on dispensing medicine to now involving a lot of advice for the safe use of various medicines. An important part of the work is to provide pharmaceutical advice on preventive health care and to ensure that medicines are used properly.
To be able to provide pharmaceutical care and service, a deep understanding of the properties of different medicines is required, from how the medicine or drug should be done to how it spreads in the body. You also need to have good knowledge of how the body reacts to the medicine and what is intended to be the decisive effect when taking the medicine.
On a personal level, you need to be caring and empathetic towards patients in the role of pharmacist. It is also important to be detail-oriented and meticulous to ensure that mistakes are not made when it comes to handling different medications.
Would a job as a pharmacist suit your caring personality and your interest in medical science? Then read on to find out more about the skills and qualifications required to succeed in a pharmacist role.
pharmacist jobsaverage salary as a pharmacist.
For many people, the job of pharmacist is synonymous with working at a pharmacy, providing advice and dispensing prescription medicine. But in reality, a pharmacist can work in a range of different types of companies and not just at pharmacies with direct customer or patient contact. This means that the job of pharmacist can actually involve many different things and the role you get looks different. It also makes it difficult to point to an average salary for pharmacists. After you have trained as a pharmacist, you can work in the pharmaceutical industry, the health care system, or with research at a university. It is also possible to work as a pharmacist within public administration. The wide variety of available jobs for pharmacists means that the salary also varies greatly, since the role and tasks differ significantly.
factors that affect the salary as a pharmacist.
A pharmacist can consciously influence their salary in one direction or another through a number of active choices. For example, there is a difference in salary level for a pharmacist who works at a government agency and a pharmacist who works at the local pharmacy. Many pharmaceutical companies are global and have a large turnover, whereas a pharmacist you can play an important role in the product development of new medicines. This is an example of a type of pharmacist job that offers good opportunities for a competitive salary. Actively choosing which industry or area you work in as a pharmacist is one way to control your salary.
In addition, it's worth noting that there are general aspects of the job market that can be applied when it comes to the salary for pharmacists. One example is that the salary level in major cities is higher than in smaller towns across the country. This goes hand in hand with the fact that the general price level is higher in those types of regions, which has led to an increase in salary levels. As a pharmacist, you generally have a better chance of earning a higher salary in a metropolitan area.
different types of pharmacists.
A pharmacist can work in many different industries or fields, which means there are several different types of pharmacists.
- Pharmacist at a pharmacy: If you work as a pharmacist at a pharmacy, you have a central role in the entire healthcare system. You are the one who provides prescription medicine to patients, and as a pharmacist, your role also includes giving advice on how to use the medicines. pharmacies usually also have many medicines that are not prescription, and giving advice about these, based on the customer's symptoms, is also an important part of the job. As a pharmacist, you have good opportunities to work as a pharmacy manager or be responsible for medicines at a pharmacy, considering your academic background. in such roles, you have increased responsibility to ensure that the pharmacy as a whole follows the regulations and laws that apply.
- Pharmacist at a pharmaceutical company: Many pharmaceutical companies need pharmacists to develop and test medicines that will later be released to the market. this may involve research to create new drugs, manufacturing the medicines, and clinical trials of the medicine produced. some pharmacists work more with product development and testing, while others focus more on marketing or sales.
- Pharmacists at a government agency: The medical products agency, the e-health agency, and the dental and pharmaceutical benefits agency (TLV) are examples of government agencies that employ pharmacists. in the role of a pharmacist at a government agency, you are usually involved in investigations of various actors within the health and medical care sector. This is to ensure that the regulations and laws in place are followed.
- Pharmacists at a university: There are pharmacists who work either as lecturers and teachers at university level. Such a role is often based on research conducted at the university and in which pharmacists are involved.
- Pharmacist in the healthcare sector: Working as a pharmacist at, for example, a hospital can mean working at the hospital pharmacy distributing medication to patients. In general, it is the same job as a pharmacist working at a regular pharmacy. However, a pharmacist can also assist doctors with assessments regarding medication for patients or how different medications can be combined.
working as a pharmacist.
If you love science and medicine, then being a pharmacist is a perfect career that also lets you help people. Read on to find out more details about the tasks and responsibilities you have in a pharmacist role.
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job description pharmacist
Some common tasks performed by pharmacists are:
- Dispensing medicine: As a pharmacist, you receive prescriptions from doctors and dispense medicine to patients. You also distribute other types of medication and provide advice on questions related to medication. An example is that you must make sure the patient knows what the medicine is for and what the medication will do to the body and ensure you give instructions on how the medicine should be taken.
- Working with doctors: If you work at a hospital or in another healthcare setting, you provide recommendations about different medicines to treat conditions and discuss whether there are any issues with the combination of medicines the patient should take. You also monitor the administration and delivery times of medications to ensure the patients’ well-being is secure. A pharmacist reviews doctors issued prescriptions and makes sure there is no risk of complications due to other medicines the patient is taking or will take.
- Keeping track of the stock of medicines: If you work as a pharmacist at a pharmacy, it is important to constantly take inventory to keep track of the total stock of medicines that may be needed. This is done by keeping records of all medicines dispensed, to ensure that essential medicines are always available.
- Give advice to patients about non-prescription medicines: The job of a pharmacist is not only about handling prescription medicines, but often customers need to buy medicines that do not require a prescription. In these cases, it is important for the pharmacist to give advice about which medicines are suitable and what their effects are. This includes informing people about possible side effects, and which medicines should not be combined. Some pharmacists also help with vaccinations, such as flu vaccinations for the elderly.
- Paperwork: In the role of pharmacist, some paperwork is involved, such as keeping records of which medicines are in stock and constantly registering who collects which prescription medicines. A large part of this work is digitalized and done on computers. In the role of pharmacist, you may also need to handle cash or accept payment in other ways when customers or patients pay for their medicines.
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work environment
Pharmacists work in hospital environments, at pharmacies, and within the pharmaceutical industry. The wide variety means that the work environment differs for different pharmacists. However, many pharmacists spend most of their workday indoors. It is also common for large parts of the workday to be spent standing or walking. As a pharmacist in the pharmaceutical industry, you may need to wear protective equipment such as goggles, face masks, and gloves. On the other hand, if you work as a pharmacist at a government agency conducting investigations, part of the job may involve outreach activities to ensure that laws and regulations are being followed. However, the job as a pharmacist very rarely offers any opportunities to work from home or remotely.
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who are your colleagues?
As a pharmacist, your colleagues vary depending on the area you work in, but it's not uncommon to work closely with doctors or other healthcare professionals. If you work at a pharmaceutical company, you may have colleagues who work in completely different departments, but you still interact with them regularly at the workplace.
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work schedule
How the work schedule looks in the role of pharmacist depends entirely on the area in which you work. A pharmacy has opening hours similar to a store’s, which can mean early mornings and relatively late evenings, often with shift work to ensure full coverage at all hours. In addition, many pharmacies are open on weekends and during holiday periods, which means some work at inconvenient hours. If you work as a pharmacist in the health and medical care sector, you may work long shifts to assist doctors. In the pharmaceutical industry, fixed working hours are usually the norm.
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future prospects
Since pharmacists are academic education that provides broad knowledge applicable in many fields, the future prospects are good for those who are pharmacists. With work experience, you also become more attractive to employers and can take on more responsible roles over time.
Someone working as a pharmacist at a pharmacy, for example, may become eligible for a position as pharmacy manager. It is also possible to conduct research or work as a consultant or lecturer in the field.
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benefits of finding a job as a pharmacist through randstad
There are several advantages to finding an open job as a pharmacist through Randstad:
- a wide range of education and development opportunities
- an experienced contact person who can help when you are looking for a job
- many different open jobs in your area
- monthly salary from your employer
- temporary and permanent employment
Are you hoping for a permanent full-time position as a pharmacist? Many full-time pharmacists have started their careers with a part-time job or another temporary position. It is often a good first step towards a permanent job. Every year, thousands of people make exactly the same journey through Randstad, from a temporary position to a permanent contract. In addition, many companies hire their full-time employees directly through Randstad!
education and knowledge.
In Sweden, you need a license from the National Board of Health and Welfare to be able to work as a pharmacist, either in healthcare or at a pharmacy. However, a license is not required if you want to work at a pharmaceutical company. That said, having a license and an academic education as a pharmacist is often considered an advantage.
- University: To become a pharmacist, you need to complete a five-year academic program at university level, which gives you 300 higher education credits. The pharmacist program is for those who want to learn about how medicines are produced and used, as well as their effects. It is a research preparatory education that also allows you to become a licensed pharmacist. The program usually also includes at least one work-based semester, where you do an internship at, for example, a pharmacy. It is a good way to gain practical work experience. Umea University, University of Gothenburg, and Uppsala University are the universities that offer a pharmacist program in Sweden. If you have a foreign education as a pharmacist, you can apply for a license from the National Board of Health and Welfare. Different rules apply depending on where you completed your pharmacy education. Visit the National Board of Health and Welfare’s website to learn what applies to your specific situation.
knowledge and skills.
Some important qualities that a pharmacist need are:
- Accuracy: The job as a pharmacist requires great accuracy and it is important to dispense the correct medicines and quantities according to the patient's prescription. You also need to be aware of the patient's medical history to ensure that no problems arise. Having an eye for detail and a high level of accuracy helps to avoid mistakes.
- Problem-solving skills: In the job as a pharmacist, you will assist patients in solving pharmaceutical problems or challenges, such as identifying which medicine is in a damaged package. Since you also analyze how different medicines interact with each other in the human body, you will also help doctors find the best possible pharmaceutical solutions. With good problem-solving skills, it is easier for you to find these kinds of solutions.
- Communicative ability: Good communication skills are important for being able to explain how medicines should be used and what effects they have on patients who do not have the same prior knowledge. Providing clear and precise information is an important part of avoiding misunderstandings and making sure that patients feel safe.
FAQs.
frequently asked questions about working as a pharmacist.
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how do I study to become a pharmacist?
it is possible to study the pharmacist program at three different universities across sweden. it is available in gothenburg, uppsala and umeå. the pharmacist program is an academic education lasting five years, where at least one practical semester is usually included.
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is a license required to work as a pharmacist?
Yes, if you plan to work as a pharmacist at a pharmacy or within healthcare, you need a license from the National Board of Health and Welfare. However, if you are a trained pharmacist and want to work in such a role at a pharmaceutical company, there is no legal requirement for a license.
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is a pharmacist a type of doctor?
No, a pharmacist and a doctor are not the same thing, but a pharmacist also has a long, solid education and good knowledge in the medical field. The difference is that a pharmacist is more specialized in medicines and their effects.
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how do I apply for an open pharmacist job?
If you want to find one vacant job as pharmacist you can turn to Randstad. Create a profile to access the entire platform and then prepare a cv and a personal letter when you want to apply for a job.