Tips On Working In A Clinical Pharmacy La Jolla

By Shawn Hunter


If you were a great student in chemistry and math in school, there are lucrative professions awaiting you. In fact, the job of working in a clinical pharmacy La Jolla is one that is highly in demand. Healthcare is on the rise, however expensive. Those in this profession are specialized and well-trained medical professionals who deal with patient care and medication. They work in tandem with physicians to see that drugs are administered correctly without undue adverse effects.

So how do you get to this great career opportunity? It all begins in high school in chemistry and/or science lab. You prepare for college with a strong foundation in just the right subjects. As you continue along the road to your final destination, you will have to pass the PCAT or the Pharmacy College Admissions Test. This is by no means the only one in your path, so read on.

Coursework is over a four-year period and includes an internship program. You must go to a college that has been accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education. There is no substitute for this requirement. During your training you will study patient care and drug addiction and will follow a program under the aegis of a licensed clinical pharmacist. It is a long run that ultimately reaches a Pharm. D degree.

Upon entering college, the pharmaceutical direction continues as you select your major and minor. You may also study psychology, physics, and toxicology. It is four years of coursework in an institution that has been accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education. An internship falls somewhere within this term of study under the aegis of a licensed clinical pharmacist and it eventually leads to a Pharm. D or doctorate degree. There is one more requirement necessary before one begins a practice, and that is to attain a license by passing NAPLEX paper. This falls under the aegis of NABP or the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. It is a long road indeed with many stops along the way. One additional one is the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Exam that covers the laws pertaining to the field.

Once in practice, your duties begin and may range from patient care to managing a hospital department to research studies funded by grants. There will be some variation in job descriptions. Often, patient observation will indicate new drug protocols, even if the pharmacist is not the one writing the prescription.

Tasks are multiple in this field and they include patient education about prescription medication. You can manage a pharmaceutical department or conduct research as well. The duties will depend on the job description, but never include prescribing drugs. The pharmacist may well have knowledge of treatment protocols and how medication fits into them. He or she will definitely want to know the side effects that are most common and be able to recognize and discuss symptoms and interactions.

Keeping track of every detail is vital in a clinical setting. It is the same for research undertakings. Methodical people do best in this capacity. Negative drug reactions can cause debilitation and death. It is a field of great personal responsibility demanding the ultimate precision.

As such, a clinical pharmacist makes a good income in proportion to his or her education and overall experience. The average is around the $85,000 range, but can go higher over time. It is a long road, but ultimately a rewarding one that reaps many benefits beyond just income. Choosing this field is a wise one indeed for those with the right credentials.




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