A pharmacy worker (pharmacist, pharmacist) is a specialist who is well versed in medicines. He not only distinguishes them, but also, if necessary, can pick up analogues or, on demand, manufacture a dosage form (powder, medicine or ointment) independently.
The named profession, which this article will be devoted to , implies deep knowledge about the components of each medication, its interaction with other drugs, side effects and contraindications of medicines.
Pharmacist and pharmacist: training
Speaking about the profession of pharmacist, it should be clearly understood that there are differences between her and the profession of pharmacist. And the main one is that they train these specialists in different educational institutions.
To become a pharmacist, you need to graduate from a higher educational institution, having studied there for 5 years in full-time or 5.5 in correspondence. After that, the graduate will have the right to independent work - the manufacture, testing and licensing of drugs, research, or pharmacy management. That is, he will become a highly qualified specialist.
A future pharmacist can be trained in 3 years and 10 months on the basis of nine classes, or in 2 years and 10 months on the basis of eleven classes in a specialized college or school. Having thus received a secondary vocational education, he will be able to work in a pharmacy, dispense drugs and make them, acting as an assistant pharmacist.
Although, by Order of the Ministry of Health (2011), a pharmacist with five years of work experience was declared a person who has the right to apply for the position of head of a pharmacy.
Responsibilities of the pharmacist and pharmacist
It has traditionally happened in Russia that in the pharmacy network, the profession of a pharmacist imposes on a specialist practically the same duties as a pharmacist (and it should be noted that there are many of them).
This usually includes:
- checking prescriptions written by doctors (you must admit, this is quite difficult, given their traditionally illegible handwriting);
- prevention of medical errors in the dosage and compatibility of the ingredients of the prescribed medicine;
- dispensing of medicines;
- advising customers on the rules for taking certain drugs;
- provision of first aid if necessary;
- registration of prescriptions and coordination of the quantity ordered for the sale of goods (the pharmacist is the person financially responsible for the safety of money and medicines available in the pharmacy).
In addition, the pharmacist, like the pharmacist, must know the manufacturing technology of drugs and the rules for their storage. Both of these specialists study Latin.
Pharmacist - a multidisciplinary profession
Despite the profession the pharmacist suggests only secondary specialized education, it allows a specialist to work not only in a pharmacy, but also in a pharmaceutical factory, in a pharmacy warehouse, in a pharmaceutical company and in research institutes.
In the laboratory, as a rule, his responsibilities include the development of new drugs, the improvement of existing drugs and the development of new technologies for their manufacture.
As you can see, this specialty allows you to show versatile personality qualities - after all, a pharmacist can work with people and, if desired, remain in the laboratory, alone with a microscope.
Qualities required for success in the profession
The profession of a pharmacist implies that her applicant has certain human qualities that will enable him to become successful in his field and pursue a career in the future.
For this, a specialist must possess not only excellent knowledge in the field of chemistry, biology, psychology, Latin and computer technology, but also have endurance and goodwill. Since most often his place of work is a pharmacy, the pharmacist is forced to communicate with a large number of people. Many of them are of advanced age and come not only for medicines, but also for sympathy, and sensitivity and attentiveness inspire confidence in the client that the acquired product will certainly help.
It is very important for a pharmacy employee to maintain a warm tone and not lose optimism, even if one of the clients allows himself to be irritable or rude.
Pharmacist Health Requirements
Of course, speaking of this profession, one cannot but emphasize that, unfortunately, not everyone who loves chemistry and biology can work in this specialty.
A pharmacist, a pharmacist is, first of all, people who are standing at the pharmacy counter all day, which means that those who suffer from foot diseases are contraindicated. In addition, for those who have allergies, diseases of the skin, bronchi and the cardiovascular system, the described profession can be simply dangerous.
Pharmacist: Salary
And now we come to the most burning problem. How much does a person earn who has so many responsibilities and bears a serious responsibility for health, and sometimes for people's lives on a par with doctors?
The average pharmacy worker, whose experience is 2 years, can have from 20,000 to 35,000 rubles. salary. In large cities, as well as depending on the work schedule, the specialist’s income is about 40,000 rubles. monthly. Private pharmacies practice the provision of allowances, which sometimes decently increases the amount of money that the pharmacist receives. His salary in such cases may rise to 50,000 rubles.
Is it easy to get a job and make a career a pharmacist
The pharmaceutical business is developing rapidly, so specialists in this field are becoming more and more in demand. As practice shows, getting a job in a pharmacy network is not at all difficult for anyone with a pharmacist certificate.
Some network pharmacies even offer flexible schedules for undergraduate students, offering them various training programs and professional training.
Many pharmaceutical companies provide an opportunity for those seeking administrative work in their departments of sales, marketing research or logistics.
If desired, the pharmacist can improve their skills, thus reaching a higher level of payment and, as mentioned above, gaining the opportunity to occupy managerial positions.
Personal qualities necessary for the profession
Profession the pharmacist combines the fields of pharmaceuticals, medicine and commerce, which forces the applicant to show not only a high level of specialized knowledge, but also excellent moral qualities of the person.
This is first of all:
- composure, attentiveness and accuracy;
- ability to concentrate;
- self-control;
- high degree of working capacity;
- excellent memory;
- analytical skills ;
- tolerance, sociability and responsiveness.
Despite the fact that the pharmacist is more of a performer, his activity still requires the ability to make independent decisions and organize his work.
An advanced pharmacist with excellent communication skills is a godsend for a pharmacy of any level. Indeed, in the current conditions of fierce competition in the pharmacy chain, the client will go first where they listened attentively, gave practical advice, clearly explained the effect of the drug, and thus aroused trust.