Is anyone here a pharmacist?

Lady Galadriel · October 2009

I am a certified Pharm tech, but have been thinking about going back to school while dd is still small

Do you like it? Would you suggest others to become one?

mfc2b4 · October 2009

I'm a pharmacist! I love my job. I try to talk a lot of people into becoming pharmacists! It is an especially great profession for a mother! with that said, school was hard, and I was single and childless, but there were probably 5-6 of my classmates that had kids (one had 5 kids!) and seemed to manage.

I work in a small town community pharmacist. I love it because I know my patients, and their families. I feel like I can make a real difference in their life/health, and in turn, they feel like they know me. They watched me grow during my pg and now ask about my kiddo all the time. I work three days a week. There are lots of women pharmacists that I know that work part time, and because there is a need for pharmacists in most areas, we are generally able to set pretty good hours/benefits for ourselves.

The downsides, which you probably know, are:

unlike some dentists/doctors, we can't just close up shop and go on vacation.
working with docs can be frustrating since sometimes some docs act like they know it all, and don't like being questioned.
sometimes i feel more like a cop than a pharmacists, trying to prevent people from doctor/pharmacy shopping for lots of narcotic

danjou21 · October 2009

I'm a pharmacist too. And though I do love my job (sometimes), those were the 6 most difficult years of my life. I was married for the last two, but I couldn't even imagine having kids. Or a job. If I wasn't in class, sleeping or eating, I was studying. Weekend to visit family? Studying. DH went to play with our friends? Studying. It totally sucked. I don't mean to be discouraging, but just know that it could be a battle getting into school and making it through school.

All that being said... the money is good, the hours are good, the flexibility is good. I love that I'll be able to work part time when we have kids.

Also, though I did go to a private school (I likely would not have got into our state school) I have almost $100,000 in student loan debt.

Let me know if you have any more question

jebuell · October 2009

My Dad is, and going off his experience I would say no. He likes it OK, but it's a HUGE stresser in his life and he's lost a ton of weight over the years (and not good weight loss, it's the "he's so skinny people keep asking if he has cancer skinny").

ETA: I wanted to add that he is the only pharmcist in a small town store. So he can't take sick days or go on vacation or anything like that. I'm sure if you work for a larger store in a larger city you'll not encounter the same amount of stress.

otc · October 2009

I am not one, but I work in a hospital and have had several friends go to school to be one. It's a very long haul. In my state you have to be a Pharm D to get employed now. They may hire you in other states, but here it's impossible. That's a phd in pharmacy, a doctorate. It's expensive, time intensive, and very competetive to get in. One of them said she wished she would have gone to med school, at least she would get paid better:) Then you may not be able to get a 9-5 M-F job. You may end up with night shift on the weekends. Or work for a chain where you feel trapped by their politics.

That's what they complain about. I have a few friends that love it, but they are not Pharm D's as they were grandfathered in. So they have master's and not as much responsibility and have worked there long enough to have good shifts.

I would talk to your pharm that you work with and find out your states rules, job market, etc to make sure that you are making the right decision for you and your family.

Now if you wanted to be a nurse I would tell you to go for it:) Ii have flexible hours, great pay, and work parttime with benefits. Lots of bang for your buck.

danjou21 · October 2009

otc:
I am not one, but I work in a hospital and have had several friends go to school to be one. It's a very long haul. In my state you have to be a Pharm D to get employed now. They may hire you in other states, but here it's impossible. That's a phd in pharmacy, a doctorate. It's expensive, time intensive, and very competetive to get in. One of them said she wished she would have gone to med school, at least she would get paid better:) Then you may not be able to get a 9-5 M-F job. You may end up with night shift on the weekends. Or work for a chain where you feel trapped by their politics.
That's what they complain about. I have a few friends that love it, but they are not Pharm D's as they were grandfathered in. So they have master's and not as much responsibility and have worked there long enough to have good shifts.
I would talk to your pharm that you work with and find out your states rules, job market, etc to make sure that you are making the right decision for you and your family.
Now if you wanted to be a nurse I would tell you to go for it:) Ii have flexible hours, great pay, and work parttime with benefits. Lots of bang for your buck.

This isn't completely true, most schools require the PharmD (Doctor of Pharmacy, 6 year program), not employers. A pharmacy license is a pharmacy license. Most schools have phased out their bachelor program (5 years).

otc · October 2009

All the job postings I have seen here -MN, land of Mayo, say pharm D required. I told her to check in her state, etc.

cosmobella · October 2009

I'm a pharmacist and I love it. I went to school for six years then did a year long residency (all while single and childless). I worked as a clinical pharmacist in a hospital for several years. Now I teach at a pharmacy school.

School is a huge commitment when you don't have a family and an even bigger one if you do. That said, I have seen students with husbands and children succeed. I am still paying off student loans (will be for a while) but I have a comfortable salary. Teaching allows me a M-F 9-5, holidays off, flexible job but most positions would either be in a hospital (they never close) or in a retail pharmacy setting (some are open 365 days, many have long shifts but it may be reasonable for you, i.e. 13hr days but only 3 days/week). Either way you should be prepared for holiday rotations and potential early or late hours. There are also other pharmacist positions where you may work for an insurance company, the state, or a drug company; most of these are M-F. It's a great career and I do recommend it but only if you've considered all the pros and cons just like anything else. You will undoubtedly need to make some sacrifices at home but it can be done.

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