AboutMary E Scott, RPh, CGP Expertise I am a certified geriatric pharmacist with over 23 years experience as a long-term care consultant to nursing homes. I also do community-based consulting on an individual basis. My facility-based monthly newsletter on pharmacy topics is read by nurses in over 200 long-term care facilities in 5 states.
Experience I received a BS in Pharmacy in 1980 with post-graduate work in public health. I have had a Consultant Pharmacist license since 1984.
Organizations American Society of Consultant Pharmacists .I received certification in geriatric pharmacy in 1998.
Question Hi Ms. Scott.
I am in summer school for enrichment right now, and I have to do a career research project, and I hope to be a pharmacist in the future.
If it is possible can you answer a few questions for me please? Thanks.
1. How did you become interested in this kind of work?
2. What personal qualities does a person need to be successful in this occupation?
3. What are some of the more satisfying features of this work?
4. What disadvantages are there in this type of position?
5. What are some things I can do now to prepare for this kind of work?
6. What future training or education will I need?
7. In what special skills or procedures should I be proficient?
8. What opportunities are there for advancement?
9. Does this work involve any special expenses, such as dues, equipment, and uniforms?
10. What are the beginning and the top salaries in this occupation?
Your answers are very well appreciated.
Thank you once again.
Answer Hi, Keith!
I'll be happy to answer some questions for you. I'll just answer them as they are numbered.
1) I was interested in math and science in high school and my friend's older sister was in pharmacy school at the time.
2)You should be detail-oriented and have good memorization skills
3) I like being able to help people with their medication problems and it can take some detective work in my consulting practice which is always interesting!
4) It depends on where you work sometimes. In a retail pharmacy it can be very stressful if you are filling 400-500 scripts a day with inadequate technician help. People come in feeling sick and want their scripts filled right then, even though they may have 10 people with scripts ahead of them. You can have computer problems, which slows everything down, the phones are ringing off the hook,etc. The hours are not usually 9-5; you are expected to work nights, weekends and holidays.
5) You should take math and science courses. Computer and communication classes are very helpful also.
6) It takes 6 yrs of post-high school education at an accredited school of pharmacy to graduate with a PharmD or Doctor of Pharmacy degree,then you take a national exam to become a registered pharmacist.
7)You will have to know what classes of medications are for what conditions, have good knowledge of anatomy and physiology.
8) Depending on where your interests lie, you can get a law degree to work in pharmacy law, get a Master's inPublic Health to work for the government or in pharmacy education,etc
9) If you have to wear a lab jacket depending on where you work, the company you work for usually provides it. I do pharmacy consulting out of my home, so some of my expenses include pharmacy journals and books, high speed internet connection.
10) I wouldn't venture a quess but a good place to check would be the Occupational Outlook Handbook-there are copies of this in libraries.
Hope this helps, and feel free to email me again if you think of more questions. Mary
