The Important Things You'll Learn from a Pharmacy Qualification

The journey to becoming a pharmacist is a long and sometimes difficult one, but it is a respectable and worthwhile career with a lot of responsibility. That also pays well. Earning a qualification in the pharmacy field will be a life-changing experience, providing plenty of life skills alongside deep pharmaceutical knowledge. So what kind of things do the standard qualifications cover? 

A Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree is the most common qualification for those looking to get into a career in pharmacy. It is possible to learn on the job in some cases. But a degree is often a quicker route into higher levels of the field - and therefore higher earnings. A Pharm.D. degree teaches clinical expertise and precision, supply chain and stock management, legal and regulatory compliance and technological skills, among other things. These are the key details. 

Clinical and Pharmaceutical Knowledge are the Foundation 

A Pharm.D. degree's core curriculum is built around pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacogenomics. These are the essential skills needed to be a pharmacist, as pharmacists often have the final sign off on a patient's healthcare prescription. 

Imagine a treatment is prescribed incorrectly - for example a mix up of similarly named drugs. Or perhaps the patient did not reveal an important aspect of their medical history prior to picking up the treatment, which could end in a negative interaction or outcome. As pharmacist, you might be the person that notices an important detail that could save a life. 

A pharmacy degree's core curriculum will also include:

• Lessons on administering vaccinations, including safe storage, when vaccinations are not suitable and how to keep potentially nervous patients calm
• Modules on Medication Therapy Management, where pharmacists review a patient's medication plan across various departments to ensure optimal and safe treatment
• Lessons on genomics and biology, to understand how different individuals conditions can react to treatments 

Experience Builds Communication and Empathy

However, clinical knowledge is only one half of the medical equation. Human connection and holistic healthcare are almost as important in many aspects. 

The affects of stress on healthcare outcomes are well documented and studied. Time and time again research has shown that stressed patients have, on average, worse health outcomes across a range of problems including cardiovascular disease and skeletal and muscular health, as well as the more obvious mental health conditions. 

A Pharm.D. degree teaches aspiring pharmacists how to:

• Collaborate with physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals to flag potential problems and/or suggest alternatives when patients report issues
• Build trust and rapport with patients, across potentially diverse communities with a range of needs
• Understand basic to advanced psychological clues to patient's sometimes unsaid needs, including body language, physical symptoms and hesitation or avoidance

Once the key clinical knowledge is acquired, trainee pharmacists will also learn how to translate often complex medical jargon into clear and precise information. This is then relayed to patients to ensure they understand enough to complete their treatment.

Business Management and Leadership Skills Are Vital 

Being a pharmacist in the US often contains a business component. Pharmacists are trained for this, in the expectation that it will be useful in a pharmacy management role - although many of the skills are transferrable into junior positions. 

Inventory and supply chain management skills and knowledge are crucial. Without proper management of medication, errors can lead to health problems for patients and legal and financial issues for pharmacies. 

Speaking of legal issues the pharmaceutical business is one of the most heavily regulated industries in the U.S.  

A pharmacy qualification will teach a competent understanding of federal laws like the Controlled Substances Act and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). It will also include lessons on state-based pharmaceutical laws and how they interact with federal and other state regulations where applicable. 

A specialization in pharmaceutical law is always possible in the future if this field appeals to you. 

Further Development in Practice is Encouraged

As specialists in an ever evolving field of work, a Pharm.D. degree is just the start of the possibilities for learning and career advancement. 

To maintain a license, every set amount of years (varying by state) qualified pharmacists must complete a certain amount of continuing education credits. The Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education sets these tests, which are centered around updated knowledge on newly introduced or updated pharmaceuticals, treatments and care strategies. 

Pharmacists must also be technologically proficient, working with new and ever-improving tools to manage patient records and dispensing. For the technically minded, developing or improving pharmaceutical business software is a possible career branch if this part of the job suits. 

Once qualified for a broad range of pharmacy work via a Pharm.D. degree, it is possible to niche down into a specialist role. For example, procuring, dispensing and managing specialist medication for certain conditions, or opening and managing an independent pharmacy. 

Whatever the career path is forged from a pharmacy qualification, the skills learned will provide a baseline level of knowledge and practical skills that can transition into many areas of work in the medical field.