Are you considering a healthcare career but aren’t sure which path to take? For this study, we spoke with a small number of pharmacy students and asked them why they opted to pursue a career in pharmacy over other healthcare professions. Read on to learn about the four most common reasons students opt to study pharmacy:
Possess autonomy
Pharmacists have the advantage of choosing their work environment and hours. To provide optimal patient care, pharmacists might reframe their duties in the healthcare setting. The position of a pharmacist is changing as healthcare becomes more interdisciplinary, opening up new opportunities for inpatient care. As important members of the healthcare team, pharmacists assist clinicians by ensuring the safety and efficacy of patients’ medications. There’s also the option of starting your firm and providing healthcare to patients.
Having a strong desire to build relationships with others
Students interested in pursuing a career in pharmacy want to do it in a setting where they may interact directly with patients. Pharmacists are dedicated to providing patient-centred care. To select the best medications, they consider the relationship between medical problems, lifestyle, and other aspects. As part of their professional development, pharmacists cooperate with colleagues to research, build innovative pharmaceutical practices within certain business organisations, and collaborate with doctors to ensure that patients receive the proper prescriptions.
The desire for career flexibility in one’s choice
Another compelling motivation for students to enrol in pharmacy school is the diversity of career paths available in the field of pharmacy. You can choose from a variety of careers in pharmacy, ranging from nuclear pharmacy, which utilises radioactive medications to treat diseases such as cancer, to veterinary pharmacy, which hand-makes medication for animals, to choose the one that most interests you. It is also vital to keep in mind that you do not need to know what you want to do straight away. A pharmacy degree is prominent. As a result, it opens the door to many opportunities while also providing you with the time to explore the disciplines that interest you the most.
Distinctive Approach to Healthcare
While the vast majority of students choose pharmacy school because they want to serve others, some students choose pharmacy because they want to be as far away as possible from the traditional doctorate activities associated with the field. Believe it or not, several pharmacy students have stated that they were lured to the field because they did not want to come into contact with blood. If this describes you, a job in pharmacy may be the best of both worlds for you, as pharmacists can aid patients without having to deal with blood and guts regularly.
Other Important Reasons Students are Choosing Pharmacy Over Other Healthcare
Maintain a flexible schedule
Nontraditional work schedules benefit a pharmaceutical career that allows for a work-life balance. Pharmacists are needed in various capacities across the country, making it easier to locate a career that fits your lifestyle. Pharmacist work schedules and job descriptions are becoming more flexible to improve demand and retention. In addition, pharmacists are increasingly finding ways to work from home, providing 24-hour inpatient care for community hospitals and remote verification for mail-order pharmacies.
Take advantage of the opportunity for growth
The pharmacy profession is undergoing several exciting changes, including specialised pharmacy, the science of pharmacogenomics, and digital innovations such as artificial intelligence. Speciality drugs, such as biosimilars, are becoming increasingly popular in the pharmaceutical sector, and speciality pharmacies are growing in popularity as demand grows. Increases in personalised healthcare expansion employing genetic testing for genome sequencing and medicine selection based on the patient’s DNA are also rising. In addition, pharmacy schools are improving their educational materials to satisfy the needs of their present pupils. Schools are preparing the next generation of pharmacy professionals using “e-Patient” simulation techniques and artificial intelligence.
Interest in Math and Science
Often, your passions might play a role in determining your professional route. Has chemistry, biology, or statistics been a subject in which you have consistently performed well? What if you were interested in learning more about drug metabolism, veterinary pharmacy, or even doing pharmaceutical research? Then a job in pharmacy might be a good fit for you. In these disciplines, pharmacy students have a strong interest and a high level of expertise; both are required to make informed decisions about the optimal dosage, administration, and distribution of pharmaceuticals to humans and animals.
Mentoring future pharmacists
Being able to help everyone, not just patients and other healthcare professionals, are one of the advantages of becoming a pharmacist. As pharmacists, we have the opportunity to mentor future pharmacists, aiding them in determining their career pathways and deciding on pharmacy as a profession. Regardless of their practice location, all pharmacists advocate for future pharmacists and recent graduates to benefit from their expertise and experience.
