Pharmacology is the science of the interaction of chemical
substances with living organisms or systems. The development of chemical agents
to cure, prevent, or ease the symptoms of disease is the primary goal of
pharmacology. Pharmacists interpret prescriptions and then prepare and
dispense the appropriate medications with accuracy. They may provide the
physician and patients with information about the uses and effects of
pharmaceuticals. They also assist customers in choosing nonprescription
medicines and health products and must have the necessary knowledge to
counsel a customer to seek the advice and treatment of a physician, dentist,
or other health practitioner.
The pharmacist must remain aware of the latest
developments in drugs for the treatment of all diseases and disorders,
including heart disease, ulcers, cancer, infections, and kidney disease.
Also, knowledge of pesticides, herbicides, and industrial chemicals is
required. Pharmacy personnel are important members of a rapidly expanding
science. The career options are very broad. Pharmacists and pharmacy
technicians may work in community pharmacies, hospitals, industries, colleges
or schools of pharmacy, or public health facilities. Training for a career in
pharmacology varies from a few months after high school to several years of
post-graduate study.
Pharmacist
Pharmacists
dispense medications prescribed by physicians and other authorized medical practitioners.
They counsel patients about the use of prescription drugs and over-the-counter
medications.
Work Activities
Verifying
the validity of a prescription
Determining
the identity, purity, and strength of medications
Weighing,
measuring, and mixing drugs and other medicinal compounds
Ensuring
that patients understand prescribed instructions
Providing
information to prescribers, institutional
clients, and others
Taking
responsibility for the pharmaceutical care of patients
Providing
consultation to patients
Keeping
comprehensive records of all medications dispensed in order to satisfy the
provisions of the law
Storing
and preserving biologicals, vaccines, serums,
and other drugs that may lose their potency
Ordering
and maintaining a supply of drugs, chemicals, and other pharmaceutical
stock
Advising
civic groups and other health professionals about rational drug use and
precautions, and about the availability of medications
Teaching
in a college of pharmacy
Career Specialties
Pharmacists may perform other duties depending on their
place of employment.
Community Pharmacists, or Retail Pharmacists, perform a
combination of professional, managerial, and administrative functions. In
addition to dispensing medications and medical supplies and consulting with
consumers and other health professionals, these pharmacists hire and supervise
employees, keep business records, and oversee the general operation of the
pharmacy.
Consultant Pharmacists review the drug therapy programs of
nursing home patients on a regular basis.
Hospital Pharmacists working in hospitals, clinics, or nursing
homes may advise the medical staff on the selection and effects of drugs,
perform administrative duties, teach in schools of allied health, and work in
patient care areas as members of a medical team. They may be engaged in the
therapeutic monitoring of drug levels and in the filling and compounding of
orders for medications. They also may gather information for use in hospital
research projects.
Radiopharmacists receive
special training to work with radiopharmaceuticals (drugs that contain
radioactive materials).
Pharmacists employed in industrial settings may find positions
in the research and development of new drugs or in the supervision of
personnel, quality control, packaging, or medical sales.
Work Settings
Depending on their place of employment, a Pharmacist may
work alone, with other Pharmacists, or as a member of a team of health care
professionals. Pharmacists may supervise pharmacy assistants, pharmacy technicians,
and other employees and/or be supervised by a pharmacy owner, project director,
or by a more experienced Pharmacist. Hazards may include skin disorders from
contact with chemicals and burns from acids. The work does not require much
physical effort; however, in many jobs Pharmacists are required to stand most
of the day.
Special Requirements
To become licensed as a Pharmacist in Arkansas,
an applicant must have a professional degree from an approved school of
pharmacy, pass a state board examination, and have a specified amount of
practical experience in a pharmacy or serve an internship under a licensed
pharmacist in a community or a hospital pharmacy.
Pharmacy Technicians
assist pharmacists by mixing and filling prescriptions and maintaining the
pharmacy’s stock levels.
Work Activities
Mixing
pharmaceutical preparations under the direction and supervision of the
pharmacist
Preparing
inventory; ordering and stocking supplies
Packaging
and labeling drugs, chemicals, and other pharmaceutical preparations
Filling
prescriptions with prepared drugs and compounding sterile intravenous
solutions under the
supervision of a pharmacist
Cleaning
equipment and work areas in the pharmacy
Sterilizing
bottles, beakers, and other glassware according to prescribed methods
Computing
charges for drugs
Delivering
prepared medications and running errands
Work Settings
Pharmacy Technicians work under the direction and close supervision
of a pharmacist. They may work with other Technicians in large hospitals or in
retail settings where they also may greet and assist customers.
Special Requirements
Nearly all employers require applicants to have a physical
exam. Because Pharmacy Technicians deal with controlled substances, they must
undergo a background check. Applicants without prior experience or training may
be required to pass a test to determine if they have the necessary aptitude to
learn the job. Some typing may be required for this job.
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences - Regional Programs
Technical Support
If you are experiencing technical problems with any of the
Regional Program sites, or see an error, please contact our support center
at 1-800-547-8680. Please record any error messages with the name of the
page, date you saw the error, and a description of the error and to us.
Pharmacology is the science of the interaction of chemical
substances with living organisms or systems. The development of chemical agents
to cure, prevent, or ease the symptoms of disease is the primary goal of
pharmacology. Pharmacists interpret prescriptions and then prepare and
dispense the appropriate medications with accuracy. They may provide the
physician and patients with information about the uses and effects of
pharmaceuticals. They also assist customers in choosing nonprescription
medicines and health products and must have the necessary knowledge to
counsel a customer to seek the advice and treatment of a physician, dentist,
or other health practitioner. 