My choice of career in pharmacy
Pharmacy, as a profession, is the application of all branches of science to the production of medicinals’ and medicinal products (Shaw et al., 2000, p. 9). Community health, nuclear and retail pharmacy were the areas that I had in mind to pursue. The scope of practice and responsibilities of pharmacists in pharmacy setting differs tremendously either by size of organization or location as there could chain community pharmacy (retail), community health centers, and nuclear pharmacy. Community health centers (CHCs) are private, non-profit, consumer-directed healthcare corporations that provide high quality, cost effective, and comprehensive care to medically underserved and uninsured people (Torres et al., 2002,
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This is achieved through the safe and effective use of radioactive drugs to diagnose and treat specific disease states. Since radioactive isotopes are applicable to all branches of science, isotopes have particular application in the various divisions of the pharmaceutical profession (Shaw et al., 2000, p. 9). Nuclear pharmacies are best practiced in an Institution usually linked to a major medical center or hospital where preparations are made on-site or commercial centralized nuclear pharmacy where radiopharmaceuticals are prepared and then delivered to the hospital and/or clinic. Although, it is perceived as challenging due to probable exposure to radioactive materials, but strict adherence to rules and regulations, standard operating procedures. Also, the quantities of products used which is relatively small, and the level of training in radiation safety regarding the compounding, preparation, and delivery of radioactive materials. In developed countries, the practice of radiopharmacy is established. Conversely, in developing countries the implementation and development of radiopharmacy vary to a certain extent. This is because they lack specific training programs for nuclear medical professionals, including physicians, physicists, radiopharmacists, and technologists. The possible reasons for this deficiency could probably be due to legislative disagreements and limited human resources, which may limit the implementation and newer developments in this field. (Riyasha et al., 2000, p. 9). Global situation reveals out of 7.6 million who died from cancer and non-communicable diseases in 2008, 70% were from middle class and low income countries. Pharmacists view as per their dislikes and likes ranges from lack of patient contact, “on call”, to different shifts where as other pharmacists love it because of the
According to Helibron and Seidel (2011) nuclear medicine began as a simple experiment in the early twentieth century by George de Hevesy. De Hevesy started the experiment by deciding to test the effects of radiation on living things, beginning with bean plants, then onto furred animals, and then continued onto finding the effects of radiation on the human body, when he did this he became the first person to ever use radiation on a human being. He along with his partner E. Hofer, in 1931, consumed Deuterium which they had diluted with tea and found that traces of radioactivity stayed within their bodies for between eight to eighteen days. This was the first known use of radiation on humans (p. 1). This was just the beginning though, as time moved on the use of nuclear energy advanced and as it advanced it began to bleed into more subjects than those that it had been used in before, such as, nuclear medicine. Although it has its drawbacks, such as nuclear waste, there are many different benefits to nuclear medicine. Examples of such would be advances in therapy and treatment of disease...
Young, D. (2001). Hospital, Pharmacy Groups Reassure Patients After Kansas City Scandal. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists website. Retrieved June 13, 2011, from http://www.ashp.org/menu/News/PharmacyNews/NewsArticle.aspx?id=753.
This service is experienced, documented, evaluated and paid for as Pharmaceutical Care. Pharmaceutical Care consists of a philosophy of practice, patient care process as well as a patient management system. Pharmaceutical Care has common integrated vocabulary consistent with other patient care practices such as medicine, dentistry and nursing. Philosophy of pharmaceutical care consists of a description of the social need for the practice, a concise and clear statement of individual practitioner responsibilities to meet this social need, the expectation to be patient-centered and the requirement to function within the caring paradigm. This philosophy of practice is expected and practiced by all health care professionals. The patient care processes must be consistent with the patient care processes of all other health care providers. These processes include the assessment of the client’s pharmaceutical needs, a health care plan that is constructed to meet the specific needs of the client and a process in which evaluates the health care plan to gauge the efficacy of decisions made and actions taken. Pharmaceutical care management system includes all resources needed to manage the client’s needs, which include the space provided, such as a clinic or hospital, an appointment system for patients, appropriate and ethical documentation, reporting of patient care, evaluation of decisions made and actions taken and payment of service
I pleased to apply to the PharmD program as the program is one area that corresponds to my career dreams. Being part of this program gives one the opportunity to gain an excellent experience in working and collaborating with various health care providers in the ward. But more importantly, it facilitates a practical environment in dealing more closely with patients. Hence, it helps to provide the ultimate health care services to patients. Also, it permits me to carry on gaining different knowledge, skills, and values in addition to those I have already developed during my undergraduate studies. My interest in being a clinical pharmacist was first aroused during my SPEP rotation in the hospital setting where I was really impressed with the role of clinical pharmacists who provide a consistent process of patient care with healthcare teams to maintain the appropriateness, effectiveness and safety of the medication use. Unlike a pharmacist, a clinical pharmacist has a more diversified responsibilities and closeness to direct patient care. Moreover, provides
The Public Health Service Commissioned Corps had its beginnings with the creation of the Marine Hospital Fund in 1798, which later was reorganized in 1871 as the Marine Hospital Service. The Marine Hospital Service was charged with the care and maintenance of merchant sailors, but as the country grew, so did the ever-expanding mission of the service. The Marine Hospital Service soon began taking on new expanding health roles that included such health initiatives that protected the commerce and health of America. One such role was quarantine . describe how pharmacy officers in the Commissioned Corps are making a difference in protecting, promoting, and advancing health and safety of the Nation. Pharmacists who serve in the Commissioned Corps of the United States Public Health Service fill roles that are considerably different than their counterparts in the private sector. Their work takes them out from behind the counter and into the world. Pharmacy officers advance the health and safety of the Nation by their involvement in the delivery of direct patient care to medically underserved people, national security, drug vigilance, research and policy-making endeavors. pharmacists fill essential public health leadership and service roles throughout the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services HHS and certain non-HHS federal agencies and programs. Also Officers execute the mission of the Corps in the following ways:
When doctors prescribe medication for their patients, a local retail pharmacy is most likely to be utilized to fill the order. However, there is a growing population of older Americans that are no longer able to live independently and must reside in nursing homes or assisted living facilities. In order for this vulnerable population to receive their medications, a different kind of pharmacy is needed, these are known as LTC, long term care pharmacies. Within these specialized pharmacies there are highly trained employees called CPhTs, certified pharmacy technicians who are overseen by state licensed RPHs, otherwise known as pharmacists.
Adams, M. P., & Koch, R. W. (2009). Pharmocology: connections to nursing practice. (1 ed.). Upple Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. (ADD PAGE NUMBERS TO CITATION)
The earliest glimpse of my future was at an elementary career day years ago. When I filled out what I was going to dress up as I wrote the word, “farmacist.” My mom was a pharmacist and I looked up to her and wanted to be just like her! So when career day rolled around I dressed in a white coat carrying a big bottle full of M&M’s to dispense to my classmates. Now so many years later here I am actually about to take on graduate school and follow in my mother’s footsteps to become a pharmacist. Of course my career path has been less than a straight line from “farmasist” to pharmacist. My passion and talent for math and science in high school allowed me to seriously consider a career in engineering. However, the more I considered engineering, the more there seemed to be something missing. As much as I loved solving problems I did not see
Nuclear Medicine is the use of radioisotopes for diagnosis, treatment, and research. Radioactive chemical tracers emit gamma rays which provides diagnostic information about a person's anatomy and the functioning of specific organs. Radioisotopes are also utilizes in treatments of diseases such as cancer. It is estimated that approximately one in two people in Western countries are likely to experience the benefits of nuclear medicine in their lifetime.
Computerised Tomography (CT) scanning is used to recognise causes of abdominal pain and allows doctors to ‘see threw’ sufficient organs. An X-ray of the body is taken and combined with computer generated images to produce a two dimensional picture of the internal body (The American Association of Physics Teachers, 2007). In addition to the use of radiation in X-rays, radioactive materials are also useful in the context of nuclear medicine. In this case the radiation is often referred to as sample of radionuclides and is administrated into the patient through oral techniques. The medication works by forcing the patient’s body to become radioactive for a short period of time. The presence of the radioactivity in the patient’s body allows doctors to determine whether or not the person’s organs are functioning correctly. As well as the functioning of the body’s major organs, conditions such as interrupted blood flow and risk for infection can also be tested.
In 1946, nuclear medicine was introduced to the world in a form of an “atomic cocktail” (What is Nuclear Medicine, 2008). It played an important role in treating thyroid cancers. The patient would ingest the cocktail and the radiation from the iodine would destroy the cancerous cells. The use of iodine changed from curing cancer to actually measuring the function of an organ. It wasn’t until the 1950’s that nuclear medicine was fine-tuned and its’ use began to spread. The invention of an automated scanner, called a radioscope, was invented by Benedict Cassen (Blahd, 2000). This new discovery helped physicians diagnose their patients with hyperthyroidism. In the 1960’s, nuclear medicine became recognized as a specialty. The wheels continued to turn and more advancements were made. In the 1970’s, most of the human body could now be visualized using nuclear medicine (What is Nuclear Medicine, 2008). In the 1980’s, one of the more significant contributions to nuclear medicine was the invention of radiopharmaceuticals. A radiopharmaceutical is a drug that consists of radioactive materials called radioisotopes. These radiopharmaceuticals are specially formalized to travel to specific parts of the body. In small doses, they are used for imaging purposes. In larger doses, they are able to treat different types of cancers (Radiopharmaceuticals, 2013). In the 1990’s, PET scanning became essential in produ...
The importance of the becoming a pharmacist should not be about what the career can give a person in monetary value or the amount of accolades one receives. Instead, the career should be about saving and improving human lives and serving the public. Pharmacists keep people healthy, make them feel better, and try to help the public live longer and happier lives as long as possible. From small infant children to the elderly, everyone needs pharmaceutical care. Sometimes it can be a matter of life and death if medication is not available to the public. Pharmacy as a career would be a wise decision if a person could withstand the amount of education the profession entails.
First, here is some important background information about Pharmacists. A Pharmacist is someone who is trained and licensed to distribute medicinal drugs and to advise on their use. According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook Pharmacists do all of the following: "Fill prescriptions, verify proper amounts of medication to give to patients, check whether the prescription will interact negatively with other drugs that a patient is taking or conditions the patient has, instruct patients on how to and when to take a prescribed medicine, Advise patients on potential side effects they may experience from taking the medicine, Advise patients about general health topics, such as diet, exercise, managing stress, and on other issues, such as what equipment or supplies would be best for a health problem, Keep records and do other administrative tasks, Complete insurance forms and work with insurance companies to be sure that patients get the medicine they need, Teach other healthcare practitioners about proper medication therapies for patients, and lastly oversee the work of pharmacy technicians and pharmacists training."() Some pharmacists participate in compounding, where they create medications by mixing ingredients themselves. Pharmacists tha...
Pharmacists have very important roles in healthcare from all angles. Physicians and licensed practitioners that write a written prescription, the pharmacist reviews patient history, health conditions, and interactions with the new medication prescribed. As a pharmacy technician (for six years) I had a somewhat of an overview on what they accomplished in a shift but did not know everything on what I know now from this research. Pharmacy students that are in the process to obtain their doctor of pharmacy (D.Pharm.) go through a series of training, education and internship to become a well-rounded pharmacist.
Pharmacists often work together in a team with other healthcare professional like physicians and nurses. In the process, pharmacists will give advice to them on the selection of medication, by providing the evidences based on the dosage form, the side effects and possible interaction with food of the medication. On the other hand, pharmacists also take part in research and clinical studies. Recently, pharmacists are recruited to conduct pharmacy-based research in pharmacies. (Swanson, 2005)