Pharmacist Overview - Preparation - Day In The Life - Earnings - Employment - Career Path Forecast - Professional Organizations - Overview PDF - Overview PowerPoint - Overview Podcast

Pharmacists distribute drugs prescribed by physicians and other health practitioners and provide information to patients about medications and their use. They advise physicians and other health practitioners on the selection, dosages, interactions, and side effects of medications. Pharmacists also monitor the health and progress of patients in response to drug therapy to ensure the safe and effective use of medication.

Pharmacists must understand the use, clinical effects, and composition of drugs, including their chemical, biological, and physical properties. Compounding -- the actual mixing of ingredients to form powders, tablets, capsules, ointments, and solutions -- is a small part of a pharmacist's practice, because most medicines are produced by pharmaceutical companies in a standard dosage and drug delivery form.

Some pharmacists specialize in specific drug therapy areas, such as intravenous nutrition support, oncology (cancer), nuclear pharmacy (used for chemotherapy), geriatric pharmacy, and psychopharmacotherapy (the treatment of mental disorders by means of drugs).

Pharmacist Resources
Online	Downloads
Overview: Overview of the work of Pharmacists
Preparation: Programs, Degree Fields
Day in the Life: Specialty Areas, the Workplace
Earnings: Salary Ranges
Employment: Statistics, Employment Options
Career Path Forecast: Predictions for Pharmacists
Professional Organizations: Resources, Networking, Support
Podcast: Overview of the career path of Pharmacist
Internet Resources: American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists American Pharmacists Association Board of Pharmaceutical Specialties National Association of Boards of Pharmacy

Note: Some resources in this section are provided by the US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.