Pharmacy is the profession concerned with the preparation, distribution, and use of drugs. Members of this profession are called pharmacists or druggists. They were once called apothecaries. The word pharmacy also refers to a place where drugs are prepared or sold. Most pharmacies, sometimes called drugstores, sell a variety of products in addition to drugs.
Duties of a pharmacist.
Pharmacists fill prescriptions written by physicians or dentists and prepare labels for the medicines. On the labels, pharmacists include directions for patients given in prescriptions. At one time, pharmacists compounded their own medicines. Today, pharmaceutical manufacturers supply most drugs. But pharmacists must still compound some medicines and be able to prepare antiseptic solutions, ointments, and other common remedies. They also advise people on the selection of nonprescription drugs, such as cold tablets. In addition, pharmacists are responsible for the legal sale of narcotics and poisonous substances.
Training and careers in pharmacy.
To become a pharmacist in the United States, a person must graduate from an accredited college of pharmacy. After finishing this five- or six-year program, graduates must complete one year of internship under the supervision of a practicing pharmacist. Each state requires graduates to pass a state board examination before granting them a license to practice in the state. Canada has similar training requirements for pharmacists.
The United States has about 100 accredited colleges of pharmacy, and Canada has 10. Most of these colleges are part of a large university. Pharmacy students must take courses in the biological sciences, chemistry, and mathematics, as well as in the humanities, to receive a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy. They also must complete specialized professional courses. These courses include pharmacology, the study of the effects of drugs on living things; pharmaceutics, the physical chemistry of drugs; and clinical pharmacy, the application of the pharmaceutical sciences to patient care. A master’s or doctor’s degree is required for work in certain fields. Pharmacists may work in clinics, drugstores, hospitals, industrial plants, or research laboratories. They may also work for the military or government.
The American Pharmaceutical Association is the national organization of pharmacists in the United States. It was founded in 1852. The association seeks to maintain high standards of practice among its members. Information about career opportunities in pharmacy can be obtained by contacting the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy in Alexandria, Virginia.
