General Pharm questions

[Fai]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Hello! I am a HS student looking at her health studies options and would like answers to a few questions I have pertaining to the studies/path of Pharmacy and the job aspects.

I am planning to take undergrad in Canada and if I don't get my Perm Residency by then I'll be attending professional school in America. So, if there are any Canadians here who can answer these questions such as the job aspect for this profession, that'd be great!

Here they are:

What is the outlook for the future of the job? Is it in demand? What is the lifestyle like? (I.e 9-5 job with weekend shifts, etc) What other Pharmacists are there? (I only know Retail and Clinical, which I'm still doing research on). Is there room to advance in position? (i.e move up in salary and work shifts, or is it the same as starter salary?) Is there malpractice insurance for Pharmacists and do they get sued as often as doctors? Do they get as strongly affected by health care laws as doctors?

Last two may be country-specific, since I know in America all health professions (or most) need malpractice insurance and we have ambulance-chasing sue-happy lawyers.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Kwiz]

People into P4 ask the same questions in regard to future outlook. Unfortunately no one knows. It would be intuitive that based on US labor and statistics' predicted 17% increase by 2015, combined with the whole O'BamaCare ordeal (eventually supposed to cover approx 32 million ppl not previously covered, or about 10% of the US population) that if you asked the gov, they'll tell you between 17-27% increase in pharmacy. Who knows if they're basing that off of future FDA plans, etc. . If you ask around here though most people are likely to say the job outlook is pretty bad. What I say is, if you out perform more than 50% of your pharm classmates, you'll be making 6 figures after u get ur pharmD and boards over with.

 

[Fai]

People into P4 ask the same questions in regard to future outlook. Unfortunately no one knows. It would be intuitive that based on US labor and statistics' predicted 17% increase by 2015, combined with the whole O'BamaCare ordeal (eventually supposed to cover approx 32 million ppl not previously covered, or about 10% of the US population) that if you asked the gov, they'll tell you between 17-27% increase in pharmacy. Who knows if they're basing that off of future FDA plans, etc. . If you ask around here though most people are likely to say the job outlook is pretty bad. What I say is, if you out perform more than 50% of your pharm classmates, you'll be making 6 figures after u get ur pharmD and boards over with.

Thanks for replying!

Yeah, if you are a decent/good pharmacist you wouldn't have a problem finding a job methinks. Especially if you wish to work in underserved areas like Alaska. I may move to Canada though and from what I was told all health professions (except specialized physicians) are in dire demand.

I have no idea what is going to happen with the whole Obamacare, all I know is it was upheld in the supreme court but I'm sure someone would try and repeal it anyway or try and move to Universal healthcare.