Is anyone here a Psychiatric Pharmacist?

[PhunwithPharm]

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I'm planning on doing a 2 year residency after pharm school to become a pscyh pharmacist. Any psych pharmacist on the forums? Can you tell me if you
1. Love your job
2. Is the 2 year residency worth it
3. Find the field growing in the future.
I really enjoyed psychology in undergrad and worked with people with mental disorders and disabilities for 2 years. While the job didn't pay much, it was one of the most fulfilling jobs I ever worked in. I wanted to go into pharmacy specifically to work as a psych pharmacist but I'm having difficulty finding a lot of information about it on the forums and on google.

 

[xiphoid2010]

Not one, but I had interest in that area during VA residency in 2010-2011. My preceptor for that month just had PGY-1, but had done his at a VA hospital that was heavily on psych, and he then picked additional psych months for his elective.

VA at the time was very much short on psych pharmacist. His job mostly situated in the inpatient psych ward, doing rounding, dosing, etc, but there is a bit of outpatient work as well.

While I was fascinated with psych pharmacology and treatment, it wasn't be something i want to do fulltime. The patients are mostly younger veterans from Afghanistan and Iraq, and soooo many are just ALL messed up. Your feel bad for them and try to help, but it begins to look futile and make the day depressing/unpleasant. So know thy self.

 

[opinionfree]

I understand you like psych and you like pharmacy. That's nice.
Perhaps you should create a, what you think job synopsis for the combination would entail first, and see if it will fit into an employable job description, anywhere. Especially since your considering a 2 year residency. I think once you create the, what you think the job description is, you will see that the 2 year residency, won't be in line with the reality of the position available, in the real world. If you're wondering how much rx writing power and influence on psych treatment, you will have after the residency. I'm telling you, very little.

Go get a PA (2 years) and specialize in psych. Your job desires, will fit much more in line with that combination. The issue of concern should be, will the 2 year PA program will be much more challenging, than the fluff filled 2 year pharmacy residency program. Yes it will be. However in the end, you will be infinitely more employable and professionally satisfied.

 

[PhunwithPharm]

Not one, but I had interest in that area during VA residency in 2010-2011.
While I was fascinated with psych pharmacology and treatment, it wasn't be something i want to do fulltime. The patients are mostly younger veterans from Afghanistan and Iraq, and soooo many are just ALL messed up. Your feel bad for them and try to help, but it begins to look futile and make the day depressing/unpleasant. So know thy self.

Thank you for replying. It puts a lot into perspective when you state it like this.

 

[Lil Mick]

Not one, but I've got a few friends who have worked with them (VA and legal system). Lots of turnover. Some great ones. Probably does depend on the person.