The BS/RPh. is pretty much the same as the PharmD, so there is not much difference btw the two like most of you guys are implying. However, the quality of pharmacy programs may be changing for the better and I cant comment on that part. After working almost 3 yrs. now as a CPhT., I have noticed that those pharmacists working in retail forget most everything once in practice. Everything is so automated now that the pharmacist can use the computer system to check for errors,side effects, and indications of usage. Giving advice on OTC products is on a daily basis and it seems that this knowledge is kept good. Obviously any college graduate is going to forget things, but I as a customer and patient would not want my local pharmacist to be as incompetant as they are. Maybe, my area in Tampa, FL has something to do with it, but ,most of these guys and gals at Eckerd/CVS are glorified techs that get payed 45 bucks an hour. I have worked with 3 graduates from UF though (2 young,1 older who owned his own pharmacy-real smart guy) who are very knowledgeable and awesome PharmD's. I think the problem is that Eckerds hires anyone with a license. Now that I work in a large hospital as an iv/infusion tech, all the pharmacists are great and knowledgeble cause they actually use what they learned in school. Maybe i'm isolated or something but im guessing ive worked with 20+ pharmacists that were mostly just final checkers who had their license on the line if anyone screwed up. Im sorry if this post offended anyone wanting to go into retail, but I believe so strongly that retail is NOT for those who want a mentally stimulating career or one that you actually use what you learned in pharm school. Like I stated in an earlier post, it scares me to know that most of the pharmacists dont know a damn thing about the angiotensin-aldosterone system and their patients who are on ace inhibitors and diuretics. Or those taking potassium supplements and on maxzide/dyazide. I only hope you guys/gals will change the pharmacy community for the better with knowledgeble professionals that can put meaning into why the pharmacist is the drug expert.
We are part of the "Golden" Age of pharmacy!
