Pharmacy to Nursing

[BobbyV]

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Has anyone (or knows anyone that has) taken the leap from pharmacy to the nursing field? if so, can you please share your experience/advise?

I'm currently a staff pharmacist and I think soon I will want to transition out into another career path.

 

[Dr pharmacist]

Has anyone (or knows anyone that has) taken the leap from pharmacy to the nursing field? if so, can you please share your experience/advise?

I'm currently a staff pharmacist and I think soon I will want to transition out into another career path.

From pharmacy to nursing?
This is un logic maybe from pharmacy to medicine

 

[hye345]

From pharmacy to nursing?
This is un logic maybe from pharmacy to medicine

medicine is about as far removed from pharmacy as is nursing (as far as job duties). But I’d think nursing would be the easier transition, since less schooling is required.

 

[Dr pharmacist]

medicine is about as far removed from pharmacy as is nursing (as far as job duties). But I’d think nursing would be the easier transition, since less schooling is required.

U know pharmacist is doctor but nurse isn't doctor and this title is very imp

 

[hye345]

U know pharmacist is doctor but nurse isn't doctor and this title is very imp

yeah, no one cares about job titles. The average nurse (or nurse practitioner, not sure about different “levels” of nursing) probably delivers more actual healthcare to a patient than the average (retail) pharmacist.

 

[BobbyV]

medicine is about as far removed from pharmacy as is nursing (as far as job duties). But I’d think nursing would be the easier transition, since less schooling is required.

this was my train of thought...less school compared to medicine but similar earning potential/job prospect as pharmacist.

 

[mentos]

From pharmacy to nursing?
This is un logic maybe from pharmacy to medicine

Nurses make more than new pharmacists nowadays, especially during the peak of Covid. Nurses were getting hazard pay while pharmacists got their hours cut.

 

[Sine Cura]

Now how easy it is to specialize as a NP I know not but UC Davis pays more than retail pharmacist peons

Department Description​

The Division of Hematology and Oncology and the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center have grown to be one of the largest divisions in the Department of Internal Medicine with 35 faculty members, including 21 clinician-scientists, with expertise that covers the breadth of hematology and medical oncology. Disease areas of particular clinical and research expertise include thoracic, genitourinary, breast, hematological, and gastrointestinal malignancies. Division faculty are also leaders in hemophilia, sickle cell, and thrombosis research. The division houses the faculty leaders of the Cancer Control, Regenerative Medicine, and PET imaging programs. Job Summary Final Filing Date 09/22/2020 Salary Range $70.73 – $93.34 Salary Frequency Hourly Appointment Type Career Percentage of Time 100% Shift Hour 10 hour or 12 hour shifts, variable Location Cancer Center City Sacramento Union Representation Yes Benefits Eligible Yes We offer exceptional employment benefits including medical, dental, and vision plans, generous paid vacations and holidays, excellent retirement savings and investment plans, continuing education, and reduced fee and scholarship programs. THIS IS NOT AN H1- B OPPORTUNITY Responsibilities This position is will provide independent advanced level nurse practitioner clinical expertise to patients and their families on an on-going basis. This includes the management of chronic stable medical conditions, routine care, acute or critical care, and medical and specialty protocols (e.g. chemotherapy) as defined by standardized procedures for your specific department. This may include non-invasive or invasive procedures, surgical procedures, including operative first assist per approved standardized procedures as identified by the list available from the Medical Staff Office. Patient management decisions will be independent where appropriate after assessment of the patient and interdependent with consultation with an attending or other member of the team. NPs are expected to act as an expert resource person for health care providers including nurses, residents, and other ancillary staff. Provides direct patient care to a diversified patient population. Applies knowledge, experience and judgment to determine the importance of a situation, set priorities, and use abstract thought to evaluate clinical situations. Participates in patient and staff education. Demonstrates leadership skills. Demonstrates accountability for own practices as defined by the Nurse Practice Act.​

 

[deleted562805]

this was my train of thought...less school compared to medicine but similar earning potential/job prospect as pharmacist.

I wouldn’t do medicine either. Medicine is also sadly on the decline. BLS is 4% job growth for the next ten years. Better than pharmacy, but not by much. Physicians are getting replaced by mid levels in emergency room, critical care and some other IM fields as well as primary care.

Nursing is the better option and work for 1-3 years and then go to CRNA or NP school. BLS job growth is 45% in the next ten years for mid level NPs, NMs and CRNAs

 

[Vngannxx]

Nursing is a good return on investment, especially if you can attend public schools.

Options down the road to pursue more school ( NP/CRNA) if you want

It might be better to get a regular bachelors and shadow compared to jumping straight to a 0-6. Plenty of time on your hands.

 

[CYNTO]

Nursing is a good return on investment, especially if you can attend public schools.

Options down the road to pursue more school ( NP/CRNA) if you want

It might be better to get a regular bachelors and shadow compared to jumping straight to a 0-6. Plenty of time on your hands.

Hello, I am in the same boat. I am a rph for 8 years now. currently enrolled in an accelerated BSN wondering if I should continue or not. Have been looking for a job as rph since April 2020

 

[sugarxoxo]

I know many people who went from pharmacy to medicine, a couple of students in my pharmacy school went straight from pharmacy to medical... Not uncommon. I see pharmacy more applicable and a easier transition than going into nursing to be honest.

 

[deleted562805]

I know many people who went from pharmacy to medicine, a couple of students in my pharmacy school went straight from pharmacy to medical... Not uncommon. I see pharmacy more applicable and a easier transition than going into nursing to be honest.

Or Pharmacy to PA school, because COVID-19 has negatively impacted the physician job market. Job growth is 4% now. Unless you want to practice overseas, MD is hands down better.

 

[DH1987]

6 years of your life in school to be a PharmD, then another 8-10 years to be an MD? No way. Not unless you absolutely cannot find a job, and even then I'd probably just go to PA school. Hell, I'd sooner try to start my own business.

 

[PharmtoCS]

I would also consider getting a degree in computer science, or going to a coding bootcamp. You can land a cushy six figure job with a few years of experience if not right off the bat with a minimal investment in time and money.

 

[quickpic007]

Has anyone (or knows anyone that has) taken the leap from pharmacy to the nursing field? if so, can you please share your experience/advise?

I'm currently a staff pharmacist and I think soon I will want to transition out into another career path.

Bump
I am thinking about this, but probably wont follow up. At the time of this posting, RN with associate degree and relevant experience are earning 7K+ WEEKLY running on Covid units. I have heard reports of up to 10K wages WEEKLY (the potential is there to gross close to 80K for two months work). Krucial staffing. StaffDNA.

While new grad rphs are fighting for scraps below 50$/hr 24 hours a week at walgreens and cvs! Crazy times!

 

[tlh908]

I can see being an RN. During the peak covid times my wife was making over 70/hour, more than I make. Holidays were over 100/hour. Hospitals take care of nurses with differentials, holiday pay, hazard pay (even with the vaccine), etc. Stuff you never see at chains.

 

[VA77]

Nursing is definitely the best ROI. I wonder if there will be a thread soon called "Pharmacy School renamed to Nursing School" since they can't find students.

 

[nickw2401]

PA school would probably be the better choice...

 

[iamapharmacist]

Nurses make more than new pharmacists nowadays, especially during the peak of Covid. Nurses were getting hazard pay while pharmacists got their hours cut.

Get a nursing degree and build experience to become an NP. Probably the more efficient way to practice actual medicine.

 

[iamapharmacist]

PA school would probably be the better choice...

NPs are preferred over PAs I heard. I looked into this and asked alot of NPs and PAs. They have very similar job duties but NPs have less paper work and are much better organized than PAs as far as the profession goes. I heard some PAs talk about their profession like how we talk about ours lol

 

[iamapharmacist]

6 years of your life in school to be a PharmD, then another 8-10 years to be an MD? No way. Not unless you absolutely cannot find a job, and even then I'd probably just go to PA school. Hell, I'd sooner try to start my own business.

Even with PA schools, you still have to consider the potential of retaking some of prereqs and GRE which may be another 1-2 years before you can apply.

 

[nickw2401]

NP...PA. whatever....still a better decision than a PharmD. CRNA is the way to go

 

[nickw2401]

Nursing is a good return on investment, especially if you can attend public schools.

Options down the road to pursue more school ( NP/CRNA) if you want

It might be better to get a regular bachelors and shadow compared to jumping straight to a 0-6. Plenty of time on your hands.

why would you load the boat with more debt as a NP? You will make less....CRNA yes go for it

 

[iamapharmacist]

NP...PA. whatever....still a better decision than a PharmD. CRNA is the way to go

Looks like it may take about 8 years to be CRNA but average salary is $160k so... probably worth it haha

 

[Dred Pirate]

Looks like it may take about 8 years to be CRNA but average salary is $160k so... probably worth it haha

I really thought they made more than that - I know CRNA's who make more than PCP MD's.
160k? not worth the 8 years for a lateral move income wise - obviously for others it is a significant increase.

NP and PA will be saturated soon - don't expect that to be a legit option.

I couldn't image leaving pharmacy to be a RN - I respect they hell out of them, but they (in general) make a LOT less, and deal with a lot of literal crap. Ya - you can find extreme salaries with travel nursing, etc - but that has its own set of challenges, and not generally a long term plan.

Maybe my thoughts would be different if I was hammering away at CVS or Wags, but I would never give up my current job for anything less than 200k a year and stable, but I completely get that I am one of the lucky ones.

 

[iamapharmacist]

I really thought they made more than that - I know CRNA's who make more than PCP MD's.
160k? not worth the 8 years for a lateral move income wise - obviously for others it is a significant increase.

NP and PA will be saturated soon - don't expect that to be a legit option.

I couldn't image leaving pharmacy to be a RN - I respect they hell out of them, but they (in general) make a LOT less, and deal with a lot of literal crap. Ya - you can find extreme salaries with travel nursing, etc - but that has its own set of challenges, and not generally a long term plan.

Maybe my thoughts would be different if I was hammering away at CVS or Wags, but I would never give up my current job for anything less than 200k a year and stable, but I completely get that I am one of the lucky ones.

Where do you work?

At least PAs have much better job outlook than us lol

Physician Assistants

Physician assistants examine, diagnose, and treat patients under the supervision of a physician.

www.bls.gov

 

[Dred Pirate]

Where do you work?

At least PAs have much better job outlook than us lol

Physician Assistants

Physician assistants examine, diagnose, and treat patients under the supervision of a physician.

www.bls.gov

Midsized desirable city in the southeast. I have some good friends who are pa’s in my Ed. I make more than them with much better benefits.

 

[VA77]

Where do you work?

At least PAs have much better job outlook than us lol

Physician Assistants

Physician assistants examine, diagnose, and treat patients under the supervision of a physician.

www.bls.gov

Every healthcare professional that requires a degree has a better outlook than us. Seriously, I will send the 1st person a $100 if you can find one according to the BLS.

 

[nickw2401]

I really thought they made more than that - I know CRNA's who make more than PCP MD's.
160k? not worth the 8 years for a lateral move income wise - obviously for others it is a significant increase.

NP and PA will be saturated soon - don't expect that to be a legit option.

I couldn't image leaving pharmacy to be a RN - I respect they hell out of them, but they (in general) make a LOT less, and deal with a lot of literal crap. Ya - you can find extreme salaries with travel nursing, etc - but that has its own set of challenges, and not generally a long term plan.

Maybe my thoughts would be different if I was hammering away at CVS or Wags, but I would never give up my current job for anything less than 200k a year and stable, but I completely get that I am one of the lucky ones.

8 years for CRNA? no...6 years, you would most likely be accepted into a BSN program as a 3rd year

 

[nickw2401]

PA has a projected 40% job growth rate over the next 10 years....pharmacists... -3%

 

[johnpharm01]

From pharmacy to nursing?
This is un logic maybe from pharmacy to medicine

What's "un logic" if one wants to have a career in healthcare, nursing makes more sense than pharmacy. It's not an easy ride but pharmacy is in a hole that it might not recover from.

 

[lord999]

Maybe my thoughts would be different if I was hammering away at CVS or Wags, but I would never give up my current job for anything less than 200k a year and stable, but I completely get that I am one of the lucky ones.

I wouldn't go that far. Job portability is a big deal, as you consider that matter yourself. It can be worth making $40k less if there is children involved and having them grow up in a stable Iowan environment like you have considered . When we are at the level of income we are at, money matters less than circumstances. I am not saying that money does not matter, but we have more to play with. It's a nice privilege.

Pharmacy goes through the cycles, but nursing REALLY does see-saw. We're just at different points in the cycle right now.

What kind of sucks is a guy like you has built a job that is much more than the position description. You know your people, you know the environment, you know the atmosphere, and people respect you. That's never been portable, and so there is this inertia that we all have to stay in jobs long past the point that we should get up and leave. What I really respect Industry pharmacists for is the idea that all relationships come to an end, and it's not personal, it's business. It's also much more merciless when older.

 

[CYNTO]

Has anyone (or knows anyone that has) taken the leap from pharmacy to the nursing field? if so, can you please share your experience/advise?

I'm currently a staff pharmacist and I think soon I will want to transition out into another career path.

I am in same thinking...

 

[RN2RPh]

I am in same thinking...

I am the opposite. I made the change from nursing to pharmacy.

 

[PrincessSnow]

I am the opposite. I made the change from nursing to pharmacy.

RN2RPh my pharmacy is getting to be more and more like nursing. Has your work place made the transition to value based care yet? If it has what type pf position do you have? Staff pharmacist, Supervisor or Manager Pharmacist, Clinical Pharmacist, Clinical Pharmacist Specialist. I went from nursing to pharmacy to and it used to be a dream job and it has turned to pure misery. Management trying to prove Value.

 

[RN2RPh]

RN2RPh my pharmacy is getting to be more and more like nursing. Has your work place made the transition to value based care yet? If it has what type pf position do you have? Staff pharmacist, Supervisor or Manager Pharmacist, Clinical Pharmacist, Clinical Pharmacist Specialist. I went from nursing to pharmacy to and it used to be a dream job and it has turned to pure misery. Management trying to prove Value.

Who doesn't want "Value" right? At my workplace, there are only 2 streams of revenue: billing for patient visits (clinic) & selling drug (pharmacy). Revenue from clinic visits is enough to fund about 4-5 FTE and my pharmacy fund the rest which is around....30 FTE + all the operation cost. My management can try to prove whatever Value they want, they just have to have pharmacists to run the pharmacy. People usually argue that it is cheaper to hire a NP over a Pharmacist. Well, at my institution, with the latest contract, NP gets paid just as good as pharmacist. So no more financial incentive for hiring NP over RPh hehe.
By the way, if your job is a misery, then maybe it is time for a different one ?

 

[PrincessSnow]

Where I am they only only hiring RN's in these clinics at this time likely cause they are cheaper than both Rph and NP. It is miserable having to watch other RPh in the department losing their livelihood since their job is being eliminated. I do not have to work so I can sustain the environment plus I have multiple opportunities that they do not have since I am both a RN and RPh. It is sad watching all of them. The new grads are sad too and owe so much in student loans. They did not know they they changed the curriculum to be like nursing and clinical nurse specialist roles. I plan to retire before 2030 but if I lost my job today I am good. That is the difference on why the environment is sustainable for me. The students really believe it is clinical pharmacy. When management says to me "you are not going to have a job at all." I laugh and say "I am glad I do not have to work" and they respond and say "I wish I could say that." I just smile. These new value based payments models will likely be in effect by 2030.

Reference:
RN Role Reimagined: How Empowering Registered Nurses Can Improve Primary Care - California Health Care Foundation

Reference:

Implementing Nurse-Run Hypertension Care - Center for Care Innovations

Looking to "share the care" within their care team—especially with nursing team members—but aren't sure how?

www.careinnovations.org

 

[RN2RPh]

Where I am they only only hiring RN's in these clinics at this time likely cause they are cheaper than both Rph and NP. It is miserable having to watch other RPh in the department losing their livelihood since their job is being eliminated. I do not have to work so I can sustain the environment plus I have multiple opportunities that they do not have since I am both a RN and RPh. It is sad watching all of them. The new grads are sad too and owe so much in student loans. They did not know they they changed the curriculum to be like nursing and clinical nurse specialist roles. I plan to retire before 2030 but if I lost my job today I am good. That is the difference on why the environment is sustainable for me. The students really believe it is clinical pharmacy. When management says to me "you are not going to have a job at all." I laugh and say "I am glad I do not have to work" and they respond and say "I wish I could say that." I just smile. These new value based payments models will likely be in effect by 2030.

Reference:
RN Role Reimagined: How Empowering Registered Nurses Can Improve Primary Care - California Health Care Foundation
View attachment 385576
Reference:

Implementing Nurse-Run Hypertension Care - Center for Care Innovations

Looking to "share the care" within their care team—especially with nursing team members—but aren't sure how?

www.careinnovations.org

View attachment 385578
View attachment 385577

I am confused since your reference shows PharmD is a part of the work flow ??? I dont really see any "innovation " in those HTN care order set. RN has been working with similar things such as Insulin Sliding scale or Heparin Drip forever. What if the patient conditions don't fall into any of the parameters (for eg: allergic to benazepril) ? RN can't make the decision when things don't fit the algorithms.
Honestly I can't understand why RPh want to work in "Primary Care Clinic" ??? Your scope of practice depends on the mercy of the Medical Director and you have to fight with NP/PA (and you have a lot of disadvantages such as assessment skills and prescribing authority). I just prefer to stay in my lane which is my pharmacy haha. If their clinic need another stream of revenue from selling drugs, then they have to hire a pharmacist.

 

[RXDOC1986]

I wasn't going to chime in, because the thread was from 9/2020, and some (2-3) posters were banned, on this thread.
The main reason was, circumstances have drastically changed, POST Covid.

I was a travel / COVID pharmacist, for over 2 years, we were at a COVID-only hospital in Albany, GA. Some of our highly skilled, ICU nurses were making $5000/week. Some others, a bit less. I made close to this number, but it included food and other expenses, they paid for lodging.
I got to go home every other week, with 7on/7off. The nurses did not. This was extraordinary times.

I don't know about other R.Ph. salaries, but I make more than nurses, PA's and (most) C-NP's. I am not saying it's a better job, that's ultimately for you to decide.