Shortage of Pharmacists in Florida

[PistonFan531]

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Does anyone know if there is a shortage of Pharmacists in Florida? If so, how severe is the problem?

 

[TnTpharmD]

I know allot of local Nova 08 PharmD grads that are moving to another state becasue it's hard to find a job in the Ft. Lauderdale and neighbouring areas. Now, if that is representative of the whole state, I do not know.

 

[NaOH]

From the talk here and in the Pharmacy board, It seems Florida is the blighted no-man's-land of the U.S. pharmacy world.

 

[PistonFan531]

From the talk here and in the Pharmacy board, It seems Florida is the blighted no-man's-land of the U.S. pharmacy world.

If you don't mind, can you please elaborate on that?

 

[Tinkerbell22]

I can't speak from a pharmacist's perspective, but as a recent college grad just trying to get a simple tech job... it was pretty horrific. ANY jobs are really scarce in Florida, especially in the bigger cities. Everyone always wants to come here from other states in addition to the loads of people already living in the metro areas, so it's really competitive. I was in Miami for 4.5 years and I had to work as a waitress until the wee morning hours and get my pharmacy experience by volunteering at a hospital. I've also lived in Key West and Ft Lauderdale (right by Nova) and it's pretty bad also. My entire family has always lived in Florida so I'm really going to try and get into a good school and make the best of my opportunities while I am in there so that I might be able to get a job here in state, but my advice would be looking into the more obscure areas. I'm from the Florida Keys and it seems like health care jobs aren't really as competitive down there because most people are retired or move away for college and don't come back. Also my grandparents live on the west coast between Tampa and Gainseville and it seems like things aren't as competitive there either. I know a Nova 08 grad who works for the mail-order Walgreens at home, so that's always an option too if you're in to that.

 

[litetigre]

Retail jobs are gone for pharmacists. Good old wag and cvs did a great job. Mtm and clinical are those that still have opening and good for our profession

 

[tahi193]

.

 

[IrishHammer]

sigh...I just got my first acceptance yesterday and now I'm wondering why I should bother going to school if I won't be able to get a job when I'm finished. What happened to the massive shortage people have been flapping their arms about?

The economy died. Economic downturn will hurt even the most recession proof career (which, by the way, pharmacy isn't).

But the bigger issue is that Walgreens and CVS, for all intents and purposes, are done expanding. Meanwhile, more schools are pumping out more graduates. So there are more pharmacists every year, but Walgreens and CVS aren't building new stores for them to work...starting to see what happened?

 

[Aznfarmerboi]

sigh...I just got my first acceptance yesterday and now I'm wondering why I should bother going to school if I won't be able to get a job when I'm finished. What happened to the massive shortage people have been flapping their arms about?

Go to your state's board of pharmacy website. Look up the statistics of new pharmacy graduates/ licensee. Another number to look up is how many people are in your incoming class. Dont forget about other schools in the state. Now say to yourself if that number is sustaniable? Also keep in mind that you have a lot of old part timers down there.

A new store employs 2.5 pharmacists. Even if CVS and Wags were to expand (Florida is NOT a new market), how many stores do they need to open to employ all the new graduates?

 

[Aznfarmerboi]

On the plus side, if you speak spanish... CVS is expanding into Puerto Rico where they do NOT have any pharmacy schools. The benefits are awesome including pre-paid trips for you to check out the school districts, golf courses, etc before you sign the contract, nice sign on bonus, nice salary, moving expenses, and an expense account so you can visit the USA reguarly.

Just an option since Puerto Rico isnt that far off from Florida.

 

[SHC1984]

The economy died. Economic downturn will hurt even the most recession proof career (which, by the way, pharmacy isn't).

What is the most recession proof career then?

 

[socalpharm86]

On the plus side, if you speak spanish... CVS is expanding into Puerto Rico where they do NOT have any pharmacy schools. The benefits are awesome including pre-paid trips for you to check out the school districts, golf courses, etc before you sign the contract, nice sign on bonus, nice salary, moving expenses, and an expense account so you can visit the USA reguarly.

Just an option since Puerto Rico isnt that far off from Florida.

University of Puerto Rico School of Pharmacy mi amigo

 

[tahi193]

.

 

[gsinccom]

The economy died. Economic downturn will hurt even the most recession proof career (which, by the way, pharmacy isn't).

But the bigger issue is that Walgreens and CVS, for all intents and purposes, are done expanding. Meanwhile, more schools are pumping out more graduates. So there are more pharmacists every year, but Walgreens and CVS aren't building new stores for them to work...starting to see what happened?

This is true where I live except for we don't have CVS.

I also think many pharmacists who had planned on retiring are now planning on working another five years or more to make up for losses in their retirement accounts.

 

[tahi193]

.

 

[Moni526]

I work in FL/work in a pharmacy here, and from what the students say, all the job openings in Fl are on the west coast of FL, but most of them try to get jobs elsewhere, such as California.

 

[Ackj]

What is the most recession proof career then?

Think of things that are necessary regardless of economy. If you don't have the money, you'll skip your meds. That means pharmacy isn't recession proof. Now lets think of morticians. No matter how the economy is, people are going to be dying. Recession proof.

 

[Passion4Sci]

Think of things that are necessary regardless of economy. If you don't have the money, you'll skip your meds. That means pharmacy isn't recession proof. Now lets think of morticians. No matter how the economy is, people are going to be dying. Recession proof.

Skip the funeral and get cremated. Now the mortician is useless. Still not recession proof.

Recession proof: Soldier, firefighter, police officer, President of the United States.

 

[NaOH]

Farming.

Well, no, never mind. Only an idort would try to break into farming these days. 🙁

 

[SHC1984]

Skip the funeral and get cremated. Now the mortician is useless. Still not recession proof.

Recession proof: Soldier, firefighter, police officer, President of the United States.

If you own a oil mine, its recession proof. Everyone has to drive no matter what and if the gas prices are $4 a gallon then you will be rich. LOL...

 

[IrishHammer]

If you own a oil mine, its recession proof. Everyone has to drive no matter what and if the gas prices are $4 a gallon then you will be rich. LOL...

Most pharmacists don't own oil mines, unfortunately. But even with Flex Fuel and other alternative energy sources, it's a good time to own an oil mine. Especially since oil does have a plethora of other uses outside of gasoline.

 

[IrishHammer]

Skip the funeral and get cremated. Now the mortician is useless. Still not recession proof.

Recession proof: Soldier, firefighter, police officer, President of the United States.

Somebody's still gotta run the furnace, and sell the urn. All you've done is save the mortician time. So there's less work done by less people, saving the company money. It's like the dead people version of POWER.

 

[Ackj]

Skip the funeral and get cremated. Now the mortician is useless. Still not recession proof.

Recession proof: Soldier, firefighter, police officer, President of the United States.

Unfortunately, you still need someone to do the cremation. Your backyard tire fire just wont cut it. We COULD do without a president.

 

[IrishHammer]

Unfortunately, you still need someone to do the cremation. Your backyard tire fire just wont cut it. We COULD do without a president.

Why have a President when we can just have Ron Paul do it?