Why do you want to become a pharmacist?

[RAMPHARMD]

Well guys, (as I'm sure you all know) it's interview season. Although you may be asked to answer essentially any question, it's almost certain that the majority of us interview-attending pre-pharms will be asked the fateful question that is the title of this thread. With that being said, and considering that there is so much at stake during our interviews, I feel that it is imperative for any serious candidate to be ready for such a question. So... Why do you want to become a pharmacist?

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[Storm90]

I like working in a pharmacy, I'm fascinated by drugs and how they work in the body and how helpful or detrimental they can be. I also like being able to help people understand their medication therapies.

 

[TpharmD]

it would be great if people can share their reasoning to become a pharmacist.
i) answering it in actual interview
ii) answering it for real

for me
i) i havnt face any interview
ii) i always wanted to go in health care field. medicine wasnt for me b/c of its length; also need smarter brain to do medicine. in nursing i didnt like its job.

 

[FarscapeGirl]

TpharmD, I wouldn't say you need a smarter brain to do medicine. Being a medical doctor, being a biologist, being a nurse, or being a pharmacist pretty much in my opinion require all about the same amount of brain power. It's more what your strengths and skills are and what you want out of a career.

If you're going into pharmacy because it's easier than being a doctor, you might be mistaken. There's a whole lot more chemistry and complicated chemistry in pharmacy school than in medical school.

 

[Haleyzx]

TpharmD, I wouldn't say you need a smarter brain to do medicine. Being a medical doctor, being a biologist, being a nurse, or being a pharmacist pretty much in my opinion require all about the same amount of brain power. It's more what your strengths and skills are and what you want out of a career.

If you're going into pharmacy because it's easier than being a doctor, you might be mistaken. There's a whole lot more chemistry and complicated chemistry in pharmacy school than in medical school.

agreed

 

[Nelson]

Interview reason: Consultation
Real reason: Consultation

If I don't like the job, I don't want to do it.
I like working in a pharmacy and hopefully educate people in the process.

 

[ValeRx]

So that I can give other people answers to interview questions.

 

[wilson21]

ba-ZING! nice, valeUC. me too 🙂

for me personally, i've worked in pharmaceutical research for 8.5 years. i'm done talking to cells day in and day out. i want to talk to people. and i've found myself far more drawn to the drug side of things. the interactions, the pathways they act on, and in general i just look forward to the knowledge i can hopefully impart on people.

 

[Sparda29]

Interested in drugs and how something so small can do so much in a living organism.

 

[Kruton]

So that I can give other people answers to interview questions.

I hope that one day I can write their personal statements for them

 

[athena09]

I want to fulfill my initial interest of providing the best health care to undeserved communities =) My family, after all use to fall in the latter category when they first came to the states. And they have turned their life around, completely. It is possible to come to the states with NOTHING, and within a couple of years, get an education, a job, start a family and a new life. It's actually VERY inspiring. I was pretty much was raised in the best environment and had all the comforts of the world, and learning of my parents humbling story makes me want nothing less of the best for their health. Luckily, no one had significant health problems, but to think that some family out there is in that same situation with an illness...it's heart breaking.

 

[inquirer89]

I like the science and business side to it. I'm not so much as interested in the mechanics of drug therapy as I am with conversing with people and applying what I know to help them. I knew that I wanted to go into some health-related science, but more into corporate position or entrepreneurship. Perhaps one day I will be lucky enough to operate a successful pharmacy. And the other reasons like great pay, opportunities, etc.

 

[Clown]

addiction to painkillers

 

[thephoenician88]

because i want to be that guy at a pharmacy that does 400 a day with no tech help b/c they all called out. yesss.

 

[stlouis79]

In my interview they never even asked our interview group why we wanted to become pharmacists. They just asked what traits make a good pharmacists. Kinda strange I thought.

 

[stlouis79]

TpharmD, I wouldn't say you need a smarter brain to do medicine. Being a medical doctor, being a biologist, being a nurse, or being a pharmacist pretty much in my opinion require all about the same amount of brain power. It's more what your strengths and skills are and what you want out of a career.

If you're going into pharmacy because it's easier than being a doctor, you might be mistaken. There's a whole lot more chemistry and complicated chemistry in pharmacy school than in medical school.

You do need to know alot more **** over a broader range of topics to be a MD or OD. Which you could equate to more brain power...

 

[xylem29]

oihre

 

[SHC1984]

it would be great if people can share their reasoning to become a pharmacist.
i) answering it in actual interview
ii) answering it for real

for me
i) i havnt face any interview
ii) i always wanted to go in health care field. medicine wasnt for me b/c of its length; also need smarter brain to do medicine. in nursing i didnt like its job.

1) Above average, decent salary. (If you are looking to be rich go into something else. )
2) Stability (NO more sign on bonuses but you can still get a job if you relocate)
3) Only medical related career thats clean and doesn't require any physical contact with patients. (this is my MAIN reason for trying pharmacy)

 

[slimfine]

I want to be a pharmacist becuase I am a people person. I love to learn new and exciting things about medications which mean I that I will never be bored in this profession. did I mension that we stand all day? great excercise!

 

[rhymes w orange]

Have you taken any medical school classes?

It does require more brain power - ALOT more. I'm in pharmacy now and have friends in medicine.

Your explanation doesn't support your claim. The idea that medicine requires more "brain-power" or "smarter brains" (whatever that is) is s#*!. Different people do well in different areas and their brains are better at learning/understanding different concepts. I guarantee you there are just as many doctors that would have trouble with pharmacy as there are pharmacists who would have trouble being a physician. Many of us can't play musical instruments, sports, write poetry, etc. Does this imply that we're a bunch of *****s or that we are intelligent and capable in different areas and many people are "smart" at different tasks? We're not a bunch of drones.

Stick that in your pipe and smoke it.

 

[RxMadness]

I'm kind of disappointed in the replies to this thread.. I was actually hoping for some additional motivation or an angle I had not considered. The more I work in retail Pharmacy the more I get the impression this might not be the career for me. I'm reserving judgement until I get some clinical/hospital experience.

 

[trailrider400]

cus i couldn't make it as an ass model or a professional beer taster

 

[VAFarmacia13]

RxMadness:
I have to agree, you can't base pharmacy as a whole just on your experiences in retail! It wasn't until I began working in an inpatient hospital setting, shadowed an ICU pharmacist, and went on a medical mission where I worked with the pharmacist and pharmacy students in dispensing meds, that I really understood what the pharmacy profession was all about! It completely solidified my decision of becoming a pharmacist and that this is the profession for me!
The fact that it offers many areas of practice, incorporates science, healthcare, and direct patient care, the opportunity to continually learn due to the endless growth in technology and the constant discovery of new drug therapies, and the opportunity to work with other health professionals as well as educate them and patients on the different drug therapies that are available, all of these combined makes the profession of pharmacy so perfect and desirable!

 

[pwnttothemax]

teaching patients what's really going on, and how to properly handle their ailments. (knowing is half the battle! GI JOOOOOOOE)

the monetary aspect of it all. it's pretty much a recession/economy-proof field. regular hours as well

 

[kawaiilove]

RxMadness:
I have to agree, you can't base pharmacy as a whole just on your experiences in retail! It wasn't until I began working in an inpatient hospital setting, shadowed an ICU pharmacist, and went on a medical mission where I worked with the pharmacist and pharmacy students in dispensing meds, that I really understood what the pharmacy profession was all about! It completely solidified my decision of becoming a pharmacist and that this is the profession for me!
The fact that it offers many areas of practice, incorporates science, healthcare, and direct patient care, the opportunity to continually learn due to the endless growth in technology and the constant discovery of new drug therapies, and the opportunity to work with other health professionals as well as educate them and patients on the different drug therapies that are available, all of these combined makes the profession of pharmacy so perfect and desirable!

Hi, I was just wondering how did you get into the medical mission? how long do you go on for that mission? Because I would love to get involve in something like that

 

[1TB4RKSB4CK]

I volunteered at a Pharmacy when I was in 9th grade and I loved it. I thought I would lose the passion for that career, but I never did.

 

[Passion4Sci]

I want to work at Rite-Aid but make the Wal Green.

 

[Electrode]

1) Above average, decent salary. (If you are looking to be rich go into something else. )
2) Stability (NO more sign on bonuses but you can still get a job if you relocate)
3) Only medical related career thats clean and doesn't require any physical contact with patients. (this is my MAIN reason for trying pharmacy)

That👍

 

[DrOoze]

TpharmD, I wouldn't say you need a smarter brain to do medicine. Being a medical doctor, being a biologist, being a nurse, or being a pharmacist pretty much in my opinion require all about the same amount of brain power. It's more what your strengths and skills are and what you want out of a career.

If you're going into pharmacy because it's easier than being a doctor, you might be mistaken. There's a whole lot more chemistry and complicated chemistry in pharmacy school than in medical school.

You are correct!😉 I was shadowing a cardiothoracic surgeon last week and he couldn't have operated without the help of the pharmacist and his knowledge of "complex" chemistry. Thank God the pharmacist was there to guide the surgeon.

 

[Baller MD]

You are correct!😉 I was shadowing a cardiothoracic surgeon last week and he couldn't have operated without the help of the pharmacist and his knowledge of "complex" chemistry. Thank God the pharmacist was there to guide the surgeon.

Why the hell was DrOoze banned? He/she speaks the truth. If you think being a pharmacist is on the same level of difficult as a surgeon then .

 

[jpribilski]

Why the hell was DrOoze banned? He/she speaks the truth. If you think being a pharmacist is on the same level of difficult as a surgeon then .

As much as I love apples, I really think oranges are better.

 

[Baller MD]

TpharmD, I wouldn't say you need a smarter brain to do medicine. Being a medical doctor, being a biologist, being a nurse, or being a pharmacist pretty much in my opinion require all about the same amount of brain power. It's more what your strengths and skills are and what you want out of a career.

If you're going into pharmacy because it's easier than being a doctor, you might be mistaken. There's a whole lot more chemistry and complicated chemistry in pharmacy school than in medical school.

As much as I love apples, I really think oranges are better.

So everyone on this thread seem to agree that being a nurse/pharmacist/doctor essentially require the "same amount of brain power." Hmmm, that must be why you can be a nurse after 1 year of additional study after a bachelors degree or a pharmacist after 3 years of additional study after a bachelors degree... (oh, wait.... you don't actually even need a bachelors degree for either of those careers) versus being a surgeon where at the minimum, requires 8 years after a bachelors degree (probably longer).

Gee, I also wonder why on average doctors tend do better (have higher grades) in their undergraduate than nurses/pharmacists.

And why in the world are nurses and pharmacists being paid so little compared to doctors?! I thought all theses jobs are of equal difficulty?! This just isn't fair! 🙁

Alas, I love me some apples and oranges but that metaphor does not apply to this situation. There's a medical hierarchy for a reason.

 

[Farmpharm]

So everyone on this thread seem to agree that being a nurse/pharmacist/doctor essentially require the "same amount of brain power." Hmmm, that must be why you can be a nurse after 1 year of additional study after a bachelors degree or a pharmacist after 3 years of additional study after a bachelors degree... (oh, wait.... you don't actually even need a bachelors degree for either of those careers) versus being a surgeon where at the minimum, requires 8 years after a bachelors degree (probably longer).

Gee, I also wonder why on average doctors tend do better (have higher grades) in their undergraduate than nurses/pharmacists.

And why in the world are nurses and pharmacists being paid so little compared to doctors?! I thought all theses jobs are of equal difficulty?! This just isn't fair! 🙁

Alas, I love me some apples and oranges but that metaphor does not apply to this situation. There's a medical hierarchy for a reason.

I agree and disagree. I know many individuals that have great undergrad resumes (GPA/Scores) but go into pharmacy, because of less debt, quicker, easier, and they actually like the profession. Not everyone likes diagnosing and performing invasive operations.

That being said, the standards in place for medicine and the amount of training required for some specialities do make it the top of the "medical heirachry". Thats why I do agree somewhat with your point on it needing the most brainpower. Why? Because it is technically true. However, like I said, there are many smart individuals that choose other professions due to the cons of medicine. Therefore, you can't really judge a profession/person by its covers.

There are many brilliant pharmacists, and doctors. Just like how there are many carib/img docs and pharm mill pharmacists. In the end, y'all gotta all work together. You can't have one without the other. Better respect your pharmacist. They can, and have saved many physicians from prescribing wrong doses or medications to patients inadvertently saving them lawsuits

 

[jpribilski]

Alas, I love me some apples and oranges but that metaphor does not apply to this situation. There's a medical hierarchy for a reason.

I'm saying that they're completely different professions and people go into them for different reasons. A MD doesn't know what a pharmacist knows, a pharmacist doesn't know what a nurse knows, a nurse doesn't know what a MD knows. They're different gears in the great medical clockwork. A nurse isn't called a "Physician's Assistant Specializing in Patient Care"; A pharmacist isn't called a "Physician's Assistant Specializing in Pharmaceuticals".

The amount of difficulty in the schooling is irrelative. If a person finds pharmacy school hard, it doesn't necessarily mean he'll think medical school is hard. The only reason high standards are in place for medical schools (and therefore, the reason MDs are generally the most intelligent of the medical professionals) is because it's a popular field of study and it pays well, so we can't just let everyone go to medical school that wants to go. That "medical hierarchy" nonsense is just what makes you such good lawyer bait and inflates the ego of the entitled pre-meds.

Generalizations, shmeneralizations.

 

[Electrode]

While good/better brain power (per say) is needed for medical school, mental toughness & perseverance is the more or ultimate key thing you need. And that (mental toughness) is one of the major hindrances for any good nurse or pharmacist from becoming a medical doctor. And this is assuming all the other life circumstances are favorable enough for them to pursue a career in medicine, in the event they're considering to do so.

Or haven't you met stunningly intelligent people that gave up on medical school - for simpler reasons other than not having good/better "brain power"? They wouldn't have made it in the first place, if they didn't have the so called "brain power". And by the way, I am understanding brain power here to mean one's ability to comprehend information or knowledge being extended to them, & effectively executing that knowledge PRN.

They can, and have saved many physicians from prescribing wrong doses or medications to patients inadvertently saving them lawsuits

For the 12th time this year already, we did so at our pharmacy (inpt hosp) today.

 

[Passion4Sci]

We do 700-800 interventions a month, with 15-25 of them (2010) being severe intxns / wrong pt / wrong intervals.

 

[Adaggiote]

First off, I have read some of your reasons and I effectively deduce that they are raw (i.e. without process). It seemsa for adcoms to buy your answer, some sort of ambiguous motivation is required......

 

[owlegrad]

We do 700-800 interventions a month, with 15-25 of them (2010) being severe intxns / wrong pt / wrong intervals.

For the 12th time this year already, we did so at our pharmacy (inpt hosp) today.

How do guys track that? Do y'all have some kinda log or something that is filled out every time an intervention is made? Just curious.

 

[Passion4Sci]

How do guys track that? Do y'all have some kinda log or something that is filled out every time an intervention is made? Just curious.

Yes. There are intervention forms filled out by RPhs that are cataloged every day, and then they are compiled by a staff pharmacist with an assistant volunteer at the end of each month. Graphs are made and a presentation is given to P&T Com. and the DoP.

 

[owlegrad]

Yes. There are intervention forms filled out by RPhs that are cataloged every day, and then they are compiled by a staff pharmacist with an assistant volunteer at the end of each month. Graphs are made and a presentation is given to P&T Com. and the DoP.

Interesting. On the one hand, it makes sense to show your value. On the other hand, sounds like a great distraction from actual work.

 

[Passion4Sci]

Interesting. On the one hand, it makes sense to show your value. On the other hand, sounds like a great distraction from actual work.

We have plenty of man power, and are actually hiring two more pharmacists this month and/or next month for ambulatory care and another staffer from the midnight-rounds shift.

The volunteers do most of the clerical work either way.

 

[Electrode]

P4Sci has it pretty much right. Just that I don't really know what happens to our own logs after we submit them to the DoP. But we do keep record...I think mostly for legal purposes....and maybe, statistics?

And yea, it's always a sweet shift whenever we have a dedicated volunteer around...gotta love'em. Good glory to my job when it's a hot she 😀

 

[WhiteSnows]

Being a pharmacist will open so much opportunities to have a great career like research, academia, hospital jobs. I particularly like to work in clinical trials.

 

[PharmaTope]

Being a pharmacist will open so much opportunities to have a great career like research, academia, hospital jobs. I particularly like to work in clinical trials.

you are a student and not out there working.

where are these jobs in research?

do you know how hard it is to get into academia?

hospital jobs are hard to find

retail doesnt even offer fulltime and your hours are all over the place

 

[naus]

TpharmD, I wouldn't say you need a smarter brain to do medicine. Being a medical doctor, being a biologist, being a nurse, or being a pharmacist pretty much in my opinion require all about the same amount of brain power. It's more what your strengths and skills are and what you want out of a career.

If you're going into pharmacy because it's easier than being a doctor, you might be mistaken. There's a whole lot more chemistry and complicated chemistry in pharmacy school than in medical school.

This post is epic fail.

Remedial Ochem and Biochem for pharmacy school when the medical student has already done it (and excelled at it) in college is not exactly "a whole lot more chemistry." Many medical students were also chemistry majors; a year of undergraduate physical chemistry alone pwns anything in pharmacy school.

On a scale of brain power I would say:
Top 20 university MD/PhD > top 20 university biology PhD > average MD >> average pharmacist > stellar nurse practitioner > stellar nurse.

To say they're equal is farcical.

 

[SHC1984]

This post is epic fail.

Remedial Ochem and Biochem for pharmacy school when the medical student has already done it (and excelled at it) in college is not exactly "a whole lot more chemistry." Many medical students were also chemistry majors; a year of undergraduate physical chemistry alone pwns anything in pharmacy school.

On a scale of brain power I would say:
Top 20 university MD/PhD > top 20 university biology PhD > average MD >> average pharmacist > stellar nurse practitioner > stellar nurse.

To say they're equal is farcical.

What you are saying is true. Different schools and programs have different levels of diffculty. However what is not always true is the assumption that just because someone is in pharmacy school they are too dumb to get into a top 20 MD school or not smart enough to get a PhD etc. Same with nursing...just because someone is a stellar nurse doesn't mean they are automatically much less intelligent than someone that's an MD. That's the ONE thing I can't stand about some MD students....some of them just assume everyone that is not in MD school are idiots. Why don't they stop and think for a minute...maybe it is because some people have NO desire to become an MD. Not everyone wants to be an MD.

I have a degree in chemistry and have taken physical chemistry. I have attended a top 10 MD school and now I am a pharmacy student. I am still the same person...I didn't get any smarter and dumber just by attending these different schools. Although I will admit that some schools are more diffcult than others.

 

[WhiteSnows]

you are a student and not out there working.

where are these jobs in research?

do you know how hard it is to get into academia?

hospital jobs are hard to find

retail doesnt even offer fulltime and your hours are all over the place

I was told by my faculties that Pharm.D + 2 year residency or Pharm.D+ Ph.D are good combinations to get job in academia. What I mean in previous post is that getting a Pharm.D open door to many other fields. I did not mean with a Pharm.D only you can do research right the way.

 

[pdreamer14]

RxMadness:
I have to agree, you can't base pharmacy as a whole just on your experiences in retail! It wasn't until I began working in an inpatient hospital setting, shadowed an ICU pharmacist, and went on a medical mission where I worked with the pharmacist and pharmacy students in dispensing meds, that I really understood what the pharmacy profession was all about! It completely solidified my decision of becoming a pharmacist and that this is the profession for me!
The fact that it offers many areas of practice, incorporates science, healthcare, and direct patient care, the opportunity to continually learn due to the endless growth in technology and the constant discovery of new drug therapies, and the opportunity to work with other health professionals as well as educate them and patients on the different drug therapies that are available, all of these combined makes the profession of pharmacy so perfect and desirable!

ive come across this offers many areas of practice, incorporates science, healthcare, and direct patient care. The opportunity to continually learn due to the endless growth in technology and the constant discovery of new drug therapies