Lies about pharmacist job market

Trades, such as plumbing or HVAC, are only lucrative because many of the same barriers to entry that make pharmacy lucrative.

So if I'm willing to relocate to a rural location, where no one else wants to go, I'll get a job? The counselor I talked to sold me Pharmacy like he was getting paid by the schools to recruit kids. I'm gonna talk to another counselor within a few weeks, and I'm still at the point in my education where it wouldn't be hard to change majors (just been doing some GEs). If I have to, I will switch back to athletic training, but I'd rather continue with Pharmacy. The classes interest me, and I would actually rather live in the country.

Btw, I won't finish my PharmD until 2016, and while looking at job markets now is not indicative of where they will be in 5 years, there are jobs all over the place it seems (mostly on monster.com). Granted, a lot of those are for 18 yrs and older (so just high school kids) but still. They're there.

Dylan in Olathe,

When you start applying to jobs on Careerbuilder or Monster, you'll see that these aren't realy jobs. You will see the same postings over and over again even when you search in other locations. Many of the jobs posted are just listings. The positions have already been filled or someone forgot to take the ad off. You will sing a different tune when it's your turn to apply for jobs.

Hello everyone!

I am a pharmacy student with an expected graduation date in 2013. I feel like I want to cry. I tried extremely hard to snag an internship but bc of the oversaturation in MANY areas, it has been a futile effort. I am set to do APPE rotations next year and I am scared for after graduation. It seems like the only ways to secure a job in this environment is to know people who have either worked for a company before (or hospital)or are working for the company now. That's it. No other way........

For any student looking at pharmacy as a career, please, please please do your due diligence and research this option as a career before you commit yourself.

The president of my school (I will not mention where), opened up another school (a satellite campus in another state). The word I heard about this state where the school opened up is that their Board of Pharmacy increased the intern hours to take the board exam from 50 hours to 500! So in order to sit for this state's board exam, you have to really like that state! Just getting the PharmD won't cut it like other states. Now, this president wants to open a joint PharmD/PA program!

I dunno what to do. I was thinking of attending the MRM for APhA and see if I can somehow snag a few interviews there....I just don't know anymore..........

Scared for Rx in New York, New York said: Hello everyone!

I am a pharmacy student with an expected graduation date in 2013. I feel like I want to cry. I tried extremely hard to snag an internship but bc of the oversaturation in MANY areas, it has been a futile effort. I am set to do APPE rotations next year and I am scared for after graduation. It seems like the only ways to secure a job in this environment is to know people who have either worked for a company before (or hospital)or are working for the company now. That's it. No other way........

For any student looking at pharmacy as a career, please, please please do your due diligence and research this option as a career before you commit yourself.

The president of my school (I will not mention where), opened up another school (a satellite campus in another state). The word I heard about this state where the school opened up is that their Board of Pharmacy increased the intern hours to take the board exam from 50 hours to 500! So in order to sit for this state's board exam, you have to really like that state! Just getting the PharmD won't cut it like other states. Now, this president wants to open a joint PharmD/PA program!

I dunno what to do. I was thinking of attending the MRM for APhA and see if I can somehow snag a few interviews there....I just don't know anymore..........

Hey Please e-mail me, I'm going through a huge descion right now, might leave pharm school.

hit me up

chumsy187@hotmail.com

Dylan in Olathe, Kansas said: Btw, I won't finish my PharmD until 2016, and while looking at job markets now is not indicative of where they will be in 5 years, there are jobs all over the place it seems (mostly on monster.com). Granted, a lot of those are for 18 yrs and older (so just high school kids) but still. They're there.

Hello Dylan from Olathe, Kansas!

I am from NYC and the jobs posted on Indeed (7 times out 10) are already filled up by using internal applications (people from within the company applying for transfers,etc.) As to why they are posted, I have no clue. As you will see by the time you graduate, the jobs are going to get scarce! I am seeing first hand on how the game (yes, this is a game now) is being played. I had no prior work experience in pharmacy, so I have to struggle and hustle harder to secure a job after graduation. The only way you will get internships or hired after graduation are the following:

1. You have parents or other family members that are pharmacists and work for ABC hospital or XYZ Pharmacy drugstore chain. If you go this route, you will not need to do residencies (almost 100% guaranteed!)

2. If number 1 fails, you need a good friend who is willing to hook you up

3. If #2 fails, speak to faculty and see if they will give you the "hook up".

4. If all three fail AND your a really great academic record, apply for residency

5. If all of the above fail......try medical school.

Hello hopeful students,

I received a good education in pharmacy. Real problem solving skills are taught even though there is a lot of memorization. The trouble is pharmacy schools and the puppeteer chain monopolies cannot help pharmacists to move toward a truly professional role.

If you can, go to medical school or PA school. The combined PharmD/PA programs appear like a viable gateway to being a real practioner. If I was not looking at retirement in 10 years, I would go to PA school.

The PharmD who could perform the roles of a PA would really get to use their knowledge and skills. That person could work at a medical clinic and solve medication management problems. BTW, guess why RPh's can't get jobs like that? (you fill in the blank).

flip in Burlington, Iowa said: I watched the Bill Still youtube. Very informative. Thanks.

Your Welcome

DisappointedGrad in Fort Lauderdale, Florida said: andhow in Ontario,

Are you serious? No fkn way. What city was that in? What kind a hospital was that? I've thought of putting on my resume will work for 30 or 20 an hour, but I didn't think people actually do it. Wow.

I am in San Diego, CA. This is an independent pharmacy owned by non-pharmacists. I did not post a rate on my resume. It was a verbal agreement. When the owner tried to get me to agree to a lower rate I let out a shreek and he got the picture. So they kept shopping and ditched me when they got a bite. I backed out on a second interview for a medical review position in which I offered my time for twenty bucks an hour. I had a mini fantasy that I could work my way into a new field. But then I woke up. :(

flip in Des Moines, Iowa said: Hello hopeful students,

I received a good education in pharmacy. Real problem solving skills are taught even though there is a lot of memorization. The trouble is pharmacy schools and the puppeteer chain monopolies cannot help pharmacists to move toward a truly professional role.

If you can, go to medical school or PA school. The combined PharmD/PA programs appear like a viable gateway to being a real practioner. If I was not looking at retirement in 10 years, I would go to PA school.

The PharmD who could perform the roles of a PA would really get to use their knowledge and skills. That person could work at a medical clinic and solve medication management problems. BTW, guess why RPh's can't get jobs like that? (you fill in the blank).

That is what I am talking about! Thank you. This is a real issue though...what about giving rectals? :()It sounds silly and unprofessional but I bet the PAs get to do all the rectals. :( I would have to join a rectal support group.

What you are seeing in this country is the death of the middle class. With their passing, no one will have insurance to pay for medicine. Money will not be spent to boost the economy and the bedrock of the country will crack. There are thousands of college graduates flipping burgers or living off mom and dad today. We need to face the music, we ARE in a Depression that will equal or be greater that the Great Depression of 1929. I would not be surprised to see 40% unemployment in 2012 and mass unrest and lawlessness. We are beginning to see this with tent cities popping up full of so called protesters that are just mad at people who are productive and are making a living. Many retailers will go belly up in the coming 2 years. Pharmacies will be included. When businesses see the huge expense that is generated by pharmacy, many will close in supermarkets and other big boxes, despite the inconvenience caused be a few of their customers. Medicine will survive and physicians and nurses will still be around, but I"m afraid pharmacy is a luxury that will be done away with or greatly curtailed in the coming medical environment.To future pharmacy hopefuls, please wake up and go in another direction. If you just can't stand being out of the medical field, be a physician, a PA, or nurse. In the meantime, buckle up because it is going to be a long bumpy ride!

I think you are hitting the panic button a little to fast there David from Atlanta. 40% unemployment by 2012 are you kidding me? and pharmacy is not a luxury unless you think controlling your blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, infection, and so on and so on are considered luxury. Also can someone explain to me how do you figure the doctors and PA's and nurses are going to be just fine but pharmacists are not. Last I checked prescribing medications is a major part of what docgtors do and the main reason most patients go to see doctors is to get a prescription for something that is ailing them. Now I understand there is an over saturation problem in the pharmacy field and new pharmacy schools are popping up like zits on a 16 year old teenager but just like anything else in a capitalistic system it will eventually take care of itslef. But it doesn't hurt to e- mail your pharmacy association to let them know you are concerned and ask are they doing anything about it. My guess is nothing but if they get enough emails from concerned pharmacists they may actually do somthing to fix this problem sooner than later. Good luck to all of you that are still looking for jobs.

Pharmacy, as a career, is dead. People keep saying, well maybe, in the future, they'll morph into providing health services. Keeep dreaming! Nurse practitioners will fill that role if push comes to shove. So, unfortunately, you have to just keep memorizing your top 200 drugs only to find out that in the real world, everything you learned is already automated.
Techs are doing the "technical" work and pharmacists are reviewing the drugs that have already been scanned a million times on a computerized system to prove the drug is the drug prescribed, if there are interactions, etc. You really think chains will continue to pay pharmacists that lovely living salary to do what the automation already does. Ha. Knee-slapper!
If you're young enough and still thinking about pharmacy, think twice. Join another profession....oh wait, you could STILL be a pharmacy professor in one of the half a billion pharmacy schools in the U.S. That's one place that's still hiring pharmacists. Now your job will be to run the profession into the ground even worse than it already is by saturating the market.

DissillusionedOne

andhow in Mira Loma, California said: Kids if you really want to know what the job demand is call the recruitment number listed on any of the major chain career sites. Say: "Thanks for taking my call. I just took my boards today and I am feeling pretty good about it. I was curious about any opportunities available with fillintheblank."
I promise you won’t have to go forward with an interview. You could also call any mom and pop pharmacy in your area (or pick an area you would love to live in) and say, "I am relocating next month and was wondering if you had any per Diem needs coming up."
I keep noticing the same old cut and paste "Do not believe the lies..." I know that if I had a killer job I would not cruise these forums for ANY reason. Indeed Indeed would not even enter my thoughts. In fact, even in the unlikely event that I had a bad day at my killer job and wanted to job hunt to blow off steam I would likely reach for the Sunday paper classifieds like I did to find my career kick off job circa 1995.
If you have it in you to make the grades and network get a dual PharmD/PA degree. If I could do it again that is what I would do. I am pretty sure I would not be writing to you. ;)
note: to those primarily interested in fat salary pharmacists make.... you should do it dude! Go to pharmacy school. The chains will pay back your loans! You can do it no problem. Just apply your depends, grab a bag of peanuts and you are off to drive that leased mercedes for a 12 hour park at the fillintheblank.

Not sure exactly what you are trying to say : The job market for pharmacists is not as great as you were led to beleive so become also a PA. Well as a PA , there are many opportunities but if money is what you want , it is not the field. In fact to all that are listening , if you are going into the HealthCare field for money--don't bother. It's not that you won't make a decent comfortable living -- just money is the wrong reason- its sounds like you job

yardleyed in Morrisville, Pennsylvania said: I still have difficulty understanding that so many new pharmacists just don't get it--the pharmacy job market is failing thanks to the over-saturation of new graDUATES FROM THE MONEY HUNGRY SCHOOLS!
What does it take to wake up and smell the coffee? Pharmacy is bad and getting worse! Wait till you see what this year brings! The Chains giving big bucks to the Pharmacy schools has succeeded in making Pharmacists a dime a dozen! And yet so many are still too blind to see!!! See how benevolent and altruistic the chains will be treating their employees. If you think pharmacists didn't get much respect last year, Wait till next year!! When you are not in demand and can be replaced immediately, you have to learn to grovel on the ground!!

My friend agreed with also. He said that although some of these private for PharmD only schools, do provide you experience and how to pass boards, that they cater to people who had difficulty getting in traditional university school programs, some are probably good students but as with all of these schools also more likely to let subpar performers get in, especially if they can afford to pay. Another words these schools are not interested in weeding out nor keeping an over demand. And the ones who got the 3.9's and all the extra ECs and Voulunteer while and doing intern and free hours, may not have a job because of all the 2.7's -3.0 GPAs ( i'm sure not all) that go to these schools. GPA's at these schools could potentially if needed be inflated-so they look better in the work search0. So the guy with a 3.4 at a big Ten school is competing with a PharmD (vocational type) school with an inflated 3.8 (but had a 2.8 in pre-pharm), both passed for the same job.
Not sure if employers discern between the rank of schools now, I know they didn't care when the market was wide open and giving PharmDs sign on bonuses and loan forgiveness. A PharmD/PA was a PharmD/A.For us aC+PA= A PA

Looking for a Pharm tech to work and a pharmacist interested in partnering in an existing Gwinnett Pharmacy. poppi2000@hotmail.com

Amherst Healthcare in Fort Lauderdale, Florida said: I agree with Dave. If you insist on pursuing an education that will leave you in that much debt, I recommend Med School.

Pharmacy is a 6 year program, it isn't that much more to go to Med School. I also recruit for physician assistants and there is a lot of demand in that area. Nurse Practitioner is another area that you may want to consider as the shortage in that area is very high and the salaries are amazing. Nursing as a whole is an area I recommend as I am told my employers that there is a high shortage in that profession as a whole. If you choose nursing, I recommend staying in school and getting your MSN. There are many more opportunities that will become available if you get your Masters in Nursing. Visit FindNursingJobsOnline.com for more information.

I am overwhelmed about the number of jobs available in Physical Therapy. Especially jobs for Physical Therapists and Occupational Therapists. Check out AllTherapistJobs.com to get more information on this.

The bottom line is there are jobs in healthcare, just not in pharmacy. If you are already in Pharmacy School and about to graduate, apply to a Residency program and get a PGY1 or go for 2 years and get a PGY2. If you have a PGY1 or PGY2 Residency or are a hosptal pharmacy manager or director of pharmacy with strong hospital experience visit AmherstHealthcare.com or email me at iinokon@AmherstHealthcare.com

...DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT TAKES TO SWITCH FROM PHARMACIST TO PHYSICAL THERAPIST?? I AM TIRED OF LOOKING FOR A PHARMACIST JOB

Nick L in Medford, Massachusetts said: Will you have to 'explain' you move to TX?? I hear that parts of the south & TX aren't that welcoming toward those from the east especially the northeast. Besides how do you explaining moving somewhere without a job lined up??

Just spoke to my friend in Dallas area. She said 25% of graduates from Austin were unable to find jobs. The dallas/Fr worth area is saturated with pharmacists. You will probably have to go into a rural area.
I lived there for 15 years and moved back to Michigan 8 years ago for family obligations. Want to go back to Texas but also am concerned that I will be unable to find work in DFW. It is a great place to live (kind of hot) but I am not
hearing good things about our rph market right now. Good Luck!

finefarmacist in Bridgeport, Connecticut said: ...DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT TAKES TO SWITCH FROM PHARMACIST TO PHYSICAL THERAPIST?? I AM TIRED OF LOOKING FOR A PHARMACIST JOB

Sorry, I actually don't know. You should contact a school that offers those types of programs and speak with them directly.

Hello, all. When I started college last year I thought about becoming a pharmacist, but lately I've been wanting to go to medical school. Medicine in general is exciting, so I want to do something with that. I just don't know where to go exactly. I guess I want to be a doctor more but if it doesn't work out I'd have only a few other options to consider. Tonight, as I was driving home from school, my mother called my cell phone and we talked and she told me our pharmacist said the job security is way high with a soon-to-be higher compensation ($147,000)! I don't know what to believe. If our pharmacist actually said that and what everyone here says about pharmacy is true then why did he lie?

I would like to relate my own experience and find out what is going on with everyone else. Maybe if we had commincated with one another we would not be in this sinking ship. I work for Walmart, when I can get hours. They have cut pharmacist out of the store.

Now, one pharmacist does 350 to 450 Rx per day with 3 techs. Is it very dangerous? Of course. When I work in this environment, I catch countless mistakes made by the techs, but what scares me are the mistakes I am missing. The State Board seems to be helping Walmart and other Corporations create this dangerous situation. The pharmacists who have full-time jobs are scared to death of losing their job, because they know they won't find another one. I know 5 pharmacist who lost their job and can't find work...all in their 40's with families. I have lost my job, but still get some work.

Salaries remain high. I make $58/hr when I get work. Why do salaries stay up, while there is an oversupply of pharmacists? I have heard that salaries are coming down to the $50/hr area at Publix (from a Publix Pharm).

The Walmart DM is telling his pharmacists that he gets 6 to 10 calls a day from pharmacists looking for work and that if they can't do the job, he will hire one of them. So, you can see why they live in constant fear. Fear is a powerful motivator, but at some point you break down from the strain...it sucks life out of you, especially at 40 hours or more per week. Most of the pharmacists are volunteering, many hours per week, no pay, just to stay in the good graces of the powers that be.

I know pharmacists who believe in both futures for pharmacy: improving and deteriorating. What is your view? I believe that this is part of a boom/bust cycle that will eventually normalize, but who long will this last? It looks like it will get worse, before it gets better, considering that the number of pharmacy grads is STILL increasing! Can you believe that?? I hope salaries will come down and jobs will open up.

What is criminal is the Schools putting the students into what amounts to indentured servitude with hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of debt. How much school debt do you have? My children will say, "maybe, I should be a pharmacist". It is really endless pain, noone likes it and every pharmacist dreads the pharmacy.

holmes in River Grove, Illinois said: Do not believe some of the lies being written here regarding lack of job opportunities for pharmacists. These liars are trying to scare people off from applying to pharmacy school because they fear that supply will overtake demand. Fact is, pharmacists make tons of money right out of school and there are and will be many job openings in the future. This is all just a feeble attempt to prevent people from entering this lucrative field. Liars!

this is total BS

I think it is criminal that they are saddling young people with debts that can be as high as 120k,before when pharmacy jobs were plentiful it was no problem to repay your loans but what future do you have with that burden hanging over head now a days. You work hard to get into pharmacy school so one day you can have a secure future but now it is like every profession out there it may take up to year or longer to insure a job and even that isnt set in stone. If I was a anyone about to apply to school I wouldnt go into pharmacy arena it isnt worth the money and time. Dont get me wrong it is a beautiful profession but somehow it has mutated in something totally different and not in a good way.

I make £52,045 as a pharmacist in liverpool, england

To all unemployed pharmacists, I am a successful Internet entrepreneur that is entertaining the idea of developing a health and wellness storefront built around the idea that the Pharmacist is (or at least should) be the first line of defense for helping people improve their overall health and quality of living. I think it a tragedy that so many highly-trained individuals are struggling to find gainful employment in their field. My goal is to change that and provide new and challenging job opportunities for you Doctors of Pharmacy to own and operate your own, personalized online pharmacy while at the same time, creating a high-touch, high-value (and Internet-Delivered) service to customers. Think of the old-style corner pharmacy delivered through the Internet and you'll have the general idea. I remember when a pharmacist was more than just a person who filled a prescription--he/she was actively engaged in keeping you well and happy. I'd like to bring those days back, albeit in a new and novel way.

This is a new endeavor for me, and I would therefore appreciate your thoughts and feedback (both positive and negative). I think it would be a great opportunity for all of you to take control of you career and have the life-style that you desire. If you would like to see something like this actually happen, then please let me know. I am very serious about this.

Corwin in Burbank, California said: To all unemployed pharmacists, I am a successful Internet entrepreneur that is entertaining the idea of developing a health and wellness storefront built around the idea that the Pharmacist is (or at least should) be the first line of defense for helping people improve their overall health and quality of living. I think it a tragedy that so many highly-trained individuals are struggling to find gainful employment in their field. My goal is to change that and provide new and challenging job opportunities for you Doctors of Pharmacy to own and operate your own, personalized online pharmacy while at the same time, creating a high-touch, high-value (and Internet-Delivered) service to customers. Think of the old-style corner pharmacy delivered through the Internet and you'll have the general idea. I remember when a pharmacist was more than just a person who filled a prescription--he/she was actively engaged in keeping you well and happy. I'd like to bring those days back, albeit in a new and novel way.

This is a new endeavor for me, and I would therefore appreciate your thoughts and feedback (both positive and negative). I think it would be a great opportunity for all of you to take control of you career and have the life-style that you desire. If you would like to see something like this actually happen, then please let me know. I am very serious about this.

On this forum I hear many things it's difficult to determine fact from fiction, but yes, your idea, given the current state of affairs, sounds interesting. I'm not a Pharm D so I do not know if you are looking at just Pharm D's for this idea, but I am interested.

UsedRph in Madison, Alabama said: On this forum I hear many things it's difficult to determine fact from fiction, but yes, your idea, given the current state of affairs, sounds interesting. I'm not a Pharm D so I do not know if you are looking at just Pharm D's for this idea, but I am interested.

I'm glad you are interested. My interest in this is very real, I assure you, and I will make it happen provided there is a real interest from others like you. As to your question regarding PharmD, I think the answer might have to be "yes", given that a big part of the initial opportunity is to create virtual storefronts for the pharmacist. I presume a PharmD is necessary to make this possible? Please feel free to school me on this point. I'm sure I have a lot to learn. :)

AllanRPh in Harvest, Alabama said: this is total BS

I agree completly.. it is BS

Dylan in Olathe, Kansas said: Granted, a lot of those are for 18 yrs and older (so just high school kids) but still. They're there.

Looking at my fellow RPh friends, One is a single mom in her 40s with a preschooler, she has been unable to find RPh work here in Alabama for 2 years now. She is on foodstamps and medicaid. She is a VERY good, compassionate RPH. Another friend is going back to school to be a nurse. Still, another is unable to find work and is relying on her husband's income. Dentists, optometrist, physicians...they all have solidarity. They look out for each other. We are a screwed work force, because we stab each other in the back. If you think you are immune, you are ignorant.

amen to that my friend. Pharmacists need to get enraged. We are such a flaccid, cowardly group. Why do we stand by and watch our brothers and sisters get run over by a mack truck? If we unite, we could get something done. But is seems that nothing will change until some dramatic, media-engaging tragedy occurs. State boards are corrupt, Pharmacy schools are corrupt. We need to realize that.

AllanRPh in Huntsville, Alabama said: amen to that my friend. Pharmacists need to get enraged. We are such a flaccid, cowardly group. Why do we stand by and watch our brothers and sisters get run over by a mack truck? If we unite, we could get something done. But is seems that nothing will change until some dramatic, media-engaging tragedy occurs. State boards are corrupt, Pharmacy schools are corrupt. We need to realize that.

My thinking was that you start your own Internet pharmacy business. Is that something that makes sense to you? If so, then I'd be willing to help with the tech and business side of the equation. You could take some control over your future. What do you think?

AllanRPh in Huntsville, Alabama said: amen to that my friend. Pharmacists need to get enraged. We are such a flaccid, cowardly group. Why do we stand by and watch our brothers and sisters get run over by a mack truck? If we unite, we could get something done. But is seems that nothing will change until some dramatic, media-engaging tragedy occurs. State boards are corrupt, Pharmacy schools are corrupt. We need to realize that.

I agree, but pharmacists don't get it. The only way is to Unionize at the chain store level across the different chains at the same time. Draw up some decent proposals on how and under what conditions we will do this in a professional manner, and if our demands are not met, walk out nationwide. If that won't work than we can expect to be extinct, which may happen anyway, because the business community has nothing but contempt for pharmacists as a group.

Although I am a VA Pharmacist, I thought I would shed light on my thoughts on this profession. I am unsure about the rest of you, but I continually find myself doing error and damage control on data entry that should not be occuring.

This, puts an exttra amountstress on us because you have technicians that have been solid in terms of their commitment to the profession but they never become solid and less error prone. Even in the slowest events of a store, you can walk in on a shift and be perplexed that there are so many data entry errors and wonder why that tech has made it so long and so far in their career.

I have disiplined enough techs enough in the past to now realize that that doesn't work either. You get caught up in the beuracracy of the retail environment that it is hard to enforce accuracy anymore. And, you can't get rid of them.

holmes in River Grove, Illinois said: Do not believe some of the lies being written here regarding lack of job opportunities for pharmacists. These liars are trying to scare people off from applying to pharmacy school because they fear that supply will overtake demand. Fact is, pharmacists make tons of money right out of school and there are and will be many job openings in the future. This is all just a feeble attempt to prevent people from entering this lucrative field. Liars!

As many people I see on meds, I don't think we will ever see a shortage of pharmacists.

So, you have a few people on meds and don't see that ending? The reality is their are hundreds of RPH's coming out of school every year with no place to work. Where do you suggest or think they can work when business' aren't expanding and old RPH aren't leaving.
Seriously, it's supply and demand and if there aren't jobs where will they work??? Can you find me 329 open jobs in VA for pharmacists right now assuming they all graduate? No....

I shiver at this !! that is so scary man! after all those yrs studying ur a@s off!! not to menyion the sacrifices along the way.

I notice that the people who seem to be optimistic about the pharmacy job market live out in the middle of nowhere or mostly rural areas where nobody wants to go. The pharmacist who are either on the East Coast, California, or other populated areas are really able to see what's happening on the front lines. The job market for us is horrible. There really are not enough jobs. Some of these pharmacist that are working well into their 80's have not helped the situation along with all these new grads overpopulating the market. I think these optimists need to add a disclaimer to their statements that these available pharmacist positions are in rural areas mostly.

body
Regarding accuracy in the pharmacy, as I stated in an earlier post, the technicians create such a hazard for the public/pharmacist because they are not responsible or held accountable. Here in Alabama, the state board now allows 3 techs per pharmacists. This is where our jobs have gone. This is why pharmacists are no longer needed. Has the pharmacy gotten more productive? Maybe, but it has gotten much more dangerous...and it is wrong. The other day, I filled 352 Rxs on a Monday at Wal-mart. I cannot tell you how many mistakes, some life-threatening mistakes, that were made by the techs which I caught and corrected. Simply put: The Alabama Board is looking out for Walmarts bottom line and not the public's health...and they know what they are doing is dangerous. Please resond....

I do appreciate you stepping up and making a statement that you have also realized that RX Techs are extremely dangerous to us and our profession.

I cannot tell you how discouraged I have been over the years when I find out that despite each pharmacy you go to, you have poor help...in terms of what the status of help should be and accuracy level when you are dealing with public health and medication.

One problem is, techs think they are good and hard working because they are just there working hard. The problem is they are not working hard in safety zones, but assume that quick data entry and rushing the bottle to check is good work.
However, what you get is re-entry of the data and reprocessing of the claim based on sig issues, days supply, wrong MD, date etc.....

Where have all the good worker's gone? Perhaps they are not in retail because the smart people have already bailed years ago.

Perhaps there are not techs that can realistically meet the mental capacity to do their jobs. Thus, that's why we still have jobs. Techs, you suck and make too many mistakes. We are your safty blanket. Lucky you... try doing your mistakes in an ER or OR room. God bless your liability outcome.

I was reading this forum last night and I just couldn't believe what I was reading. I have a friend of mine who gave up a lucrative job as pathology assistant to go back to school for pharmacy. I'm afraid what's going to happen to her when she gets out and can't find a job. And another thing, Yahoo is really crazy. They listed the ten college majors with the lowest unemployment rates: pharmacology was one of them. I was like: are these people for real? Why are the colleges sacrificing students in the name of the almightly dollar? Its just crazy.

I just graduated from one of the new pharm schools, I had a job lined up upon graduation.

108K....counting pills paying bills

What is the salary of a pharmacist with 3 years of experience and currently works in a acute hospital at this time? I hear over 120 thousand a year. Is that correct? Also in the state of Arizona for a For profit hospital

I find this whole discussion interesting. I always regretted not going to Pharmacy school, even though I eventually received MS degrees in med chem and in pharmaceutics. While all you "doctors" were making big bucks, I was slaving away for peanuts in a corporate lab twiddling test tubes. Ultimately, I went to law school, which turned out to be an even bigger mistake. For those of you contemplating law school as a way to "save" your career, I have news for you. Law is 10x more competitive than pharmacy school. Plus, you'll spend at least $150,000 getting that degree and then have to pass a bar exam (if you can). Then upon bar passage, you'll face your biggest hurdle ... finding a job that will allow you to pay off your massive student loan debt. Currently, I'm unemployed and it doesn't look good. The pharmacy profession is now suffering from what the legal profession has endured for the past 20 years - overproduction of graduates. The schools are swine, only interested in maintaining their lavish lifestyle while working only 6 hours a week. Since I'm unemployed, I have a lot of time to contemplate all this. What I can say is there is a glut of just about every type of profession, whether it be pharmacists, lawyers, engineers, doctoral students, post-docs, etc. The only profession that seems to be recession proof is medicine (MD). The reason: The AMA has tightly regulated the number of graduates - not the case for lawyers (ABA) and does not appear to be the case for pharmacists. It's a sad state of affairs.

Susan in Baltimore, Maryland said: I was reading this forum last night and I just couldn't believe what I was reading. I have a friend of mine who gave up a lucrative job as pathology assistant to go back to school for pharmacy. I'm afraid what's going to happen to her when she gets out and can't find a job. And another thing, Yahoo is really crazy. They listed the ten college majors with the lowest unemployment rates: pharmacology was one of them. I was like: are these people for real? Why are the colleges sacrificing students in the name of the almightly dollar? Its just crazy.

Hey pharmacology is different than pharmacy. If you are studying pharmacology you are pursuing a PhD and will do research and/or teach. Which pays peanuts at Hopkins or U Maryland (research that is) about 20s, 30s. I've worked in the labs there years ago. You get more money as you publish more and get more known in your field. Hop over to industry, and boom, you should make a decent salary.

Amen to that brother, now if someone can now come up with a workable solution>>>

AllanRPh in Huntsville, Alabama said: Looking at my fellow RPh friends, One is a single mom in her 40s with a preschooler, she has been unable to find RPh work here in Alabama for 2 years now. She is on foodstamps and medicaid. She is a VERY good, compassionate RPH. Another friend is going back to school to be a nurse. Still, another is unable to find work and is relying on her husband's income. Dentists, optometrist, physicians...they all have solidarity. They look out for each other. We are a screwed work force, because we stab each other in the back. If you think you are immune, you are ignorant.

I have to comment on this!! I too am a single parent, my daughter is a senior in high school and hopes to go to college. I had to move in with my father because I have been unable to obtain a job as a pharmacist in NJ. Just today I received notification that although I was chosen as 6 out of 55 resumes to interview, the position has been given to a more qualified candidate! Its been 2 years for me as well. I know I have to apply for food stamps now!! Where do these people get off saying PharmD's are more qualified than an RPH with 20+ years experience?!! The PHARM D is one year of clinical experience in a chosen field!! Do I have to change my last name or what?

John in Madison, New Jersey said: I find this whole discussion interesting. Don't forget Dentistry and Optometry...these are also good professions. It is really a shame that teaching is barely paid profession. I am encouraging two of my children to pursue dentistry...good hours, worthwhile work. My other son wants to be an aeronautical engineer and pilot. your thoughts....