pharmacy as career?

[cheka.]

will appreciate any thoughts/observations about that job and prospects for the future. niece is looking at it and asked my opinion. i know less than zero :|~:|~

[Glass]

Very good money in pharmacy BUT I think US Pharmacy is very different to elsewhere. It appears to be dominated by big chains, A small cog in a big wheel.

Although having thought about it for a few minutes I guess most of the stores around here are chain owned. They still look like small independents not huge supermarket sized operations like the are in the US. But they are evidently chains. We used to have buying groups. Independents stayed independent owned but paid a head/admin office to buy for them. Leverage the wholesale buying power of many dozens of stores.

I know that the smaller local shop styled stores are targets for druggies. Always getting robbed either during opening hours or after hour raids. (And especially during riots in the US.)

She''ll have to encourage people to get vaccinated and will constantly be getting sick from contact with "sick" people.

What about being a dentist? Even better $$. Less sick people. And you can make up conversations as you go, because there's no way of understanding the noises people are making with a mouth full of fingers, drills and vacuums. And if you get bored there's always the laughing gas to lighten the moment. But seriously, same amount of study and I think more independence opportunities if working for self is a goal.

[Jerrylynnb]

If you work for a chain (such as Walmart), you can expect to be on your feet for at least 8 hours, and, likely more. Day-in and day-out, year-in and year-out. The pharmacists that I notice always have a very tired look on their face - I have yet to see one that exudes delight in their work. The ones that seem to be least bothered are super thin, small, and suffer less exhaustion by standing on their feet for so many hours every working day.

Learning about pharmaceuticals is challenging, and I admire those who persevere in college and make the grade, but I pity them the assault they subject their feet to, as if they were uneducated manual labor - I NEVER see them able to sit down and work, always upright and never a moment's rest.

[crimethink]

will appreciate any thoughts/observations about that job and prospects for the future. niece is looking at it and asked my opinion. i know less than zero :|~:|~

An excellent choice. Permanent growth industry, at least until the globalists start killing us off en masse. Our local Walgreens has one hell of a time keeping pharmacists...too many opportunities elsewhere. And a lot of them have trouble with good English.

[Glass]

from Greek pharmakeia "use of drugs, medicines, potions, or spells; poisoning, witchcraft; remedy, cure," from pharmakeus (fem. pharmakis) "preparer of drugs, poisoner, sorcorer" from pharmakon "drug, poison, philter, charm, spell, enchantment."

link (http://www.dictionary.com/browse/pharmacy)

[Neuro]

Chiropractic is a drug less healing art, where you go to the common bio-mechanical cause of the problem, instead of attempting to manage the symptoms artificially and temporary with chemistry.

[crimethink]

Very good money in pharmacy BUT I think US Pharmacy is very different to elsewhere. It appears to be dominated by big chains, A small cog in a big wheel.


Yes, it is, but the smaller stores, especially rural, are places to aspire to. They offer higher customer service, better working conditions, and less riff-raff to deal with. We use a local independent as our primary, and the prices are the same, but the wait is one-quarter that of a chain, staff are happy and genuinely friendly...and remember us.




She''ll have to encourage people to get vaccinated and will constantly be getting sick from contact with "sick" people.


Rare is the decent-paying career that one doesn't have to compromise the perfection of one's ideals. You can say "a flu shot is recommended," but say something quite different with your face.

There are also specialty pharmacies where you are not in direct contact with customers, as well, so you don't have to be the corporate stooge peddling poison for high profit. The corporate stores use vaccines as a profit center.

Any career that deals with people will expose you to the same contagions.




What about being a dentist? Even better $$. Less sick people.


Get a good whiff of someone's really bad breath, or take a gander at some severe tooth decay photos, before deciding. :o

[crimethink]

link (http://www.dictionary.com/browse/pharmacy)

When you have a life-threatening infection, be sure to tell the doctor that you don't want any of that "witchcraft" or "sorcery" used.

I wonder what Jesus Christ thought of pharmakeia "sorcerers" - oh, that's right, He appointed one, St. Luke the Physician, as His apostle.

[Glass]

When you have a life-threatening infection, be sure to tell the doctor that you don't want any of that "witchcraft" or "sorcery" used.

I wonder what Jesus Christ thought of pharmakeia "sorcerers" - oh, that's right, He appointed one, St. Luke the Physician, as His apostle.

Physician? Bit different.

Just quoting what someone else determined was the case as per the link provided (indicating someone else as a source). First instance of pharmakeia being considered medical was either 1300's or 1800's. I'm unclear. There is more at the link including more current definitions.

I still think it is interesting. I've said a long time that chemistry and pharmacy are really just potion makers. Things such as these energy drinks, with a multitude of ingredients that no one knows what they hell they are. And the way people behave when consuming them. I think it's reasonable to consider them potions.

This is actually a world in the control of people practicing sorcery and spell casting. I don't think any thing has changed much in the centuries. It's just people are brought up to believe that potion makers and spell casters are not involved in acts of witchcraft and spell casting. People lack the awareness to identify it when it happens before their eyes and often participate in it or give energy to it without realising.

And there are down sides to every job. Rotten teeth isn't my idea of fun either. Just trying to think of a similar profession with similar return as pharmacy.

The other option is VET.

[EE_]

Pharmacists can make good money shorting old people's Percodan, Percocet, Vicodan and Oxycotin prescriptions and selling them on the black market.

Sorry, I don't know any more then that. I'd rather have a job where people want your service, rather then need it. Happy people are more fun to be around.

[hoarder]

If you work for a chain (such as Walmart), you can expect to be on your feet for at least 8 hours, and, likely more. Day-in and day-out, year-in and year-out. The pharmacists that I notice always have a very tired look on their face - I have yet to see one that exudes delight in their work. The ones that seem to be least bothered are super thin, small, and suffer less exhaustion by standing on their feet for so many hours every working day.

Learning about pharmaceuticals is challenging, and I admire those who persevere in college and make the grade, but I pity them the assault they subject their feet to, as if they were uneducated manual labor - I NEVER see them able to sit down and work, always upright and never a moment's rest.There's a pharmacy in Missoula that has 3 pretty gals working there who are always happy and cheerful. My assessment of the situation is that they have a good supply of mood enhancing drugs there.

[StreetsOfGold]

I have yet to see one that exudes delight in their work

Bingo!

Says it all right there!

Pharmacy (today) is nothing more than legal POISON!

You may as well be PART OF the death cult to be a pharmacist today!

INSTEAD tell her to get into NATURAL HEATH remedies!

The pay may not be as lucrative but the satisfaction MORE than makes up for it and it's the kind of people we NEED in this world, not "legal" drug pushers!!!!

[madfranks]

I know that being a pharmacist can be very lucrative, but yes you're on your feet all day long and I can only imagine the work gets very repetitive and boring after a while. I couldn't do it, I need variety in what I do. If I was mixing the same medications day in and out 40+ hours a week, I'd go nuts.

And yes, you want to be absolutely sure you believe in the work before you commit to it. You will be doing a lot of good, but you will also be charged with carrying out doctor's orders which you may not agree with. I remember a year or so ago reading about a pharmacist who refused to fill out certain prescriptions because he knew it was dangerous.

[Dogman]

There's a pharmacy in Missoula that has 3 pretty gals working there who are always happy and cheerful. My assessment of the situation is that they have a good supply of mood enhancing drugs there. Not the same but similar

When I discharged from the service at Carswell afb fort worth, my first job was at a paint factory. I have never met a more happy/crazy bunch of people.

I would walk to work, and float home after shift. Pictures in the break room of paint factory's blowing up and or burning ! The solvents used to make those paints were something else again..

Did not take long to figure that place was not for me so snagged a job running a "Head Shop" called "Euphorium " on the corner of university drive and the Jacksonville highway, in fort worth for near a year. Then got into fitting/welding which is another color of cat..;D

The story's I could tell about that head shop gig..

Life was GOOD back then !

;D

[Jewboo]

I know that being a pharmacist can be very lucrative, but yes you're on your feet all day long and I can only imagine the work gets very repetitive and boring after a while.



http://www.lorazepamabusehelp.com/wp-content/themes/point/framework/extensions/timthumb/timthumb.php?src=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lorazepamabusehe lp.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fdangers-of-getting-lorazepam-from-a-dealer.jpg&w=610
Pharmacist Tyrone is never bored but his feet do hurt at the end of the day.

[osoab]

What is the debt load your niece (wink wink nudge nudge (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGrvQ1c5khU)) would incur?

Does she enjoy calculus? Organic Chemistry?

Looking at numbers for University of Colorado School of Pharmacy (http://http://schoolpages.pharmcas.org/publishedsurvey/472) admission requirements and tuition below.


I will assume she has a bachelors for now or at least 90 credit hours accumulated that will satisfy the program prerequisites.




Total number of college SEMESTER HOURS that must be completed prior to matriculation: 90
Total number of basic science college SEMESTER HOURS that must be completed prior to matriculation: 42
Total number of college QUARTER HOURS that must be completed prior to matriculation: 135





Is there a deposit to hold an acceptee's place in the class? Yes

Amount: 1000
Due: Two weeks after acceptance
Refundable? No



1 grand just to hold your place.



The doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) (http://www.ucdenver.edu/ACADEMICS/COLLEGES/PHARMACY/ADMISSIONS/PHARMDPROGRAM/Pages/PharmDProgram.aspx) program is a four-year professional program that prepares individuals for a variety of careers within the pharmacy profession. A doctor of pharmacy degree is the only degree that prepares students to become practicing licensed pharmacists in the U.S. This curriculum includes didactic, professional skills (http://www.ucdenver.edu/academics/colleges/pharmacy/AcademicPrograms/PharmDProgram/ProfessionalCurriculum/Pages/ProfessionalCurriculum.aspx) and experiential (http://www.ucdenver.edu/academics/colleges/pharmacy/AcademicPrograms/PharmDProgram/ExperientialProgram/Pages/ExperientialProgram.aspx) learning opportunities. Three years of pre-professional studies (http://www.ucdenver.edu/academics/colleges/pharmacy/Admissions/PharmDProgram/GetStarted/PrePharmacyCoursework/Pages/PrePharmacyCoursework.aspx) are required prior to entering the program and may be completed at any accredited college or university.

Pharmacists make decisions and take actions that affect the safety of the public and the lives of their patients. Therefore, in addition to academic preparation, pharmacists must:


provide good judgment.
have high ethical standards.
be able to communicate well with patients of varying backgrounds and ages, as well as other healthcare providers.
be knowledgeable about existing and new medications to ensure each patient receives the optimal results from drug therapy.

We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds, cultures and environments.



Tuition and Fees (http://www.ucdenver.edu/academics/colleges/pharmacy/Admissions/PharmDProgram/TuitionFinancialAid/Pages/TuitionFinancialAid.aspx)


For the 2016-17 academic year, the entering class will pay $26,688 resident tuition and $39,870 nonresident tuition. PharmD students in professional years one, two and three (P1, P2 and P3) register for the fall and spring semesters. Professional year four (P4) students register for summer, fall and spring. PharmD students participating in the Western Interstate Consortium on Higher Education (WICHE) program will pay nonresident tuition, of which WICHE will pay an annual amount of $7,525 to the School of Pharmacy.



Looking this over. They want 90 hours of pre-pharmacy, just to apply. Then it is another 4 years. She is looking at 48,000 grand a year in tuition, fees, housing, etc. using in state tuition and low balling living expenses.


Using this site (http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Employer=Walgreen's_Pharmacy/Salary), it looks like Walgreens pays
$89,272 - $134,050
So 45,000 - 67,000 take home. How long would it take to pay back the loans and still live once she is finished?


If she really wants a clue, show her the numbers. Go through them with her. Explain to her the amount of debt she would have to accrue. That is unless you are footing the bill. :o

I would like to see the good doc chime in with his thoughts. Would mamboni go into medicine today if he was just starting out in life?

[Neuro]

To become a chiropractor, studying in England you'ld pay some $16-17,000 per year for 5 years (but increasing every year by 5% or so), in total about $100,000. It was about half that when I studied there 15-20 years ago... Seems much cheaper than pharmacy (around $200,000), and greater earning potential, but also greater risk (as you need talent to be a high earning chiropractor).

http://www.aecc.ac.uk/undergraduate/mchiro/course-fees/

[singular_me]

working for big pharma ? no way

she should pursue a career as an herbalist if she likes true healing medicine.

[crimethink]

she should pursue a career as an herbalist if she likes true healing medicine.

If she wants a life of poverty, that's a good career choice.

Not saying it's a bad choice if made rationally, but I take it the girl wants to have more than bare subsistence for an income.

As a "registered pharmacist," she has the power to influence people's lives doing exactly what you suggest: recommend "supplements." The vast majority are going to take pharmaceuticals their provider directed them to take, whether we like it or not, whether truly helpful or not.

Full disclosure: I am a certified aromatherapist. I'd never suggest it as a career.

[Glass]

As a "registered pharmacist," she has the power to influence people's lives doing exactly what you suggest: recommend "supplements." The vast majority are going to take pharmaceuticals their provider directed them to take, whether we like it or not, whether truly helpful or not.

Full disclosure: I am a certified aromatherapist. I'd never suggest it as a career.

I think you make a good point here. In pharmacy there is a thing called compounding pharmacy, which is basically what my "old" definition was referring to. Compounding pharmacists are few and far between but in the old days before pre-packaged "pharmaceuticals" it was how pharmacy was done. A kind of medical focused chemistry taking into account an individuals particular biology.

I think a combination of the two would be very powerful for true helpful healing.

[crimethink]

I think you make a good point here. In pharmacy there is a thing called compounding pharmacy, which is basically what my "old" definition was referring to. Compounding pharmacists are few and far between but in the old days before pre-packaged "pharmaceuticals" it was how pharmacy was done. A kind of medical focused chemistry taking into account an individuals particular biology.

I think a combination of the two would be very powerful for true helpful healing.

Our local pharmacy (independent, of course) has a nice selection of acceptable-quality holistic/naturopathic "supplements" and related. Including essential oils!

[Shami-Amourae]

will appreciate any thoughts/observations about that job and prospects for the future. niece is looking at it and asked my opinion. i know less than zero :|~:|~
My first area of pursuit out of high school was to become a pharmacist. I worked in a pharmacy for a bit too so understand it. Recommend your neice get a job at a CVS/Walgreens and try to work as a pharmacy cashier/tech. Sometimes low level stuff you can do without a degree. I was able to do it after working at a drug store retail cashier for a few months, and befriending the pharmacist and manager and convincing them to let me try. I ended up doing a lot of the tasks without any formal training since it was fairly easy. I didn't enjoy it though dealing with all the sickly, idiotic people all day complaining about their insurance and having issues with insurance companies covering the customer's medicine.

I worked in fast food before this, and it was very similar in many ways, just no grease, and white lab coats. It had the same flow and assembly line energy as fast food, except sick people coughing on you all day.


Most pharmacy stuff can/should be automated, and the main role of a pharmacist these days is lecture people how to take their drugs, which is basically just repeating what could easily be voiced by a computer.

It's a bad idea going into the pharmacy field for someone young since it will be automated away by the time she finishes college. Literally this profession won't exist for much longer.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZozGXCIOYI

The smartest professional right now is a trade/craft you do with your hands that can't be easily automated. Flowering niches like organic food are also a big thing to get into. There's a lot of food deserts that need organic produce/fruit, and small business owners can fill those gaps with stalls and mini-shops.

[Shami-Amourae]

Chiropractic is a drug less healing art, where you go to the common bio-mechanical cause of the problem, instead of attempting to manage the symptoms artificially and temporary with chemistry.

That field is over-saturated. Literally every other street corner in my town has a chiropractor.

[Neuro]

That field is over-saturated. Literally ever other street corner in my town has a chiropractor.

That's the US! Practically the rest of the world there is too few chiropractors. You could make it in US too, if you have good manual adjusting skills and focus on providing a good adjustment, instead of mixing in worthless physical therapy (ultrasound, TENS) for the purpose of bilking insurance. Or use flawed techniques and recommend 50-100 sessions. Almost all my patients report well or much improved within 3-12 sessions, and a visit takes only about 10 minutes.

I think many if not most chiropractors today doesn't practice proper chiropractic. That is why only a relatively small proportion of the population visit chiropractors. I blame inclusion into insurance coverage for this situation. It has corrupted chiropractors, and chiropractic education. Chiropractic had its growth phase from the 1910's to 1960's, these times were characterized by vehement attempts to destroy chiropractic by organized medicine (AMA). 100's of chiropractors were jailed for practicing medicine without a licence.

[Glass]

we have lots here in Aus. This was one of the first places they emigrated to during the "Great War against Chiropractic" in the 1970's.

[Neuro]

we have lots here in Aus. This was one of the first places they emigrated to during the "Great War against Chiropractic" in the 1970's.

Yes, that is correct!

Here is the court ruling from 1987, where AMA was convicted of conspiracy to destroy the chiropractic profession.
http://chiro.org/Wilk/
Ironically the court ruling did more to ruin chiropractic, than the actual conspiracy to contain and destroy the profession, IMO. Being included in third party payee systems has corrupted chiropractic. The majority of chiropractors today, are what I would call medipractors, in that they have adopted the medical symptom based model. All chiropractic schools today are geared towards that model, and their attention to train its practitioner in giving a proper chiropractic adjustment to restore normal neuro-biomechanical function is taking a backseat. There are a few chiropractors prevailing in remaining focused on that, but we are clearly marginalized in the profession...

[hoarder]

I think 1987 is the same year the establishment bought out the School of Rolfing and neutered it. Over 90% of Rolfers trained after that are useless.

[Atocha]

I have a friend as a pharmacist. They said they make decent money to count pills all day. Unlike the old days where medicines were custom made, today everything is pre-measured and ready to go.

Personally, I think I would die of boredom.....

[cheka.]

thanks everyone for the education. besides chiropractor is there something else that makes pharmacist type money that you see a future in? maybe phyz therapy?

[singular_me]

soon having a job will be regarded as an oddity...

cheka , your niece should give up... and value life experiences over $$$. Grow her own medicinal/healing plants and sell them at the farmes' market for example. I know two farms doing this and they make decent money. If having an income is still a problem in the world we live in. More and more people are dumping conventional drugs and turning to natural remedies.


Proof That Life Experiences — Not Things — Make You Happier
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/03/life-experiences-happier-material-things_n_5072591.html

to spend money on useful life experiences, and if one does not have the $$, one doesnt deserve it?

but guess what... money as we know it is coming to an end too. Materialism is the ultimate challenge because when pushed too far (just like anything else), the spiritual takes over... money-free (no bartering either) is the only way to go.

Money has distorted the meaning of life, but wast meant to, so others could control us.





It's a bad idea going into the pharmacy field for someone young since it will be automated away by the time she finishes college. Literally this profession won't exist for much longer.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZozGXCIOYI

.

[Jewboo]

will appreciate any thoughts/observations about that job and prospects for the future. niece is looking at it and asked my opinion. i know less than zero :|~:|~

HER MANY CUSTOMERS (https://www.google.com/search?site=&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1536&bih=743&q=high+index+glasses&oq=high+index+glasses&gs_l=img.3..0j0i24k1l9.2319.8049.0.8567.18.14.0.4. 4.0.235.1200.10j1j2.13.0....0...1ac.1.64.img..1.17 .1210...0i5i30k1j0i8i30k1.EjuIg2MvlYU#tbm=isch&q=thick+glasses)

She buys THIS (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0efjSrHljk) $40k machine and makes very thin 1.74 index lenses. An independent Optical Lab Tech like the guy in the video above is getting rich and doesn't even need a license in many states.

:)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8L8MkH8sJE

[milehi]

A friends daughter went to pharm school and works in a large warehouse filling orders with no interaction with customers. I told her she should become a drug rep but she has no drive.

[singular_me]

CT, your new avatar makes him look like a CUTE reptilian

[madfranks]

thanks everyone for the education. besides chiropractor is there something else that makes pharmacist type money that you see a future in? maybe phyz therapy?

Engineering of most sorts can net you a good living.

[crimethink]

CT, your new avatar makes him look like a CUTE reptilian

Pepe is an amphibian, not a reptile. :)

[Neuro]

thanks everyone for the education. besides chiropractor is there something else that makes pharmacist type money that you see a future in? maybe phyz therapy?

Physical therapy is a fraud component in the medical merry go around. It is by and large symptom based application of therapy, there are exceptions, but most physical therapists resigns to using TENS, ultrasound, laser for temporary relief of symptoms where they are, she'll get taught these in Chiropractic college too, and if she is smart she rejects them. There are some good physical therapy muscle stretch techniques, which I use for hip and shoulder problems, most PT's don't use them though. At least with a Chiropractic degree, she'll learn to properly diagnose a muskuloskeletal problem from an organ problem.

First and foremost there is great job satisfaction in working as a chiropractor, as you really do help people recover to their potential. However if she has already bought into the medical paradigm of happiness through chemistry I wouldn't recommend it to her.

[osoab]

Engineering of most sorts can net you a good living.

Have you noticed buyouts of small firms around your area?

[Shami-Amourae]

cheka , your niece should give up... and value life experiences over $$$. Grow her own medicinal/healing plants and sell them at the farmes' market for example. I know two farms doing this and they make decent money. If having an income is still a problem in the world we live in. More and more people are dumping conventional drugs and turning to natural remedies.

singular_me is right about this (dropping this spiritual stuff though, LOL.) A lot of jobs will be automated, but stuff like she's mentioning are less likely to become automated. Automation is mostly absent from the organic side of things, though it isn't going to be super profitable, unless you're smart about it. The smart thing to do is to find a food desert or a place that's rural that needs these kinds of things, and the people can't get anywhere else.

Most jobs you know about right now will be automated in your life time. Think about that statement, and think what jobs can/should be eliminated with robots and software. We are entering a world where having a job will be viewed as a luxury for the "rich" classes. You'll have a giant sea of unemployable people sitting at home all day playing video games all day.

You need to look at things where just HAVING a job is the most important thing. Once you have a job, you can figure out how to build yourself and improve your income from there.

[Jewboo]

First and foremost there is great job satisfaction in working as a chiropractor, as you really do help people recover to their potential.



But Goldissima says her working part-time at a gas station is more spiritually rewarding and in tune with the Singularity.

:)

[Glass]

thanks everyone for the education. besides chiropractor is there something else that makes pharmacist type money that you see a future in? maybe phyz therapy?

A Vet.

Although she might want to watch this first.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaLQY1cU9d8

[madfranks]

Have you noticed buyouts of small firms around your area?

No, as a matter of fact it's the opposite. An engineer or architect working for a firm usually bills between $120-180/hr, but they may only see 25-33% of that for their salary. There is a huge incentive for licensed professionals to start their own practice, as they can undercut their employers by half and still make more on their own. So I've seen folks quit the firms and start their own practice. My plan has me doing the same in a few years.