Pharmacists

Pharmacists ensure safe and quality use of medicines, and optimise health outcomes by contributing to selecting, prescribing, monitoring and evaluating medicine therapy, and researching, testing and developing pharmaceuticals and medical products.

What the job involves

  • Receiving prescriptions, checking patients' medicine histories, and ensuring optimal dosage and methods of administration and drug compatibility before dispensing
  • Preparing or supervising the preparation and labelling of liquid medicines, ointments, powders, tablets and other medications to fill prescriptions
  • Advising prescribers on drug incompatibility and contra-indications
  • Reviewing and monitoring the medicine therapy of individual patients, and assessing the effectiveness of the total medicine therapy
  • Maintaining prescription files and recording issue of narcotics, poisons and habit-forming drugs
  • Storing and preserving vaccines, serums and other drugs subject to deterioration
  • Supplying non-prescription medicines, and diagnostic and therapeutic aids
  • Supervising and coordinating the work of Pharmacy Technicians, pharmacy interns and Pharmacy Sales Assistants
  • Conducting research to develop and improve pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and related chemical products
  • Conferring with Chemists, Engineering Professionals and other professionals about manufacturing techniques and ingredients
  • Testing and analysing drugs to determine their identity, purity and strength in relation to specified standards
  • Developing standards for drugs used in pharmaceuticals

Key values of workers in Pharmacists

  • Support

    Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.

  • Relationships

    Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.

  • Achievement

    Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

  • Working Conditions

    Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.

  • Independence

    Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.

Top skills required for workers in Pharmacists

  • Active Listening

    Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

  • Speaking

    Talking to others to convey information effectively.

  • Writing

    Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

  • Critical Thinking

    Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

  • Monitoring

    Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.