Pharmacy Skills: What Are Employers Really Looking For?
What are the essential skills you need to get hired if you are a pharmacist? Here is a list of some of the most in-demand skills that employers are looking for.
1. Communication Skills
These are of primary importance for every pharmacist because, as part of their job, they need to interact daily with patients of various backgrounds and other health care personnel and pharmacy staff.
Pharmacists spend most of their time with patients, and they need to be able to communicate effectively with them about the drugs they are taking, why they need to take them, what the medications will do, and any possible side effects the drugs may have.
Having good communication skills also enables pharmacists to work with people of different backgrounds, culturally, economically, socially, or educationally.
2. Skills in Science and Mathematics
To understand the nature of the various medications and how they work, pharmacists need a strong knowledge of subjects like biology and chemistry.
Pharmacists also need to be good at math. Math skills are needed for tasks like compounding drugs, ordering and packaging medication, and properly measuring dosages.
3. Management Skills
Pharmacists usually oversee a pharmacy staff. To do this effectively, they need to have good management skills. They need to know how to set goals, organize workflow, and give and receive feedback from staff members.
4. Analytical Skills
These skills are needed when treating patients. The pharmacist needs to understand the patient’s condition and all the factors influencing the condition to determine best how to treat the patient. For example, the pharmacist needs to determine if the patient is likely to experience any adverse effects from medication because of drug interactions or other health factors. This requires good analytical skills.
5. Computer Skills
Digital technology is pervasive in today’s economy. Just about everything is computerized. Pharmacies use computer programs to keep track of patient data, maintain drug inventories, and manage all of the information connected to the medications.
6. Financial Skills
When running a pharmacy, the pharmacist must develop budgets, keep track of revenue, expenses, and cash flow. All of this requires good financial skills.
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