Question:
I'm really into pharmacy, but I'm one of those people who's always coming up with a new goal or plan or scheme once I seem to have achieved the last. I also had very high expectations of myself growing up, and so did my family. How can I be OK with "only" being a pharmacist, preferably for the rest of my career? (I mean a clinical pharmacist - I'm not interested in management or regulatory or all the other less common pharmacy jobs.)
Response 1:
That’s a really good question! Luckily, pharmacy as a field is progressive and constantly changing. New scopes of practise, new therapies and new challenges. Commitment to lifelong learning make the best kinds of practising pharmacists. I’d say this is the perfect challenge for you! As you won’t be just settling to be “only” a pharmacist, but an excellent one that is constantly improving their therapeutic knowledge, expanding their scope of practise and finding new ways to help your patients. That way you’re always developing new goals. Things like diabetes education program and geriatrics certification and many other specializations are also things that might interest you! Graduating Pharmacy is an achievement and a goal, but it’s only the beginning of your achievements as a progressive clinician. All the best :) - Roger
Response 2:
This indeed is a very good question, and one that crosses a lot of minds I am sure! I would say pharmacy sounds like a promising fit for you, since you are always coming up with new goals, and similarly, pharmacy is a field that is constantly evolving as new therapeutics are discovered and disease states are further researched. It is great to have high expectations of yourself, and I think your ambitions will align well with this fields progressive nature. This is a very exciting time to enter the profession of pharmacy as scopes of practice are evolving, and pharmacists are exploring a vast variety of environments to practice in such as family health teams, hospitals, community, industry and many more! Pharmacists are also heavily relied on for therapeutic consultation, and just like any other healthcare profession, have their own unique skill set. With that being said, all healthcare professions have their own unique standing, and one would not be superior or inferior to another. It all comes down to which sector of healthcare you appreciate most (therapeutics, physiology & disease, nutrition, etc.) and would see yourself practicing in successfully without discomfort/compromise. I hope this answers your question, and wish you all the best in whichever field of health you decide to pursue.