What a pharmacist needs to know. How do pharmacists live? What awaits graduates of pharmaceutical colleges and universities if they decide to work in a pharmacy after graduation?

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Do you work as a pharmacist and want something more or are you just planning to connect your life with the medical field, but the answer is how to become a pharmacist in a pharmacy Or is there no other place yet? Then let's figure out how to become a pharmacist.

Each of us solves the problem of choosing a future life path. Choosing a profession in itself is a very important step, and choosing a profession related to medicine is suitable for responsible people who are ready to use all available strength to study their chosen specialty. All this fully relates to the specialty of a pharmacist.

But how to become a pharmacist? This question cannot be classified as unpopular; it is asked by many young men and women who want to commit their later life with the profession of a pharmacist. Mastering all the intricacies of this specialty is very difficult, but at the same time interesting process. The knowledge and skills acquired during studies provide an opportunity to count on promising work in the future. It is only important to decide for yourself whether you want to become a pharmacist in a pharmacy or go to work, for example, for a large pharmaceutical company.

Necessary skills to become a pharmacist

Every year, a variety of new drugs appear in the world to combat one or another disease. Doctors find optimal approaches to treating various dangerous diseases. Therefore, the pharmacist constantly needs to have the latest information; it is no secret that it is to him that patients turn for advice and clarification on issues of taking medications.

A person who decides to become a pharmacist and works in this specialty must have deep knowledge not only in the medical and pharmacological fields, but also in the basics of economics and even psychology. Close communication with pharmacy clients requires from this specialist, on the one hand, patience and endurance, and on the other hand, goodwill and attention.

However, it is worth noting that an employee who works in a company, develops medicines, or decides to become a pharmacist in a pharmacy has quite a good and fairly paid job and excellent prospects career growth. A pharmacy employee with the appropriate level of training is a sought-after specialist on the all-Russian labor market. Pharmacies and pharmacy points in literally all regions of the country are constantly in need of pharmacists.

How to become a pharmacist in a pharmacy?

Becoming a pharmacist in a pharmacy does not at all mean becoming an ordinary seller selling medicines and medical products. This is a medical professional of a sufficiently high level of training who is able, based on the buyer’s request, to offer several types of medications and ensure compliance with all rules and regulations for the dispensing of medications. In addition, he knows all the pharmacological properties of the drugs, the types of their active substances, possible problems that arise during administration side effects and contraindications for certain medications.

Requirements to become a pharmacist

In order to become a pharmacist in a pharmacy or to obtain a profession, it is mandatory to obtain a diploma of higher pharmaceutical education. Faculties that train specialists in this profile are available in many higher educational institutions in the country. The duration of training for this specialty is 5 years. Sometimes students, already in the process of studying, begin working in various pharmacy institutions. In addition, unlike other specialties studied in medical schools, the Faculty of Pharmacology has the right to use correspondence courses for teaching students.

It should be noted that there is a fairly wide variety of career paths for a university graduate in this profile - this is not only the opportunity to become a pharmacist in a pharmacy. A pharmacist with a high level of training and sufficient work experience can work as a medical representative various well-known pharmacological companies and collaborate with doctors of various specialties practicing in medical institutions.

In addition, a highly qualified pharmacist is often involved in expert and analytical activities and is engaged in scientific or teaching work in specialized educational institutions. As the results of independent studies show, the career development of specialists in this profile often proceeds quite rapidly. Approximately every fifth employee moves to a higher level of the career ladder every year, with the majority of appointments taking place within their specialty.

But almost all young specialists start by working at the “first table”. Here they become pharmacists in a pharmacy and gain much-needed experience, practical skills and even a certain self-confidence for further professional growth. Some of them find their calling in selling medicines and related products. They take special pride in directly helping people. Diploma received higher education and many years of experience in a pharmacy qualify them to apply for the position of pharmacy director.

Others find themselves in production, choosing positions as technologists or analysts. But no matter what direction a graduate of the Faculty of Pharmacy chooses for his further labor activity, he needs to confidently and competently navigate the large and diverse flow of pharmaceutical information.

In addition, working in the modern pharmacy business requires a significant amount of energy and enthusiasm. However, if you decide to become a pharmacist in a pharmacy, over time, experience will not deprive, but rather increase your skills and completely different prospects will open up before you.

Nowadays to modern man It is almost impossible to do without medication when he or his relatives are sick. And sometimes you just need to purchase or to keep your body in good shape and carry out preventive measures. In large and small cities you can find many pharmacies and pharmacy kiosks. What awaits us on the shelves? Packages of tablets, capsules, injection ampoules, heating pads, blood pressure monitors, pipettes, elastic bandages, thermometers, ointments, suspensions, syrups, glucometers... the list can be long.
Some people have the mistaken opinion that the pharmacist who dispenses all pharmaceutical products is just a salesman in a clean white coat, deftly taking out beautiful and bright packages with liniments, dragees, drops from many drawers and cabinets. So MirSovetov decided to talk about what pharmacists do, to reveal their features and subtleties difficult work. This article will also be useful for those who want to connect their lives with medicines and patient treatment. Getting it right in life is not an easy task.
So what knowledge and personal qualities are important for pharmacy workers?

General information about the profession

A pharmacist is a qualified specialist involved in the preparation of drugs, their research, quality control, storage and dispensing (sale). The profession is prestigious; it is in seventh place in terms of demand. The word "pharmacist" has a very ancient origins, translated from Greek it means “he who gives healing and protects from disease.” In ancient times, there were healers who successfully tried to treat people with drugs that they themselves prepared. And only in the thirteenth century in Europe there was a division of labor and responsibilities between pharmacists and doctors. At first, in Russia, drug experts were simply called pharmacists.
You can obtain this socially significant specialty in pharmaceutical colleges or pharmaceutical departments of medical colleges or schools. It will take about 3 years to master all the intricacies. If you wish and try, over time you can become a chief pharmacist - pharmacist, having completed full-time or full-time training at an academy, university or institute. by correspondence, combining work and study.
At school it's worth Special attention devote to the study of chemistry, botany, anatomy, mathematics. Responsibility, care and good memory will be very useful in further studies.

Some salary information

I will name only the average numbers:

throughout Russia it ranges from 15,000 to 21,000 rubles;
in small towns and villages – from 12 to 19,000 rubles;
in Moscow it is much more - from 32 to 42,000 rubles.

Pharmacists successfully work in the following organizations and institutions:

in pharmacies, and of any form of ownership - private, municipal, state;
in large and small warehouses;
in quality control centers medicines and pharmacy departments;
in laboratories, research institutes (research institutes) and other institutions involved in the creation of new drugs, collection and processing of medicinal plants;
at pharmaceutical plants and pharmaceutical factories that carry out industrial production drugs;
in pharmaceutical companies producing drugs, being their medical representative.

Knowledge and skills

All my life I remember the apt saying of the Indian doctor Sushruta, read a long time ago in one of the books on Ayurveda (the science of life): “The medicine is in the hands knowledgeable person is likened to immortality and life, in the hands of an ignoramus - to fire and sword.”
There is an opinion among teachers that either gifted individuals or very diligent people can become a good pharmacist. After all, in classrooms and offices educational institution The future specialist will have to study many special disciplines. I will list just a few of them:

Pharmacology is a science that helps to understand how a drug affects the body, introduces doses, side (undesirable) effects and contraindications.
Pharmacognosy is a very interesting and promising science that studies medicinal plants, animal raw materials (bee, snake venom, placenta) and preparations that contain them. This knowledge will help you understand beneficial features plants and learn to compose medicinal teas and collections for the healing of many ailments.
Pharmacotherapy is the study of diseases and the principles of their treatment with drugs.
Medicine technology is a subject in which one learns how to properly prepare dosage forms according to doctors’ prescriptions and the requirements of medical institutions, seal them, and arrange them accordingly.
Pharmaceutical chemistry is a science that provides knowledge on how to properly control the quality of prepared dosage forms.
Organization and economics of pharmacy (abbreviated as OEF) - introduces the basics of organizing the work of pharmacies, the rules for dispensing drugs from pharmacies and storing them.

Great importance is currently being given to students studying computer technology and application programs that will be useful in further work.
A special role is also given to the basics of psychology, bioethics and deontology, because a pharmacist communicates with people all day.
And you can’t do without knowledge of Latin, because you’ll have to read prescriptions written out in illegible doctors’ handwriting.
In addition, you must be able to master the skills of working on modern cash registers, because in many pharmacies the positions of pharmacist and cashier are combined.
The educational process is replete with many hours of practical training in laboratories and classrooms specially equipped for these purposes.
To master a profession related to human health and life, you will need a lot of strength, endurance and determination.

Important Personal Qualities

Today, a qualified pharmacist is required to possess a huge amount of knowledge and constantly improve it independently, because new drugs often appear on the pharmaceutical markets. This requires a unique memory, diligence, accuracy, high self-control, organization, and responsibility for the results of one’s activities. The distinctive qualities of people in this profession are honesty, humanity, endurance and patience, goodwill, and philanthropy. From my own experience I am convinced that the most healing of all medicines is warmth. A sensitive, attentive attitude towards each patient will help instill in a person’s mind confidence that the medicine will definitely help him. When communicating with sick people and their relatives, irritability, indifference, arrogance, haste in service, short temper, and resentment are unacceptable. Sick people need rudeness and irritability, which they often manifest, voluntarily or unwittingly. We must be able to understand such people who are in stressful situation and those faced with illness. Communication skills and responsiveness will help you avoid conflicts and receive moral satisfaction from the fact that you were able to contribute to the patient’s recovery.
A person who decides to master the specialty of a pharmacist must also be prepared for the disadvantages and difficulties. Here are some of them. Be prepared for the fact that the work schedule will be “sliding”, that is, you will sometimes need to work on weekends and holidays. You have to spend a lot of time standing, and by the end of the shift your legs get tired, swell, and “hum.” There are also occupational diseases - the joints and veins of the extremities are susceptible to them. The risk of respiratory tract diseases is also high, because people with other infections also go to the pharmacy. I confess to you, it is not easy to work all day when there are flu epidemics, wearing a “mask”. Then there is no time to sit down even for a minute.

Job responsibilities when working in a pharmacy

A pharmacist is required to know:

Not only regulations regulating its work, but also legislation Russian Federation, amendments and annexes thereto from local authorities relating to pharmacy.
Fundamentals of all pharmaceutical disciplines.
Classification, nomenclature and purpose of drugs and pharmaceutical products.
Rules and methods of providing first aid.
All the subtleties of preparing dosage forms in a pharmacy and the features of their storage and dispensing.

So what does a pharmacist do in a pharmacy?

Provides the population with medicines, taking into account the demand and need for them. Timely prepares orders for medications and pharmaceutical products.
Together with other employees, he accepts the goods, correctly arranges them in storage areas, taking into account the proper conditions and features in accordance with the rules.
Dispenses (sells) finished and prepared medications in pharmacies to clients with (and without) prescriptions and supplies hospitals and other institutions according to formalized requirements.
Carefully ensures that recipes and requirements are completed correctly.
Checks the compatibility of ingredients and the appropriate doses for the patient’s age. There is no doubt that it is the exact dose that makes any substance a powerful medicine that defeats diseases, or a poison that leads to death.
Prevents medical errors.
Engaged in the production of dosage forms (powders, mixtures, ointments) according to recipes or requirements from hospitals, observing all the rules.
Carries out internal pharmacy quality control, expiration dates, identifies counterfeit drugs and removes them from sales.
Informs and advises patients about the methods of using medications, doses and time of administration, and tells how to properly store the drug at home. Often a sick person goes to a pharmacist rather than a doctor for help and prescriptions. It is important to listen to the patient and provide him with all possible help. For example, offer a remedy for intestinal disorders or fever. But if the symptoms are serious, then it is unobtrusive but convincing to recommend visiting a doctor.
It happens that the patient suddenly becomes unwell, then it is necessary to provide pre-medical assistance before the arrival.
Complies with all sanitary and hygienic standards and pharmaceutical regulations.
Complies with safety requirements when working with devices and equipment, fire safety.
Organizes the workplace rationally.
Follows the rules of ethics and morality in professional communications with clients, doctors and employees of his team.
If required, informs doctors about new drugs and changes in the rules for dispensing drugs from the pharmacy.

In addition to the above, pharmacy employees are financially responsible persons and are responsible for the safety of medications and funds.

Specialist rights

A pharmacist has the right:

Receive the information necessary for the quality performance of their professional duties.
Increase your level of knowledge in special courses held once every five years, and receive a certificate of the appropriate type; undergo certification to be assigned a qualification category.
Accept Active participation in the work of pharmaceutical circles, conferences, meetings, competitions, exhibitions.
Based on the experience gained, introduce new technologies and improve the organization of work activities of the middle pharmaceutical level.
Make rational proposals and ideas to your management to improve the quality of service to the population with medicines and pharmacy products.

Responsibility for violations in professional activities

Offenses for which the pharmacist will have to answer:

For failure to perform or improper performance of the duties and tasks assigned to the employee - within the limits provided for and determined by the paragraphs of the current labor legislation of the country.
For offenses committed in the course of work - in accordance with civil, administrative and even criminal legislation.
In case of causing material damage to the enterprise - compensation provided for in paragraphs employment contract, civil and labor codes Russian Federation.

As you can see, dear readers of MirSovetov, the work of a pharmacist is important, interesting, but at the same time very difficult and responsible. And not everyone can cope with such a large volume of responsibilities and knowledge that must be kept in mind and constantly improved. Therefore, if you are still inclined towards a career as a pharmacist, then I advise you to find time and sit in trading floor, or better yet, stand for 3 hours or more. Observe the actions of the pharmacist, I believe that you will become an eyewitness to several conflict situations, which an experienced specialist will be able to resolve correctly. Then you will be able to understand whether it is worth choosing such a profession for your whole life.
And now I would like to touch on one more thing important point. I assure you, my dear readers, that a true pharmacist first of all thinks not about making a profit, but about how to help a sick person. And if you have a small one, don’t be embarrassed, tell the pharmacist about this, that there is not enough money for the medicine prescribed by the doctor. In this case, a solution will be found; they will recommend a synonym, that is, a drug containing the same active ingredient, but cheaper. MirSovetov sincerely wishes everyone sensitive and friendly pharmacists at the nearest pharmacy and good health!

How to become a pharmacist, and what basic knowledge do you need to master it at school to get this profession? We invite you to talk about the professional characteristics of pharmacists in more detail.

Often young people, when choosing a particular profession, have a vague idea about it. For example, how can you find out what someone is really doing? pharmacist standing behind the pharmacy counter? By by and large a judgment about this profession arises on the basis of what is seen, what “lies on the surface.”

After all, most people do not have the opportunity to look into the premises of pharmacies, pharmaceutical laboratories or pharmaceutical factories. This is the "holy of holies" where access ordinary people closed because such institutions manufacture/sell medications that not only save people’s lives, but can also harm their health (of course, if used incorrectly/excessively).

How to become a pharmacist, and what basic knowledge do you need to master at school to get this profession? We invite you to talk about the professional characteristics of pharmacists in more detail.

Who is a pharmacist?

Throughout the history of civilization, humanity has been looking for ways to combat pain and disease. The first evidence of the existence of medicines is ancient Egyptian papyri of the 17th century BC. The properties of natural medicines are known from scientific works ancient healers: Hippocrates, Theophrastus, Dioscorides, Galen, Avicenna and other ancient scientists who found healing remedies in the environment natural environment, studying the composition and properties of plants/minerals.

Pharmacology, as a science, got its name from the ancient Greek φάρμακον “medicine, poison” and λόγος - “word, teaching,” which translates as “the teaching of poison.” Since the thirteenth century, pharmacology has been separated into an independent section of the science of medicine: from that time on, pharmacists began to engage in the manufacture and sale of medicines, and this happened in Italy. In Russia, the pharmaceutical business appeared only under Ivan the Terrible, and the development of the pharmaceutical industry, in fact, began only in the eighteenth century.

Modern pharmacology studies many different directions and is divided into the following disciplines:

Theoretical pharmacology;
Nanopharmacology;
Pharmacognosy;
Doseology;
Toxicology;
Pharmacogenetics and other sciences.

This division of directions is due to a significant amount of knowledge that has been accumulated over the centuries-old history of pharmacology and continues to increase today.

Depending on the place of work, the responsibilities of a pharmacist vary significantly. So, if this pharmacy worker(pharmacist), his duties will include:

customer consultation and drug dispensing;
storage and display of medicines;
creating demand for medicines;
control over the quality of medicines sold in pharmacies.

If a pharmacist works in a research institute or pharmaceutical laboratory, then his responsibilities will include:

development of new medicines and improvement of already known medicines;
work on drug manufacturing technology;
production of medicines.

By the way, contrary to popular belief, in official duties of a pharmacist selection not included medical supplies. He can only act as a consultant who will talk about pharmacological properties medicines and can offer an analogue of the drug if the pharmacy does not have the medicine recommended by the doctor.

What personal qualities should a pharmacist have?

The profession of a pharmacist is similar to the profession of a doctor - a specialist’s mistake can cost a person his life, because, as Paracelsus said, a medicine from a poison differs only in the dose. Therefore, a person who has chosen this profession must have such personal qualities as:

To make your dream come true and become a pharmacist, while studying at school you need to pay a lot of attention to chemistry, biology, physics, and mathematics. In addition, you need to understand that this profession requires constant readiness to learning and improving knowledge.

Advantages of being a pharmacist

A huge advantage of this profession is the fact that pharmacists today do not have to worry about finding employment - the specialty of a pharmacist is one of the ten most in-demand professions in the world. modern market labor. The country has a huge number of pharmacies, pharmaceutical warehouses, laboratories, factories, research institutes various forms properties involved in the development, production and sale of medical products.

At the same time, despite the fact that a pharmacist has a specialty centuries-old history, this profession can safely be called profession of the future. And all because people were sick, are sick and, unfortunately, will be sick. This means that humanity will continue to experience the need for the production and sale of medicines for decades to come.

Average level wages a pharmacist ranges from 15-42 thousand rubles, depending on the region and the form of ownership of the enterprise. Although these numbers can be much higher, depending on the position held.

Disadvantages of the pharmacist profession

When choosing a profession that helps people take proper care of their health, you need to take into account your own health status. For example, if there is allergic reactions for certain components of medications, the pharmacist will not be able to manufacture them, as this may harm him.

Taking into account the work schedule of Russian pharmacies (half of which are open around the clock), you need to be prepared for a busy work rhythm and irregular hours. working week. It is especially difficult for pharmacists to work during epidemics. Not only does the flow of customers increase many times over at this time, but the likelihood of contracting various infectious diseases through daily contact with them also increases many times over.

IN pharmacies Quite often sick and aggressive people come in and can react negatively to even the most innocent remark from a specialist. And you need to have enormous patience to smile politely and respond politely when you are provoked into rudeness or forced to run from one rack to another in search of the cheapest analogue of this or that medicine.

Where can you become a pharmacist?

The profession of a pharmacist can be acquired in medical college, where there is an appropriate department, and continue studying at a university without interrupting work, if there is a desire to improve their qualifications or engage in scientific activities in the field of study and development of medical products.

You can also, after graduating from school, immediately enter a specialized institute, where there are such areas of training as pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmaceutical technology and pharmacy.

Which medical university choose? It all depends on the intentions and capabilities of the applicant. For example, if it is important to simply gain professional skills and job prospects in your hometown, then it is best to choose the educational institution closest to your place of residence.

If in the future you plan to conduct scientific activity or apply for leadership position V international company, then it is best to get an education at one of the leading specialized universities in Russia, which include:

Image sources: pharmpersonal.ru, flogia.ru, mislife.ru, betamax-russia.ru

Pharmacist is a specialist in the manufacture and research of medical products. He has the right to sell them on the pharmaceutical market and in pharmacies. To do this, he must have a good understanding of tablets and mixtures and not only know what does what, but also how the drugs will interact with each other.

What is the difference between a pharmacist and a pharmacist? The first specialty implies that a person has received a secondary pharmaceutical education. A pharmacist must be a university graduate; he can hold the position of head of a pharmacy.

What does a pharmacist do?

The main place of work of a pharmacist is a pharmacy, pharmacy or kiosk. He reports to the manager. When visiting this specialist, a person receives competent advice regarding the specifics of taking medications and their interactions with other drugs. So, a pharmacist at a pharmacy does the following:

dispenses over-the-counter preparations of finished medicines, hygiene and patient care items, medicinal herbs and other medical products;
dispenses medications according to a doctor's prescription;
provides pharmacotherapy to the patient;
performs cash transactions when accepting money for goods sold, keeps records of their movement;
at the end of the working day submits cash reports;
has PC skills and knowledge at the user level;
draws up a defect sheet, that is, an application for replenishment of goods;
accepts the goods, sorting them into pharmacological groups in accordance with storage conditions;
participates in inventory within a specified period of time;
monitors the temperature in the room and in the refrigerator, as well as air humidity;
controls the expiration dates of medicines;
applying the basics of merchandising, designs the window display;
looks after his appearance: the robe must be neat, washed and ironed, the hair must be well-groomed;
undergoes medical examinations at the appointed time;
takes courses to improve (confirm) qualifications;
Provides pre-hospital medical care if necessary.

If any pharmaceutical drug is not available, the pharmacist has the right to replace it with a similar one from another manufacturer in the same release form and with the same dosage. Let's say a patient was prescribed Lazolvan in tablets. This tradename drug, and the active ingredient is ambroxol hydrochloride. The drugs Ambrobene, Flavamed, Ambrohexal, Abrol, etc. are similar in composition.

Due to the fact that patients are increasingly turning to pharmacies instead of visiting doctors, such concepts as responsible self-medication and pharmaceutical care have appeared. It's about not about life-threatening symptoms, but rather about situations in which they rarely seek medical attention or are in no hurry to go to an appointment: colds, pain and sore throat, migraine-like pain, heartburn, constipation, etc.

Pharmaceutical care is a whole complex of measures aimed at interaction between the pharmacist and the patient, starting from the time the chief dispenses the medicine until complete recovery or the patient consults a doctor. The pharmacist's task:

find out what disease the patient needs the drug to treat;
whether the patient has symptoms that require immediate consultation with a doctor;
Having assessed the described symptoms, choose an over-the-counter drug and select the appropriate dosage form;
tell about the method of using the medicine (before or after meals, with how much water, how it interacts with other tablets);
inform about possible side effects and contraindications;
explain that the drug helps eliminate only the symptom of the disease; To identify the cause of the disease and comprehensive treatment, it is necessary to encourage the patient to see a doctor.

A pharmacist can also work as an analyst or technologist at a pharmaceutical plant, or prepare medicines in pharmacies, where they are still prepared.

Often, the work of a pharmacist-pharmacist is seen by an outside observer as a 10-hour stay behind the counter, during which you only need to dispense medications and punch receipts. In fact, pharmacy everyday life is much more varied, and the responsibilities of a pharmacist include many difficult and, often, unexpected tasks.

Without appropriate education, you cannot get a position as a pharmacist-pharmacist. The employer is waiting for applicants with a full package of documents: a university or college diploma in the specialty “Pharmacy” and a valid specialist certificate. We asked a pharmacy employee, who has been a pharmacist-pharmacist for 10 years, to talk about her typical working day and how things are going with her wages in branch.

To apply for the position of pharmacist-pharmacist in any Russian pharmacy, you need to graduate from a university or college in the relevant specialty. I studied at the institute by correspondence, but now there is no such opportunity - correspondence education in the specialty “Pharmacy” has been cancelled. So now those who want to become a pharmacist have a simple choice: either go full-time at a university, or choose a college that offers part-time and part-time study.

It was not easy to study, but it was interesting. I had to combine work in a pharmacy as a consultant with studies - studying in the evenings and weekends special literature and prepare for the session. Now, looking back, I don’t know how I survived it all: without the help of teachers throughout the entire learning process, it was very difficult to understand the subjects. But I did it.

What should a pharmacist know?

First of all, it is worth understanding that pharmacy is this is the same medical specialty like any other. Many people believe that pharmacists do not need to understand anatomy, physiology, analytical chemistry and microbiology. high level, because pharmacists do not treat people. But this is not true: in all these areas we were trained as thoroughly as other doctors, and we often have more chemistry and biology in our program than in the programs of other medical areas.

And, of course, to these subjects are added core specialties that only we study, and which we will need to work in pharmacies: pharmacology, technology of pharmaceutical dosage forms, pharmacognosy, management and economics of pharmacy and many others.

Who is this job suitable for?

This type of work is suitable for those who are used to thinking about people and taking care of them. We should not be completely overwhelmed by the problems of those who come to us for help, because we must maintain composure and some detachment in order to calmly make a decision. However, we cannot demonstrate indifference: people rely on us.

Of course, such work will be difficult for an elderly person: our day is packed to capacity, we spend most of the time on our feet and are often forced to lift weights, make a hundred laps around the warehouse, and at the same time find the strength to warmly communicate with pharmacy visitors. Young specialists who are full of strength and energy will cope best with such activities.

— Today we are seeing an urgent need pharmacy chains in the influx of young personnel, agreesDeputy Director for Educational and Industrial WorkMoscowCollege of Pharmacy "New Knowledge"Andrey Kirichuk. – Average age pharmacy employees are 45-50 years old, and many of them have already reached retirement age, but continue to work because there is no one to replace them. Of course, it is difficult for them to perform their duties at the same level.

How much does a pharmacist earn?

What does a typical day look like for a pharmacist in a pharmacy?

At my pharmacy, the working day starts at 8 am. You need to come a little earlier to check the availability of goods in the warehouse and hang price tags before opening. A very important step is checking compliance temperature regime for each category of drugs.

Before the opening, as a rule, the pharmacy manager holds a planning meeting, at which the results of the past day are summed up and the day ahead is discussed. They announce sales plans to us, celebrate the successes of employees, and explain the reasons for some failures.

Then begins the work that takes up most of the time - communicating with pharmacy visitors. This area is the most difficult: I have to not only dispense medications according to a doctor’s prescription (sometimes with difficulty understanding what exactly is written there), and also advise something on my own, because our people don’t like to go to the clinic. Most often the request sounds like this: “Advise me something for migraines.” To choose a medicine, you need not only to know well the assortment of the pharmacy on this moment, but ask a lot of questions to the person: who made the diagnosis, how the disease manifests itself, and so on. Only after this comes the turn of the recommendation, and even then taking into account the financial capabilities of the visitor.

Around lunchtime it's time to study. Yes, just like doctors, we constantly devote time to our professional development and continue to study even after we receive our diplomas. During these classes we learn about new medicines and their features, new scientific developments and trends in medicine.

In the afternoon, you need to be distracted by taking a new product and sorting it in accordance with the rules for storing medicines. Before finishing work, I fill out the cashier-operator’s journal, reconcile the proceeds “on paper” and “in person”. If I find an error, I look for its cause and eliminate it.

As a rule, it is in the evening that it is rush hour at the pharmacy. After work, people run in to buy something very important and necessary, and often they are not even stopped by the “Closed” sign. Of course, I also really want to go home, but sometimes, if a long line forms, I have to stay late to help people.

About people

Visitors are different. That is why I said that only those who really want to help people should choose such a specialty. Very often, we, pharmacists, are treated impolitely, begin to argue with recommendations or swear at the cost of medicines, although we have nothing to do with this at all. Sometimes a visitor cannot clearly formulate his problem and asks to recommend something literally at random. It happens that a person remembers the name of a medicine incorrectly and pronounces it incorrectly, and you need to guess what exactly he means. If you don’t figure it out right away, you may be accused of incompetence or impoliteness towards visitors.

All manifestations of our work must be treated calmly and with a fair amount of humor. We, like doctors, do not have the right to be irritated, angry and respond rudely to outright rudeness, because, often, under the guise of impoliteness a person hides confusion or fear.

Pharmacist salary

In general, our salary level is average for the market. Graduated pharmacist can qualify for a salary of 45-50 thousand rubles, and the head of a pharmacy receives from 60 thousand. Now, of course, I’m talking about the level of Moscow salaries; in the regions, specialists receive less.

With my salary of 45 thousand, it’s enough for me to raise two children with my husband, who earns a little more, and go on vacation to the sea every year. For four of us, we spend about 130-150 thousand a year on travel. We have our own apartment, which I inherited from my parents, so we don’t have to spend money on rent. Utility costs are on average 3.5 thousand rubles, food costs are about 20-25 thousand. We spend about 10-15 thousand a month on clothes for our children and ourselves. Part of the funds goes to help parents. Another expense item is children's entertainment. This costs about 5 thousand a month.

I really hope for a speedy progress career ladder– I dream of becoming a pharmacy manager, or perhaps even opening my own business: I have enough experience and knowledge.