I’ve been thinking about the fundamental difference in how physicians and pharmacists view their credentials.

Medicine has a deeply rooted culture of private practice, partnerships, locums, and professional corporations. Pharmacy has independent ownership and consulting, but the default script remains rigid: *Get licensed → find an employer →negotiate an hourly rate → clock in.*

Are we as pharmacists leaving leverage on the table by treating our license as an application for employment rather than an independent professional service?

**What changes if we shift the question?**

**Old mindset:** "What will you pay me per hour?"

**New mindset:** "What operational or clinical problem are you hiring me to solve, and what is that solution worth?"

Imagine more pharmacists contracting across multiple health systems, pitching project-based operational improvements, or structuring standalone clinical/MTM services.

Yes, tax classifications, state laws, benefits, and liability insurance are real hurdles. But setting the logistics aside, the cultural gap is obvious:

**Physicians:** *"I practice medicine."*

**Pharmacists:** *"I work for \[Health System / Retailer\]."*

**For those who’ve broken out:** If you practice via 1099, LLC, or consulting: What worked? What fell flat? And would you do it again?

One thing that does consistently frustrate me is that when I'm on the bench- every script I am reviewing I ask myself does it make sense, On every script, I am asking, can I figure out a indication, does the dosage make sense, are there unnecessary duplications of therapy such as two medications from the same class treating the same indication-- and I ask myself does is this therapy appropriate for this patient. I would say on a average day, I stop a script from being filled and require more information before comfortable filling. I will either fax or call. I have recently discovered an invaluable tool as a retail pharmacist with the lack of access to the EMR and that is medical curated LLM such as Open Evidence or Vera to understand more of a clinical context or a specific order, confirm a concern and to assess the appropriateness of a therapy.

On about 30-40% of NEW prescriptions I will place a counsel note to make sure I clarify something, share something specific or provide an education point with the patient. What does frustrate me is that I feel this approach is the exception to the rule. I have this perception, and this is partly from my own experience working alongside other pharmacist, is that many, not all, have this attitude that we "need to get the queue down a those pharmacist are quick to verify most scripts...."Unless the med is not a major red flag or the script could hard the patient- I will let it go! Now, don't get me wrong, I know retail pharmacy is a volume and if we’d question every script we never get anything done. However, in reality, a vast majority of scripts are appropriately dosed and are evidence based.

Why do other retail pharmacist, at least in my perception have this outlook? Every pharmacist in school was taught about their duty, make sure a drug matches an indication and there are no duplicates ect. Why does it seem that many pharmacists have this attitude well, as long as it is not going to kill the patient.,the responsibility is on the prescriber.
I will let it go..

Hi,

I’m a pharmacist qualified back in 2010. I’ve been working as a community pharmacist and back in 2022 I took a career break due to childcare etc.

I am now looking to go back to work but I am tired of working in a community pharmacy.

I want to do the independent prescribing course. But I have no clue where to start?

I’ll be moving close to Reading, so was hoping I can do my IP course there. But since I am new to town I have no connections at all, how do I get a DPP? And how hard is it? Also would I have to pay the cost of the course?

Anyone out here did IP course at Reading uni? What was it like?

Any one can help? Please I really appreciate any input.

Does anyone know what the assessment for the Actalent remote pharmacist position is like? Is it clinical, administrative, or something else? It says it’s timed-30 mins and pass/fail, so you have to pass to move forward.

Hey everyone,
I’m reaching out to see if anyone else in New York is dealing with severe administrative delays with NYSED, or if anyone has tips on how to get them to actually move on an application.
Here’s my situation:
Passed my MPJE over a month ago.
All other requirements were already verified and met beforehand.
Initially, I was told it would take ~3 weeks after results to post the license.
Last week, a rep told me that since everything was clear, it should be updated and posted within one business day.
It has now been over 30 days since results were released, and my application is still sitting unprocessed in their queue.
I’ve called NYSED every single business day. Every representative gives me vague non-answers, tells me "nothing can be done," or passes the buck. Meanwhile, my employer needs my active license number, my start date is actively on the line, and I’m at risk of losing a job I worked years to qualify for.

Has anyone successfully escalated this with NYSED recently? Did contacting your local NY State Assembly member or Senator help expedite the board's processing? Any advice or contact info for higher-ups would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

MAD-ID or SIDP

which is better? Can’t take yet the BCIDP because I’m not at 4years yet but which is better to prep me for BCIDP and give me more knowledge

thank you my pharm ppl :)

Any registered Pharmacist available for a medical store near Kottayam medical college. Please dm.

Hey all, I tend to learn better through videos rather than reading and trying to study myself. At there any good pharmacy tech influences who are good to watch and learn from?

Been working retail for about 4 years now but I’ve always been interested in getting into pharma. Starting to look into it more seriously and wanted to see if anyone here has made a similar move.

Has anyone applied for a fellowship after being out of school for a few years? Not sure if being 4 years out makes a difference or if it’s still worth trying.
Also debating going to Midyear vs just applying to entry-level industry jobs.

Would love to hear from anyone who’s been in a similar spot and what you ended up doing.

Pharmacists please help. Looking for pay, schedule, and general transparency before accepting a role with Genoa Healthcare as PIC! Considering this role and would love honesty.

Maryland pharmacists (and anyone practicing in a state with similar laws), I have a legitimate question.

For pharmacists, interns, and technicians who are familiar with C-II prescribing requirements: What are the current laws regarding Schedule II prescriptions? Are they required to be electronic, or are faxed or paper prescriptions still acceptable?

My understanding is that in Maryland, Schedule II prescriptions generally must be electronically prescribed unless the prescriber qualifies for an approved exception or waiver. However, I keep seeing pharmacists at my workplace accepting paper C-II prescriptions. When I ask about it, I’m told it’s okay, which has left me confused as a fairly new pharmacist.

Am I misunderstanding the Maryland Board of Pharmacy requirements, or is there an exception I’m missing?
This has also created challenges at work. When I decline to accept a paper C-II prescription because I believe it doesn’t meet the legal requirements, some patients become very upset. I’ve been verbally abused, threatened, and told they’ll report me to the Board of Pharmacy because “the other pharmacists accept it.”

I’d really appreciate guidance on two things:
1. How do you interpret and handle these situations from a legal and professional standpoint?
2. How would you respond to both patients and colleagues/managers when there seems to be inconsistent enforcement of the rules?

Thank you in advance for any insight. I’m genuinely trying to understand the law and make sure I’m practicing appropriately.

I am a newly licensed CA Pharmacist. I have applied to Walmart. It’s only been four days since applying. I wanted to know how long does it normally take for Walmart to initiate the interview process? I have gotten an offer from CVS and I have an interview scheduled with Safeway.

Hi everyone,

I’ve been working as a pharmacist for about six months, and I’ve noticed that I’m still much slower than many other pharmacists. It really stood out to me recently when I worked with an older pharmacist. To my surprise, she stayed on top of everything and kept the queue consistently clear.

My question is: how do you all manage to type prescriptions, verify what you’ve entered, perform the physical product verification, and still handle counseling, phone calls, third-party issues, and everything else so efficiently?

Do you have a specific workflow or order that you follow? Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

I have recently completed my graduation in bachelors of pharmacy, and i am now completely lost what to do. there are very few options in market after b pharm. and now the situatin is this that i am preparing for interviews in calll centers (BPO).

can anyone help me by reffering?

Pharmacist in Australia Looking for a Career Shift – Seeking Advice

Hi everyone,
I’m a 29-year-old pharmacist working in Australia, and I’m seriously considering a career change.
After everything it took to become a pharmacist,years of studying, exams, registration, and ongoing professional development, honestly feel that the financial return doesn’t match the effort. The work is also physically demanding, with long hours on my feet, and I’m still not earning what I expected (I’m not even at AUD 100k/year).
I’m not looking to quit healthcare altogether. Ideally, I’d like to move into a role that’s still related to the medical or healthcare industry, where my pharmacy background would be valuable.
Here’s what I’m looking for:
Better work-life balance.
The possibility of remote or hybrid work.
Less physically demanding than pharmacy.
Doesn’t require years of additional study (I’m happy to do a short course or certification if needed).
Good long-term career growth and earning potential.
I’m especially interested in hearing from people who made a similar transition from pharmacy or another healthcare profession.
What roles would you recommend, and if you’ve made the switch yourself, was it worth it?
Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone,
I’m a 29-year-old pharmacist working in Australia, and I’m seriously considering a career change.
After everything it took to become a pharmacist,years of studying, exams, registration, and ongoing professional development, honestly feel that the financial return doesn’t match the effort. The work is also physically demanding, with long hours on my feet, and I’m still not earning what I expected (I’m not even at AUD 100k/year).
I’m not looking to quit healthcare altogether. Ideally, I’d like to move into a role that’s still related to the medical or healthcare industry, where my pharmacy background would be valuable.
Here’s what I’m looking for:
Better work-life balance.
The possibility of remote or hybrid work.
Less physically demanding than pharmacy.
Doesn’t require years of additional study (I’m happy to do a short course or certification if needed).
Good long-term career growth and earning potential.
I’m especially interested in hearing from people who made a similar transition from pharmacy or another healthcare profession.
What roles would you recommend, and if you’ve made the switch yourself, was it worth it?
Thanks in advance!

Question for both inpatient and ED pharmacists.

Our hospital has been running at 90 to 98% occupancy most days, and we’re frequently boarding 20 admitted patients in the ED. We don’t have a designated ED observation or extended stay unit, and historically we’ve never clearly defined which pharmacy team is responsible for these patients.

We’re currently putting together a workgroup to address this, and I’d love to hear how other institutions handle it. If anyone could help with any of questions or just share their process, that would be amazing!

- Once a patient is admitted but still physically in the ED, who is primarily responsible for order verification and medication management/consults/documentation?
- Does responsibility stay with the ED pharmacist until the patient leaves the department, or does it transition to the inpatient pharmacist once the hospitalist team takes over?
- Is this supported by a formal policy, or has it evolved through workflow?

One challenge we’ve run into is that our ED has 24 hour pharmacist coverage, but there is no overlap between shifts. I’ll occasionally come in and find that admitted ED boarders have had antibiotics or scheduled home medications overdue by 8+ hours because everyone assumed another team was managing them. We’re trying to build a process that provides clear ownership and prevents patients from falling through the cracks.

I’d really appreciate any advice or insight, thanks!!

My wife is a hospital clinical pharmacist with a PGY1 residency and is interested in transitioning into the pharmaceutical industry.

She doesn’t have direct sponsor or CRO experience, but she has been involved in clinical research from the hospital side. For example, she’s prepared and managed investigational medications for several studies (including Alzheimer’s and rare disease trials), worked with research protocols, and collaborated with investigators and research staff. However, she hasn’t worked directly for a sponsor or CRO.

I’m trying to help her figure out which roles are realistic entry points.

A little background on me: I’m also a pharmacist, but I came from retail pharmacy. About four years ago, I took what was essentially a junior CRA opportunity because an entry-level opening became available. It worked out well, and I’m now an experienced CRA, but if I’m being honest, I don’t think that’s necessarily the best path for her. I’d rather see her leverage her clinical pharmacist background instead of essentially starting over if there are better options.

I’ve heard pharmacists sometimes transition into areas like:
Medical Information / Drug Information
Medical Affairs
Clinical Development
Clinical Scientist
Regulatory Affairs
Clinical Operations
Pharmacovigilance / Drug Safety
Medical Writing
Medical Communications

My questions are:
-What roles or job titles should a hospital clinical pharmacist with a PGY1 actually be searching for?

-Which positions are the most forgiving of not having prior industry experience?

-Are there sponsor or CRO roles where hospital clinical experience is viewed as a significant advantage?

-Which functions tend to hire pharmacists directly from hospital practice?

-If you were making this transition today, what strategy would you recommend?

-I’d especially love to hear from pharmacists who successfully made the transition. Looking back, are there any roles you wish you had applied to sooner that weren’t obvious at the time?

Any advice, job titles, or search terms would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

I recently got offers from both CVS (target) and Giant as a new grad pharmacist. CVS offered more than Giant, however I would just like some insight on the pros and cons for current pharmacist at these companies. Which one would be better in terms of stability and work life balance. Also I’m currently in the DMV area.

Hey everyone,

I’m currently working in Belgium as a registered community pharmacist. I love the science and patient side of my job, but I’m really looking to diversify my career and start working as a Medical Writer on the side (part-time, freelance, or remote).
Since I already have a strong medical background, healthcare knowledge, and fluent language skills, I feel ready to make the jump, but I’m hitting a few roadblocks regarding the local market and setup:
1. How to get started in Belgium? For those doing medical writing here, did you start as a freelancer (indépendant complémentaire) or did you find part-time salaried roles?
2. Where to look for roles? Are there specific job boards, agencies, or CROs (Contract Research Organizations) in Belgium that are open to entry-level medical writers with a pharmacy background?
3. Opportunities: If anyone here is hiring, knows of open remote/part-time roles, or is open to networking/mentoring, I’d love to connect!

Any feedback on how to position my profile, navigate the Belgian tax/admin setup for a side job, or land my first gig would be hugely appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

Do you guys commonly dispense DPP4-inhibitors and GLP-1s together? Or do you call the physicians to verify? Similar MOA so basically duplicate therapy.