The benefits of working in a community pharmacy
As a pharmacist, choosing the right work environment can be crucial to your success and job satisfaction. One option to consider is working in a community pharmacy, which offers numerous benefits that can enhance your career and personal life. In this blog, we will discuss the advantages of working in a community pharmacy for a pharmacist.
1.Building Strong Relationships with Patients
One of the most rewarding aspects of working in a community pharmacy is the opportunity to build strong relationships with patients. In a community pharmacy, you will see the same patients on a regular basis and have the chance to get to know them and their medical history. This allows you to provide personalized care and advice that meets their specific needs.
2. Variety of Job Tasks
In a community pharmacy, your job tasks will be varied, which can make your workday more interesting and fulfilling. You will be responsible for filling prescriptions, providing medication advice, conducting medication reviews, and administering immunizations. This variety of tasks allows you to develop a diverse set of skills that will benefit you throughout your career.
3. Collaboration with Other Healthcare Professionals
As a pharmacist in a community pharmacy, you will have the opportunity to collaborate with other healthcare professionals, such as doctors and nurses. This collaboration can help you gain a deeper understanding of patients’ medical conditions and ensure that their treatment plans are well-coordinated.
4. Flexibility in Schedule
Working in a community pharmacy can offer flexibility in your work schedule. Many community pharmacies are open seven days a week, which means that you can choose to work on weekdays, weekends, or a combination of both. Additionally, some community pharmacies offer part-time or flexible schedules, which can be particularly beneficial if you are looking for work-life balance.
5. Job Stability
Community pharmacies are often an integral part of their communities, and therefore, have a relatively stable patient base. This can provide job stability, which can be particularly valuable in uncertain economic times.
6. Opportunities for Advancement
Working in a community pharmacy can offer opportunities for advancement within the same organization or in a different one. As you gain experience, you may be able to move into a management role, become a preceptor for pharmacy students, or transition into a different healthcare role altogether.
7. Salaries for Qualified Pharmacists
The average salary for a community Pharmacist is xxxx. If you are newly qualified you can expect to earn in the region of £24-£25 per hour in an independent practice. The corporates are offering staring salaries from £42,000 for newly qualified pharmacists joining the multiple on a full-time basis, which is 40 hours per week. Within this year we have seen salaries increase to £50,000+ for newly qualified Pharmacists.
8. Independent Prescribing in Community Pharmacy
In recent months there has been a big push to increase the proportion of Pharmacists who are able to independently prescribe with 3,000 Independent prescribing training places being available in 2023/24 across universities nationwide. This will drastically improve patient flow and efficiencies, ensuring patients are able to see the right health professional at the right time and in the right place, from specialist clinics in secondary care through to prescribing for patients in their own home.
In conclusion, working in a community pharmacy can provide a fulfilling and rewarding career path for pharmacists. The benefits of building strong relationships with patients, having a variety of job tasks, collaborating with other healthcare professionals, having flexibility in schedule, enjoying job stability, and having opportunities for advancement are just some of the reasons why community pharmacy can be an excellent choice for pharmacists.