Are you a nurse looking to make a career change in the pharmaceutical field? Then, life has brought you down a path where you feel unsure about your job and responsibility. On average, 60% of working Americans, including nurses, want to shift their careers. 

Some nurses want to make a change because they feel dissatisfied with their current position. Similarly, others feel compelled to venture into different positions in the healthcare industry for better career opportunities. 

In this blog, we will discuss everything nurses need to know about the pharmaceutical field before making the transition. 

Can Aspirants With BSN Degrees Become Pharmacists?

Anyone with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree can study to become a pharmacist. Even aspirants who have completed their online accelerated BSN nursing program can make the shift. 

In this degree, students must spend 16 months learning nursing skills through hands-on experience in clinical training. During this time, students must work on multiple assignments and focus on coursework. 

According to Marymount University, these online accelerated programs help students learn purpose-driven and action-oriented nursing skills. Moreover, these skills will come in handy when nurses study for a Doctor of Pharmacy degree.

Is Shifting to Pharmacy Worth It?

Usually, students choose accelerated courses in BSN to make a career change. It helps you transition into the healthcare industry and become a registered nurse (RN). That means accelerated BSN aspirants have already shifted their careers once to become nurses. 

Hence, you might be skeptical about changing it again. That is when you need to ask yourself a few questions. If you answer yes to all of these, you are ready to venture into the pharmaceutical field: 

1. Ready to advance your career in the healthcare industry? 
2. Want to work for an average salary of USD 60.33 per hour?
3. Not enjoying the duties of being a nurse?
4. Are you willing to study for four to six years? 

Pharmacy courses usually include the fundamentals of pharmacology, biology, physiology, medicine, ethical medical practices, etc. Nursing courses touch base on most of these topics. Hence, it would be easy for you to finish a Doctor of Pharmacy degree. 

Why Should You Transition From Nursing to Pharmacy?

According to Nurse.org, you should consider a career change if you feel burned out or physically exhausted as a nurse. 

Some nurses might choose a pharmacy career to learn new skills and feel less stressed. Others might select an alternate career option because of the higher salary opportunities. For instance, a nursing career might fetch you USD 43.28 per hour, while the average salary of a pharmacist is higher. 

Irrespective of your reason for the switch, a career in pharmacy comes with many benefits, like: 

• Better career advancement in the healthcare industry 
• The ability to be in a leadership role
• Greater responsibilities make you feel fulfilled 
• Flexible work hours and the ability to work on a traditional schedule 
• Development of new technical and analytical skills 

The Duties of a Pharmacist and How They Differ From Nurses

As a nurse, you are responsible for helping patients complete treatment plans and giving them emotional support. You discuss their medical history and help them understand the recovery process. Nurses can also perform medical tests and examinations under supervision. 

On the other hand, pharmacists have duties like: 

• Development of patients’ prescriptions by collaborating with healthcare professionals 
• Managing the medical inventory of the pharmacy and ensuring all medicines have the proper labels 
• Using medical software to track prescription refills and updates sent from doctors and nurses 
• Providing medicine-related information to help patients take their medication properly 

Even though the duties of a nurse and pharmacist complement each other, the specific responsibilities differ. For instance, nurses work closely with patients to help them through their treatment plans and recovery. However, pharmacists only focus on handling medication for these patients. 

The Bottom Line

As a nurse, you must consider a few things before you enroll in a Doctor of Pharmacy program. For instance, there will be an increase in focused learning and education when you start studying difficult pharmaceutical coursework. Even industry leaders consider pharmacy school to be harder than nursing. 

Once you graduate, you will need to pass the North American Pharmacist Licensure and the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examinations. Upon getting your license, you must complete a one-year residency program under the guidance of an experienced pharmacist. 

Are you okay with these conditions, and have you understood the dedication required to succeed in pharmacy as a nurse? Then, you are ready to venture into the world of pharmaceuticals.

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