Southern Cross Campus
Pharmacist Taka Rongoā
Pharmacists prepare, mix and dispense prescribed medicines. They also give patients advice about their medication and medical conditions.
Pharmacists need to register with the Pharmacy Council of New Zealand.
Pharmacists may do some or all of the following:
- prepare, mix, check and dispense medicines
- keep accurate records and stock take medicines
- provide information and advice on medicines, health issues and lifestyle choices
- supervise and check the work of other pharmacy staff
- offer services such as blood pressure, glucose or cholesterol testing
- design and implement policies, procedures and budgets for medicine use throughout a hospital
- design and carry out clinical trials.
Pharmacist Prescriber
To become a pharmacist prescriber you must complete the Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Pharmacy in Prescribing from the University of Auckland or a Postgraduate Certificate in Pharmacist Prescribing from the University of Otago.
You also need to be registered as a pharmacist prescriber with the Pharmacy Council of New Zealand.
- University of Auckland website - information about the Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Pharmacy in Prescribing
- University of Otago website - information about the Postgraduate Certificate in Pharmacist Prescribing
- Pharmacy Council of New Zealand website - information on registration
Useful Experience
Useful experience for pharmacists includes:
- pharmacy technician and pharmacy assistant work
- any customer service experience
- any work in the health industry.
Personal Qualities
Pharmacists need to be:
- honest and efficient
- responsible and careful, particularly when dealing with dangerous drugs
- able to work within a professional code of ethics and keep information private
- accurate, organised and observant, with an eye for detail
- friendly, patient and helpful, with communication and listening skills
- good researchers
- able to manage and train staff
- good at maths, and have record-keeping skills.
Pharmacists also need to have an understanding and awareness of a variety of cultures.
Useful Experience
Useful experience for pharmacists includes:
- pharmacy technician and pharmacy assistant work
- any customer service experience
- any work in the health industry.
Subject Recommendations
A tertiary entrance qualification is needed to enter tertiary training. Useful subjects include biology, chemistry, health, maths and physics.
Pharmacists can earn around $45K-$75K per year per year.
Pharmacists may progress to own a pharmacy, or move into other pharmacy-related work such as:
- research and development or production and marketing in the pharmaceutical industry
- policy work with the Ministry of Health and Pharmac
- advocacy and management within pharmacy professional organisations
- teaching
- medical publishing.
Pharmacists can specialise as pharmacist prescribers:
- Pharmacist Prescriber
- Pharmacist prescribers examine patients with minor ailments, prescribe and give them medicines.
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