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Whenever a doctor writes a prescription for a drug or treatment,

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a pharmacist is the person who measures out the medication

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and makes sure a patient knows how to take it safely.

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And while filling a prescription often means a visit to the local drug store or grocery store,

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pharmacists also work in hospitals.

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Typically, pharmacists spend most of the day standing at a counter,

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preparing and dispensing medication.

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They may also personalize or “compound” the medication,

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though that is now less common than it used to be.

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Pharmacists are knowledgeable about medication ingredients

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and how they might interact with other medications.

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This is a profession that requires careful attention to detail.

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Making a mistake and dispensing the wrong medicine

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could have life-threatening consequences.

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Pharmacists also maintain patient records,

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inventory their supplies,

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and keep up registries of controlled drugs.

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Some pharmacists conduct research to develop new drugs.

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Most work full-time,

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and since the timing of medications can be crucial,

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they may work nights and weekends.

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If you want to become a pharmacist, you’ll need to earn a Doctor of Pharmacy degree,

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then pass two licensure exams.

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For some, the demanding education and ongoing learning needed to stay current

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might be a hard pill to swallow,

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but knowing you help people get the medications they need to be healthy,

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can help the medicine go down.