This discussion is now closed.

Check out other Related discussions

Poor Pharmacist Career Prospects? What do Universities tell you?

I left pharmacy for nursing, what do you guys think? good decision or not? I often regret it as I miss the science but by the sounds of this thread I shouldn't be bothered haha

Reply 261

crazy.chemist

11

Original post by Mango65

I left pharmacy for nursing, what do you guys think? good decision or not? I often regret it as I miss the science but by the sounds of this thread I shouldn't be bothered haha

Far more clinical opportunities for a nurse. You could become a practice nurse and train as a prescriber or a nurse specialist in diabetes, etc. Go look at some of the great rates of pay if you go down that route. You absolutely made the right choice!

Reply 262

crazy.chemist

11

This is from TSR written in 2015. This is simply NOT true for the UK

There remains a shortage of pharmacists not only in the United Kingdom but also in many other countries. Therefore graduates in pharmacy readily obtain employment.

Reply 263

sachinisgod

21

Original post by crazy.chemist

This is from TSR written in 2015. This is simply NOT true for the UK

There remains a shortage of pharmacists not only in the United Kingdom but also in many other countries. Therefore graduates in pharmacy readily obtain employment.

LOL who posted this nonsense?

Reply 264

username1177050

20

take heed of the people on this thread not the vested interetes on the gravy train teaching in uni departments! the career is dying!!!

Reply 265

FallenPetal

15

Original post by Mango65

I left pharmacy for nursing, what do you guys think? good decision or not? I often regret it as I miss the science but by the sounds of this thread I shouldn't be bothered haha

Whether or not that's a good decision boils entirely down to you; there is a fair bit of crossover between nursing and pharmacy in terms of required skills. If, say, you struggle with the whole dealing with patients shtick or having to take a huge amount of personal responsibility in your work, you probably won't enjoy nursing.

However, the two careers aren't identical. Firstly, nursing is a far, far more diverse field compared to Pharmacy - you will have far more control over the overall trajectory of your career, whereas many Pharmacists spend their entire working lives doing essentially the same job. Also, it probably helps that (despite it actually being a highly demanding and difficult job) many people consider nursing beneath them, hence there is less competition for work. Pharmacy however? Well, that's going to make you sound respectable at family gatherings, better saddle yourself with 50-60K of debt pronto :s-smilie:

.

Pharmacy is going into a bit of a nosedive at the moment. Not to the extent that someone with their heart set of the job shouldn't do it, but if you really think it isn't for you, I wouldn't consider it a massive travesty if you left to do something else.

---

Also, when I applied to Pharmacy, I believe I was sold the whole `it's in demand in sooo many countries, you will have your pick of places to move to once you finish' shtick. Not true in the slightest; actually, many points systems couldn't care less that I'm a Pharmacist.

Reply 266

velvetsky

14

Original post by crazy.chemist

This is from TSR written in 2015. This is simply NOT true for the UK

There remains a shortage of pharmacists not only in the United Kingdom but also in many other countries. Therefore graduates in pharmacy readily obtain employment.

Hahaha

Posted from TSR Mobile

Reply 267

crazy.chemist

11

Worked with a pharmacist yesterday, NINE years, yes NINE years this coming spring with no pay rise. Still on the same money they were on in 2008 ! Think very carefully people. If you have it in you, do Medicine or Dentistry. At least it might be hard but you will get a tiny bit more respect and an annual pay rise, even if it is only 1% or so !

Reply 268

crazy.chemist

11

i tell you what they won't tell you, The pay is sh*t ! And the stress right now at Xmas is through the roof, it's like after christmas eve , we're never going to open again till F'ing March!! what is wrong with people!!!! I hate Joe Public !!! Avoid this job like the plague !

Reply 269

notespad

14

Original post by crazy.chemist

Worked with a pharmacist yesterday, NINE years, yes NINE years this coming spring with no pay rise. Still on the same money they were on in 2008 ! Think very carefully people. If you have it in you, do Medicine or Dentistry. At least it might be hard but you will get a tiny bit more respect and an annual pay rise, even if it is only 1% or so !

annual pay rise for medics? LOL

Reply 270

crazy.chemist

11

Original post by notespad

annual pay rise for medics? LOL

Show me a Dr who hasn't had a pay rise for 9 yrs

Reply 271

notespad

14

Original post by crazy.chemist

Show me a Dr who hasn't had a pay rise for 9 yrs

well they just got a paycut by a few k/year, so the odd 1% over the last 9 years is insignificant

Reply 272

comebackseason

13

Got to agree with this thread here- I am Canadian and doing pharmacy but of course will be moving back home and qualifying in greener pastures. A relative of mine was complaining about her salary as a pharmacist, I was shocked since I thought all pharmacists were paid the same as north america (LOL).

She said her salary was something like 27k and she has been qualified for about 4 years now. At least with a course like nursing you can do a prescribing course or even open your own cosmetics business.

Reply 273

crazy.chemist

11

Original post by notespad

well they just got a paycut by a few k/year, so the odd 1% over the last 9 years is insignificant

I beg to differ.
You have absolutely no idea.
Look at the NHS pay grades for 2016 then go back and look at them in 2008, I think you will find that they are on better money now.

Reply 274

comebackseason

13

Original post by crazy.chemist

I beg to differ.
You have absolutely no idea.
Look at the NHS pay grades for 2016 then go back and look at them in 2008, I think you will find that they are on better money now.

Hey I was wondering what are the salary expectations for pharmacists in England anyway? There doesn't seem to be a solid figure. I was considering working here for 1 year before moving back to my home country, but I can't seem to find any salaries on job postings.

Reply 275

sachinisgod

21

Original post by comebackseason

Hey I was wondering what are the salary expectations for pharmacists in England anyway? There doesn't seem to be a solid figure. I was considering working here for 1 year before moving back to my home country, but I can't seem to find any salaries on job postings.

Well you havent specified what step of your career you are at for starters.

If you are doing your pre reg and after you qualify, at most you will earn £30-35K as a newly qualified relief pharmacist in community ( £25K i think in Hospital). Unless you want to locum the rates are around £18-23 an hour depending on what area you are looking to work in.

Reply 276

comebackseason

13

Original post by sachinisgod

Well you havent specified what step of your career you are at for starters.

If you are doing your pre reg and after you qualify, at most you will earn £30-35K as a newly qualified relief pharmacist in community ( £25K i think in Hospital). Unless you want to locum the rates are around £18-23 an hour depending on what area you are looking to work in.

Sorry I'd be newly qualified, I don't expect I will get a job in the hospital as it is insanely competitive from what I hear. Most likely community at boots or something or the sort

Reply 277

crazy.chemist

11

Original post by sachinisgod

Well you havent specified what step of your career you are at for starters.

If you are doing your pre reg and after you qualify, at most you will earn £30-35K as a newly qualified relief pharmacist in community ( £25K i think in Hospital). Unless you want to locum the rates are around £18-23 an hour depending on what area you are looking to work in.