Around here nursing jobs are scarcer. As a pharmacist I shadowed Nurses occasionally – have to say I don’t think I would have enjoyed that at all.
Pharmacy has several career paths-- community pharmacy, research, hospital (my fave), self-employed. As to part time work–I had to quit that since I was getting TOO many hours. Being a floater or relief pharmacist is pretty fun though.
OP, when you have some time on your hands, research Nurse Anesthetist/Certified Registered Nurse anesthetist (CRNA). Their starting salary is about $130K-$150K per year, with many making in excess of $200K after 5-years. Requires a BSN and at least one year of Adult ICU experience and then 2-1/2 years of Nurse Anesthesia school. Most programs are transitioning from MSN to DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice). I have never met an unemployed CRNA or one that have any difficulty find and position in any state. They all seem to love their job and always in high demand. Most seem to work 4-days per week (10-hour shifts) and tons of vacation time. Excellent field to explore.
New graduate Nurses are having problems getting jobs these days, but experienced nurses have very little difficulty. If you go the BSN route, try to keep your undergraduate student loan debt as low as possible, especially if you intend on doing an MSN (CRNA, NP, etc.)
IMHO, if you are thinking about being a Pharmacist, you might as well go to medical school. Looking at the Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum, it is a very challenging degree and seem to mirror medical schools curriculum. Note, as a Pharmacist, you can also work for Pharmaceutical Companies and work retail Pharmacy on weekends (if so desire).
Yeah CRNA sounds cool. I’m not sure whether I’d do CRNA or nurse informatics. Thanks for the suggestion. Also, I checked all these online job posting sites like indeed, and I don’t seem to see many jobs for pharmacists or nurses, new grads at least. Are there jobs that aren’t posted on these sites but colleges know about?? But since my mom is a nurse I’m sure she’d be able to get someone to recommend me for a position or she could recommend me herself. IDK it’s a lot to think about but I’d be so angry if I ended up a new grad nurse and unable to find a job!!!
Do what you want to do with the least amount of debt. I enjoy being a hospital pharmacist but am very happy my son chose music and not pharmacy.
Pharmacist demand varies based on location. For RNs, it can be hard for new grads to find a job, but when you have 2 years experience, it’ll be easier. Some of the advanced nursing programs are very competitive.
@Iamom do you think pharmacy is still a good field to get into? Are they in demand?
Sorry I just noticed the question. I don’t see the great demand there was just a few years ago. I would not discourage anyone who is passionate about becoming a pharmacist. I thought it was tough pounding the pavement in the early 80’s to find the job I wanted. I think it’s harder now just to find a job.
Here is a suggestion which will cost you nothing but time, but could be very enlightening. Go into your local pharmacies and ask the pharmacists: “I am going off to college and thinking about pharmacy as a career. Do you recommend that? Do you like your job? What do you think the prospects for new grads are in this area?” I think they’d love to be asked questions like that, and will, hopefully, give an honest answer.
^That suggestion’s only good for retail pharmacists.
I’m not sure OP would like clinical pharmacy if she wants minimal interaction with patients.
If you like science, explore what other careers you might like.
The good thing is that you have to take certain prerequisite courses for two years before you start pharmacy school. Bio 1,2, Chem 1,2 OChem 1,2 with labs, Calc, Stats, psychology, Economics, English Composition, usually also Physics and some schools have additional requirements.
If in that two years you enjoy these classes, do well in them and ideally also work in a pharmacy, then you can go on to pharmacy school. If not then you figure out what else you might want to do.
Also if you go to a pharmacy school in your own state it should not cost more than $40k for tuition.
OOS is another story.
I had to pick up a prescription today, so I asked my pharmacist the questions I posted above. Her response was that the employment outlook in our state is good (but might not be as good in other areas), that starting salaries are high, and that she would do it all again. BTW, she told me that she LOVES the retail side.
If you go to a 2+4 program then it will cost less. And my daughters pharmacy school does have scholarships for the top students.
wow thank you so much. is your state ny?
The thing is if you do the 2+4 you leave yourself the option of doing something else. You are taking a lot of the same classes as premeds and science majors so if you change your mind about pharmacy school you can. You can also pursue a Bachelor’s degree first as well and then still go to pharmacy school.
Since pharmacy school will require loans you will want to keep undergraduate costs low. Find a program where you can reduce costs with merit scholarships.
University of South Carolina PharmD school has some scholarships. 2+4 program. And if you get a scholarship for undergrad you keep the scholarsh for the 3rd and 4th year. Makes it very affordable.
@digmedia is your state ny? thank you so much for asking.
Nope. I’m in Colorado.
While this is true, it is only true to an extent.
Some pre-pharm classes are different from pre-med. or other sciences, even when the courses have very similar names. You really have to check the curriculum.