This article shares some insights on a nuclear pharmacist’s job description, so that you are well aware of the duties and responsibilities before setting foot in the field.
This is like any other pharmacist but with a different specialization and expertise. A nuclear pharmacist is the one who specializes in radio pharmaceuticals, where a professional has to offer medication and drugs to patients undergoing chemotherapy and other radiation-based treatments for cancer. No doubt, it is one of the exciting pharmaceutical jobs, but it also comes with a lot of responsibility, sensitivity, and hard work.
Job Description
Here are a few primary tasks, roles, and responsibilities that one has to perform on a daily basis.
- Communicating with authorities that handle the department.
- Advising and assisting the clinical pharmacology department about important matters.
- In a hospital setting, advising the staff, patients, and doctors, etc., about the risks and advantages of various radio pharmaceuticals.
- Following all the recent rules, regulations, and guidelines while improving the pharmacy facilities.
- Handling all the orders and demands of clients, and dispensing drugs on time.
- Keeping record and maintaining a stock list of all radio pharmaceuticals of the pharmacy.
- Ensure that the process of packaging and dispensing of radio pharmaceuticals is in compliance with safety rules and regulations of the federal and state government.
- Ensure that hazardous chemicals are transported, packed, and dispensed safely.
- Making sure that labeling of different drugs and products containing leukocytes is done properly.
- Improving, designing, and suggesting new facilities and processes related to the pharmacy.
- Analyzing the scope and risks associated with new proposals put forward regarding the pharmacy or radio pharmaceuticals.
- Working upon the suggestions given by patients for better service. Also considering the complaints made by patients regarding certain radio pharmaceuticals.
- Ensure that all the staff members of the pharmacy follow legal and safe working practices.
- Liaison between the sponsors and hospital authorities and patients, and between the authorities and the staff members.
- Making sure that all the drug records and drug audits are maintained and completed on time.
- Assisting superiors and authorities at times while developing new proposals.
Requirements
There are certain prerequisites that you have to meet to become a professional in this domain. The educational requirements are very similar to any other pharmacist. Basically, you must have a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from an accredited university. During the course, you also have to complete your internship with a local pharmacy, and have to keep radio pharmaceuticals or nuclear pharmacy as major subjects for further specialization. To get licensed as a pharmacist, you must have to complete a doctorate in Pharmacy (D Pharm). To have better job prospects or start your own store, you also have to pass a national level examination known as National Association Boards of Pharmacy. So, in short, this all needs a lot of patience and hard work, but it sure is worth all the effort.
The average salary is around $110,000 per annum. But there are various factors that determine how much an individual in this field will be paid. Some of the obvious criteria are previous job experience and educational qualifications. Those with higher education, such as a Ph.D or master’s degree stand a good chance to start with a better and higher salary, and the same goes with experienced individuals. Whereas, those with no experience and bachelor’s degree may have to start with a little less. The salary also depends on the pharmacy owner and the responsibilities of the job. Apart from this, it is also subject to the city, where in a smaller city the pay is less as compared to bigger cities.
If you think you have all the skills to handle this job and what it takes to be, none can stop you from becoming one. So, go ahead and take the challenge to enter into a profession which is an integral part of the medical field, and is noble.