Profession: Pharmacist
Qualification and Registration Requirements
Pharmacists are university qualified health professionals who have completed an undergraduate entry level course in pharmacy, an intern year of 1824 supervised hours and successfully completed the Pharmacy Board Registration examinations. They are registered with Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
What is a Pharmacist?
Pharmacists are specialists in medicines and understand their composition, chemical and physical properties, manufacture, uses, side effects and interactions with food and other medicines. They ensure people receive the most appropriate medicines in the most effective way. They are an integrated member of the health care team and are directly involved in patient care.
What does a Pharmacist do?
Review medication orders of patients to maximise the benefits and ensure the safety of the regimen by advising the medical team on the choice and dose of medicine and advising the nursing staff on how to give the medications. Dispense medications for both inpatient and outpatients. Provide up-to-date information about medications to the doctors, nurses and other hospital staff (e.g. answer questions, write guidelines, prepare bulletins). Prepare sterile medications under special conditions (e.g. intravenous medications, anticancer medications, eye drops). Manufacture other special products (e.g. creams and mixtures). Monitor and report unexpected side effects caused by medications. Advise on the selection of new medications for the hospital. Help design and run trials to evaluate new medications.