Pharmacy demands that one be dependable and show good judgment. The responsibility the pharmacist has for the health and well-being of people emphasizes the need for accurate decision making and high ethical standards. Above all, since pharmacy involves working with both patients and other health care professionals, a pharmacist must relate well to others. The majority of pharmacists practice in a community setting. Community pharmacies range in size from the very small prescription shop to the large full-line drug store and can be owned by individuals or large corporations.
Community pharmacy requires extensive use of business and management skills.
In addition to the dispensing of both prescription and nonprescription drugs, the community pharmacist also has the opportunity to provide advise and information on health matters to the public and provide consultation service to health care facilities. As a member of the health care team, the hospital pharmacist is directly involved with patient care. The hospital pharmacist works with doctors and nurses to design a program of drug treatment most appropriate to each patient. In addition, the pharmacist is responsible for the drug distribution system of the hospital. Specialized areas, such as nuclear pharmacy, drug and poison information and intravenous therapy, have become a part of hospital pharmacy practice.