Pharmacists are everywhere, from major department chains to smaller local grocery stores. A pharmacist is a licensed medical professional responsible for compounding and dispensing medications to patients. In recent years, the scope of pharmacy practice have evolved rapidly and now involves additional roles such as providing information on drugs; reviewing medication interaction, safety and efficacy; and clinical services. They are highly regarded as experts of drugs and its usage. The pharmacist job description can be split into two main sections: hospital pharmacist job description and retail/community pharmacist job description.
Hospital pharmacists are in charge of all the medications dispensed in the hospital. They are experts in the use and safety of medications. They work alongside physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals. They advise doctors in determining the best possible treatment for specific diseases and ensure that the patient understands the medication and any side effects and/or drug interactions. Hospital pharmacists may go on rounds with the attending physician to specific wards; this allows them to have direct interactions with patients. During the encounter, they are able to educate patients on medication use, side effects, and restrictions on diet and over-the-counter medications.
A community or retail pharmacist has the same qualification as a hospital pharmacist and essentially does the same thing. They take in the prescription from the patient and follow the proper procedure in assessing the appropriateness of the medication in accordance to patient’s medical history. A pharmacy technician then assists the pharmacist in preparing the correct amount of the prescribed medication. A final check of the prescription by the community pharmacist is done once more before the drug is given back to the patient. Lastly, the most important aspect of a community pharmacist is to accurately maintain confidential records of all patients.
As a community pharmacist, customer relation is utterly important. Every patient is a customer, and every customer is a source of revenue for the pharmacy. Some community pharmacist only duties include processing invoices and maintaining balance sheets, directly contacting third-party insurance companies, and dealing with unhappy customers. Individuals pursuing a career in community pharmacies should have qualities of compassion, courtesy, and excellent interpersonal skills, which are a must in any retail business.

Tasks:

1. Prepares medications by reviewing and interpreting physician orders; detecting therapeutic incompatibilities.
2. Dispenses medications by compounding, packaging, and labeling pharmaceuticals.
3. Controls medications by monitoring drug therapies; advising interventions.
4. Completes pharmacy operational requirements by organizing and directing technicians' work flow; verifying their preparation and labeling of pharmaceuticals; verifying order entries, charges, and inspections.
5. Provides pharmacological information by answering questions and requests of health care professionals; counseling patients on drug therapies.
6. Develops hospital staff's pharmacological knowledge by participating in clinical programs; training pharmacy staff, students, interns, externs, residents, and health care professionals.
7. existing and new legislation; anticipating legislation; advising management on needed actions.
8. Protects patients and technicians by adhering to infection-control protocols.
9. Maintains safe and clean working environment by complying with procedures, rules, and regulations.
10. Maintains pharmacological knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; participating in professional societies.
11. Contributes to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.

Key skills for pharmacist:

• Analyzing Information
• Administering Medication
• Judgment
• Verbal Communication
• Pharmacology
• Managing Processes
• Legal Compliance
• Productivity
• Quality Focus
• Attention to Detail

Average salary (2013):

The United Kingdom: £34,997 per year
The United States of America: $116,670 per year
Australia: AU$47,133 - AU$86,265 per year

Qualifications and training required:

Depends on the country.
Pre-pharmacy students must complete at least two years of college to be eligible for pharmacy school, though most complete 3-4 years of a bachelor's degree program. Aspiring pharmacists aren't required to pursue specific majors; however, undergraduate coursework in physics, chemistry, biology and calculus can provide a foundation for advanced pharmacy classes.
While bachelor's degrees in pharmacy were once the requirement for entry-level positions, pharmacists are now required to hold Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) professional degrees in USA. Pharm.D. programs take four years to complete and prepare students for the technical, scientific and patient-care aspects of the profession.