Would you recommend becoming a Doctor of Pharmacy or an RN? Why?

Question

I am in currently in school to become a certified pharmacy technician, so I can make good money while I'm in school and it will be helpful. I had planned on becoming a Doctor of Pharmacy, but while I was interning I realized how little patient contact they have. I am thinking about being a nurse instead. They make less money, but I want to work with patients. Which career would probably be better?

Answer 1

If I could do it all over I would be a pharmacist. I'm an RN and so far I really really hate working in a hospital. It's stressful and all that wonderful patient contact lasts for about 2 minutes while you change a nasty wound dressing or hang an IV before you have to run and do something else.

I would suggest you get a job as a CNA so you can get a feel for what the  nurses you are assisting really do at work all day. Then you can make an educated decision.

Answer 2

I say you should go with your gut on this one. You're not supposed to choose a job that pays well, you're supposed to get a job that you will enjoy doing, that way you will want to go to work everyday. So i would say that being a nurse would be the best because you seem to like working with people more than handing out drugs.

Answer 3

Neither is better - it depends on what you'd rather do.  A dr of pharmacy takes more schooling, pays better, and as you say has a very different level of patient contact.  Both are fields with lots of need for good people, so getting a job shouldn't be difficult.

Answer 4

I am a RN and before/during nursing school I worked as a pharmacy clerk for almost 4 years.  Now, I'm not sure what state you live in but in Northern California a RN can easily, easily make over $100,000 a year. A Pharmacist and RN I believe make about the same initially, but I believe an RN can definetly stand to make more in the long run.  If you want to work with patients become a RN with a four year degree.  Please, go to a four year college, please!  Honestly, the two year programs are great, but in reality a four year degree is so much better.  Some hospitials pay more for BSN RN's while most currently pay the same, but the difference is the opportunities a BSN will provide, i.e. management, etc.  Also, ALL hospitals prefer a BSN over AS (two-year) and some are moving toward only hiring BSN prepared RNs.  Being a pharmacy tech is a good job to have during nursing school, because of the flexible hours and medical/pharmalogical experience it will provide.  

  So, I might be bias because I already am a RN, but just look at what the pharmacist does day in and day out....they stand all day, deal with all the problem patients and their salary does top out.  Whereas a RN can stand to make $$$ in overtime, consecutive weekends, and contractual agreements, etc.  As a RN you can work in a hospital, a clinic, as a sales rep for a pharmacuetical co., as an instructor, as a consultant, you could even do forensic nursing-CSI stuff...really there are countless opportunities!  Or you can be a pharmacist and stand all day initialing bottles a tech hands you...not too much patient care there...even farless in in-patient because it is the RNs and MDs you will deal with then!  RN is the way to go...but if you still can't decide go and see what each does, research the salaries and job opportunities locally, research, research, research!  Good luck!

Answer 5

I'm a pharmacist so I'm biased, but I think you can still work with patients in the in-patient or out-patient settings as a pharmacist.  The way the degree has evolved the pharmacy education today allows you to work more clinically and make your career what you want it to be.  Keep in mind that the training to become a pharmacist is much more  intense than becoming an RN (that's not to say that one is more important than the other).  And you may still need/want to pursue advanced training such as residencies so you may be looking at 6-7 years total.

Answer 6

Neither is better; you decide what you would probably enjoy more.

Pharmacists require 5-6 years of education to make 80k/year.  Nurses require 2-3 years of education to make 40k/year.

They both have to pass state exams after college.