Clinical Pharmacist vs. Retail Pharmacist: Pros, Cons & Career Growth

Thinking about a career in pharmacy, but feeling unsure whether you should opt for the clinical or retail route? Well, trust us on this - you are not alone! While every field has its set of perks and challenges, the right choice, at the end of the day, lies with you. It is up to you to decide and choose the path that excites you the most! After all, knowing that pharmacy is such a broad and diverse field, who would not want to opt for an interesting and challenging field just for the thrill of it?

Both the clinical and retail pharmacist roles have their importance in the healthcare field, however, they differ in terms of their respective responsibilities, work settings, and patient interactions. So, if you are an aspiring pharmacist who is looking for the ‘right’ career path for themselves, you need to be aware of all the responsibilities and differences between the two roles, so that you may opt for the career role that fits you best. This would also help you put your skills and interests to their rightful usage.

At Elite Expertise, comprehensive training programs are designed to help aspiring pharmacists succeed in their chosen career path. The expert trainers, are themselves, real-time Australian pharmacists, make sure that all the required knowledge and learning material has been shared with their students. At the end of the day, whether you choose clinical or retail pharmacy, they will be there to help support you every step of the way through their exclusive training and mentoring sessions.

What Is It Like Being A Clinical Pharmacist?

A clinical pharmacist works in hospitals, clinics, and specialty healthcare setups. However, instead of simply dispensing medicines, clinical pharmacists are directly involved in patient care, ensuring that the treatments being provided to the patients are effective and safe.

The Role Of Clinical Pharmacists

Here is a brief overview of the duties and responsibilities of a clinical pharmacist. You can easily gain more insights about their role from this.

Working With Medical Teams

Clinical pharmacists collaborate and work closely with doctors and nurses. Their roles revolve around tailoring medication plans based on each patient’s condition and orders as put forward by their respective consultants.

Monitor Patient Outcomes

Clinical pharmacists help keep track of how certain medications affect patients, while also helping maintain or change doses accordingly, whenever needed.

Managing Drug Interactions

Clinical pharmacists ensure that any patient’s medication does not interact negatively or have any adverse effects on the patient. This point is very important in making sure that the right medicines are being given to the patients as per their decided treatment plans.

Provide Counselling

Clinical pharmacists are also actively involved in educating patients and their families on how to take medications properly and safely. This is for both, admitted as well as patients who are being discharged. Effective communication skills are necessary for ensuring that the patients and their attendants have fully understood the medication plans.

Conducting Research

Some clinical pharmacists are also seen to be involved and working in research institutions, developing new pharmaceutical treatments. Although this is a research-based avenue, many countries require their pharmacists to be actively involved in research and clinical trials as part of their jobs.

Training Other Healthcare Professionals

A clinical pharmacist also helps educate doctors and nurses on new medications and best practices. This helps ensure a healthy and educational working environment, where nobody is considered above anyone else, and everyone prefers learning from one another, without any hesitation.

Why You Might Love Clinical Pharmacy?

Here are a few reasons that might help you opt for a role as a clinical pharmacist:

• You will get to closely with a proper healthcare team and also make critical patient-care decisions, which will only end up enhancing your learning experiences.

• You might also get to rotate and specialize in critical care units, including oncology, cardiology, or infectious diseases. All these departments are of immense value when it comes to the point of making sure you are an all-rounder pharmacist.

• Although different for different places, a clinical pharmacist earns a higher salary than retail pharmacists. This might especially be a good point for pharmacists who want to seek opportunities in countries apart from their home country.

• There is wide room for growth for clinical pharmacists when it comes to opting for specialized roles. They can easily opt for certain career growth opportunities that are related to academia, hospital-related opportunities, and research.

• Working as a clinical pharmacist ensures that you have access to all the cutting-edge medical advancements that are actively taking place as well as getting introduced in that particular setup. Along with enhancing your clinical and learning skills, you will also get to know how different protocols are carried out and what changes are being introduced with time.

• All in all, a clinical pharmacist gets to play a vital role in saving patients’ lives and having an important role in improving patient recovery.

Challenges To Consider As A Clinical Pharmacist

Like every other field, there are a few downsides to every career path. Here are a few pointers to consider

• A clinical pharmacist's role requires about 1 to 2 years of residency to specialize in the field.

• The work shifts could get unexpectedly longer and unpredictable, depending on the patient load. This especially applies to clinical pharmacists who work in emergency settings and critical care units.

• The role of a clinical pharmacist requires considerably more administrative work, such as working on patient documentation and compliance reports. A clinical pharmacist needs to maintain an updated record of all the patient’s medications.

• Clinical pharmacists work in a high-pressure environment at all times, because it is their need for the job. They are also involved in the decision-making of several critical care patients, after getting on board with the respective consultant.

What Is It Like Being A Retail Pharmacist?

Consequently, a retail pharmacist is the ‘friendly’ face that is found behind the counter at your local pharmacy, supermarket, or chain drugstore. They have a considerably ‘lenient’ and comfortable work environment as compared to a clinical pharmacist.

Retail pharmacists ensure that the customers who come to buy their routine and prescription medicines get the right medications, and are also aware of how to intake or use that particular medication as per the prescribed usage. This helps ensure safe and effective use of the medicines.

The Role Of Retail Pharmacists

Given below is an overview of the duties and responsibilities of a retail pharmacist. They are involved in the following roles:

Dispensing Medications

Retail pharmacists are actively involved in filling prescriptions accurately and ensuring that the patients have received the correct medications.

Offer Medical Advice

Retail pharmacists might also answer questions from patients about over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, prescriptions, and general health concerns whenever required. They need to be fully aware of all the medicines, their mechanisms of action, possible drug-drug interactions, and side effects to ensure their patients are also educated about their prescription medicine.

Give Vaccinations

In different countries, retail pharmacists are also involved in administering routine vaccinations such as flu shots, COVID-19 vaccines, and other immunizations.

Supervise Pharmacy Staff

Retail pharmacists oversee pharmacy technicians and assistants, ensuring smooth operations. This also ensures proper teamwork and collaboration among the pharmacists and assistants.

Manage Inventory

It is among one of the most essential duties of a retail pharmacist to ensure that the pharmacy is stocked with all necessary medications that are needed and that any or all expired drugs are removed diligently.

Handle Insurance Claims

Retail pharmacists work with insurance providers to ensure patients receive affordable medications.

Why You Might Love Retail Pharmacy?

Here are a few bright prospects to consider if you are looking forward to pursuing a career in retail pharmacy.

• Retail pharmacists are allowed to have stable and flexible work hours. Since they are not actively involved with any hospital setup, there is no unpredictability factor involved, and no fear of getting placed in unexpected long shifts anytime.

  
  

• Being a part of a job where you are required to meet and greet several people daily means that retail pharmacists can enjoy interacting with different people and also build relationships with their customers, which is a very good social skill.

  
  

• Once you have completed your degree in pharmacy, you will not be required to complete any other additional residency programs before you become eligible to practice anywhere.

  
  

• Once you have gained a significant amount of experience, you can always expand your scope of practice, and start giving certificates that are allowed on your license, including vaccinations and health consultations.

  
  

• Retail pharmacists can also open and manage their independent pharmacy business, which further allows them to step into the entrepreneurial business, thereby expanding their horizons.

Challenges To Consider As A Clinical Pharmacist

As impressive and interesting as the job of a retail pharmacist might sound, there are some downsides to this job as well. However, they may vary from person to person, and include the following:

• There is less involvement in hands-on patient treatment and hospital settings, because of the obvious no-exposure to hospital and critical care settings. A clinical or hospital pharmacist is expected to deal with all this stuff.
  
  

• Sometimes, standing for long hours in busy retail environments can be physically demanding and draining. This tiresome routine might not be that appealing for some people who like keeping themselves occupied all day long with some activity.
  
  

• Dealing with insurance paperwork and prescription authorizations can be frustrating, mainly because several formalities need to be dealt with while doing all this official work.
  
  

• High demand for quick services can lead to workplace stress and ultimately burnout especially during flu season or health crises.

Clinical Vs. Retail Pharmacy: A Side-by-Side Comparison

Here is a side-by-side comparison that will help you view both these fields from a broader perspective.

Which Pharmacy Career Is Best for You?

Still undecided? Don’t worry, we have got you covered here as well.

Here is an interesting activity for you. Go on and ask yourself these questions:

• Do you thrive in fast-paced hospital environments and love working with medical teams? → Clinical pharmacy might be for you.

• Do you enjoy building relationships with customers and providing everyday healthcare solutions? → Retail pharmacy is a great fit.

• Are you interested in research and specialized treatment plans? → Clinical pharmacy offers more opportunities.

• Do you want a job with structured hours, relaxed work environment, and minimal extra training? → Retail pharmacy makes sense.

• Do you see yourself owning your own business? → Retail pharmacy provides that opportunity.

• Would you rather be involved in complex, life-saving treatments? → Clinical pharmacy is a better match.

How Elite Expertise Helps You Succeed

No matter which path you choose, the right preparation for the required program can make all the difference.

At Elite Expertise, you can expect to find some of the best, top-tier pharmacy training programs that help you excel in both clinical and retail settings. You can expect your personal and professional growth once you become a part of this promising preparation academy.

The pharmacy training programs at Elite Expertise are among the best top-tier programs that prepare professionals for success in retail and clinical environments. The academy delivers specific educational programs which include OPRA (Overseas Pharmacists' Registration Examination) and PSI (Pharmacy Statutory Examination) together with regional certifications. These training programs are specifically developed to help future pharmacists fulfill licensing standards across different countries so they maintain exam readiness before starting their pharmacy profession.

Why Train With Elite Expertise?

Here are a few convincing reasons that will help you opt for Elite Expertise as your preparation academy:

Real-Time Australian Pharmacists as Trainers

The instructors at Elite Expertise are skilled specialists who train and work in Australia and offer the latest knowledge and practical training which enhances your performance in the industry. The training staff at Elite Expertise consists of certified Australian professionals who share their current industry understanding alongside practical expertise to boost your professional development. Through their clinical pharmacy background Arief Muhammad and Harika Bheemavarapu support students to excel in clinical pharmacy practice as well as retail operations.

Live and Recorded Lectures

Their training and mentoring programs are equipped with both, recorded and live sessions which you can attend either interactively or at your convenience.

Through our training options at Elite Expertise we adapt to your personal life schedule. All pharmacy courses at Elite Expertise are available through online learning platforms with recorded classes that let you study at your preferred speed. The PTE course is the only hands-on training provided at Elite Expertise which guarantees complete knowledge acquisition for students regardless of their location.

Mock Exams & Practice Sessions

Build work-ready confidence by familiarizing yourself with exam-style questions and practice tests before your licensure exams.

Career Mentorship & Support

Apart from training and mentoring pharmacists in their upcoming examinations, Elite Expertise also helps prepare for job applications and make appropriate career decisions to ensure that you are ready to grasp the best opportunities available.

Flexible Learning Options

Training can be conducted online or in-person depending on the preference and lifestyle of the learner.

Expert-Led Exam Prep Programs

Start your career with confidence through completing medical licensing exam training courses including the OPRA (Overseas Pharmacists' Registration Examination) and the PEBC (Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada) as well as PSI (Pharmacy Statutory Examination) and local certification programs. Expert-led courses created by the program provide full preparation for pharmacy licensing exams which leads to professional success in your career.

Final Thoughts

Both clinical and retail pharmacists have critical roles in the healthcare system. The best choice of career depends on your personality, preferred work environment, and desired objectives in the future.

At Elite Expertise, we are focused on making sure you make the right decision and achieve success in your pursuit. Why wait? If you wish to start a rewarding career in pharmacy, enroll yourself now!

Mr. Arief Mohammad is renowned for his excellent teaching skills and practice-based experience, which can contribute to developing practice-based knowledge for a learner. He has been a practicing pharmacist in Australia for the last 5 years and has been a preceptor to several students and intern pharmacists.

Follow On

About the author

Arief Mohammad