Nursing or pharmacist?

GOMER42 · Dec 14, 2008

It sounds like you are considering this not because of an interest in the field but for a paycheck.

If this is true- you won't last

FA to CRNA2b · Dec 14, 2008

If you have taken chemistry or biology, which did you prefer and which did you have more of an aptitude for?

Absolutely13 · Dec 14, 2008

If you love chemistry, go the pharmacist route.

How many chemistry classes will I have to take? All of them.

just_cause, BSN, RN · Dec 14, 2008

Pharmd Pre-reqs for chemistry normally include the 1-year general chem sequence and 1-year organic chem sequence.

I would look at cost of education as a factor - sometimes despite how badly you want it - it helps do understand the constraints in your local area.

I'd recommend checking out the programs at college at your state (as this is economical - usually) and looking at the pre-req demands and competitiveness, then looking at the job market for all of the above in your area and or the US (depending on if you will move after graduation).

If pharmd is an interest see what it takes in your state to become a pharm tech, some states have a simple test - others you need an AS degree.. if it's a simple test or class then you could work p/t as a pharm tech and attend school for your pre-reqs over about 3 years.. get good grades and have that pharm tech exp and you should be a good candidate for pharmd school - oh almost all of them require you have a BS prior to pharmd program.. so perhaps if you don't have a prior BS/BA you will take 5 years to do this while working p/t.

As a nurse route check out to see what schools are available and whether they have wait lists.. i hate wait lists as they destroy the 'free market' of students to be competitive.. anyhow you can do nursing pre-reqs in a year if you bust your butt and enter into a 2 year ADN program and your local CC - this is a quick and feasible option..

v/r

FA to CRNA2b · Dec 14, 2008

If you love chemistry, go the pharmacist route.
How many chemistry classes will I have to take? All of them.

All of them? Holy cow, not even Chemists have to take ALL of them!

Katnip, RN · Dec 14, 2008

To be a pharmacist it takes at least 6-7 years of education. You could become a pharm tech which I think is an associate degree. Could be wrong there.

llg, PhD, RN · Dec 14, 2008

Unless you heart is really into nursing (and it sounds as if yours is not), I would choose the pharmacy route. There are and should be plenty of jobs available there, too. As a society, we seem to be taking more and more meds -- and we needed educated people to dispense them.

Pharmacy techs (and pharmacists) can work in hospitals, drug stores, nursing homes, Walmart, etc. -- lots of different types of employers.

Absolutely13 · Dec 14, 2008

All of them? Holy cow, not even Chemists have to take ALL of them!

I was just kidding, although it will seem like all of them.

sunray12 · Dec 14, 2008

Since this is a nursing board I'll advise you to go for nursing because you'll have a much broader scope of practice and opportunity than as a pharmacist. As a mechanic you've probably had to do a lot of problem solving and analysis and your knowledge of car schematics will go a long way in getting you through courses like Anatomy and Physiology, etc., and Pathophysiology, so I'm guessing that you'd probably do well in nursing.

There are many ways in which you can use a nursing degree with out seeing much blood and guts if you don't like them. But keep in mind that you will have to see them and deal with them in your nursing school clinics. So if you can deal for two years of nursing school then you can be a nurse. Otherwise you should look at pharmacy and/or other non-invasive allied health professions.

Your state community college system websites probably have a lot of info about the different health care degrees and certs they offer - and that's a good place to start gathering info to help with your decision making even if you don't end up getting your training at a community college.

Good luck whichever way you decide.

RhodyGirl, RN · Dec 14, 2008

It seems like pharmacy would be more fitting for you, but please be aware that PharmD programs are super competitive to get into. The program in my state only accepts about 15 students per year. It's obviously a science-heavy curriculum, with lots of chemistry. One of my friends just graduated from the PharmD program in May and it took him over 6 years to do so.......and that was considered finishing on time. Pharmacy school tends to be just as competitive (if not more) than nursing school.

Not trying to be a wet blanket here, but just giving you the heads up on what you would be in for.

You could actually become a pharm tech without a degree. I worked as one for a retail store for a couple years while taking my nursing prereqs.....the pay isn't great, but if you can get into government positions you may be able to do alright.

Good luck with your decision.

shrimpchips, LPN · Dec 14, 2008

It seems like pharmacy would be more fitting for you, but please be aware that PharmD programs are super competitive to get into. The program in my state only accepts about 15 students per year. It's obviously a science-heavy curriculum, with lots of chemistry. One of my friends just graduated from the PharmD program in May and it took him over 6 years to do so.......and that was considered finishing on time. Pharmacy school tends to be just as competitive (if not more) than nursing school.
Not trying to be a wet blanket here, but just giving you the heads up on what you would be in for.
You could actually become a pharm tech without a degree. I worked as one for a retail store for a couple years while taking my nursing prereqs.....the pay isn't great, but if you can get into government positions you may be able to do alright.
Good luck with your decision.

And you also have to have a really good GPA. Every school is different, but for example a college in my area has a pharm program and their minimum GPA requirement is a 3.8, and you aren't even guaranteed to get in with that. I'm not trying to scare you, I'm just trying to give you a heads-up. And I agree with everyone else, it seems like pharmacy would be more "your thing" than nursing.