Key takeaways

To become a hospital pharmacist, one must obtain a Pharm.D. degree, pass licensing exams, and often complete a 1- or 2-year hospital residency program.
Hospital pharmacists play a crucial role in the healthcare team by verifying orders, monitoring drug interactions, and making medication therapy recommendations.
Essential skills for hospital pharmacists include organization, good communication, strong clinical knowledge, and attention to detail.
Gaining early experience through internships and networking, especially during pharmacy school, can significantly improve one’s chances of securing a hospital pharmacist position.

If you’re thinking about becoming a hospital pharmacist, you’ll have to obtain a pharmacist license and complete several requirements. Being a hospital pharmacist can be an appealing career for many people interested in pharmacy. Hospital pharmacists, sometimes called clinical pharmacists, are essential parts of the hospital healthcare team and positively impact patient health. Some people may want to become hospital pharmacists for the work environment, the application of clinical knowledge, or other reasons. The benefits and salary of being a hospital pharmacist are also a plus.

While a hospital pharmacist job can be a great career, the path to becoming a hospital pharmacist can involve several years of training and education. Hospital pharmacists can specialize in different areas of the hospital, so the actual requirements can vary based on your end goals. If you have an interest in becoming a hospital pharmacist, it’s best to prepare early to ensure you get the job you want.

What does a hospital pharmacist do?

The role of a hospital pharmacist varies and they may have several responsibilities. Generally, they work with pharmacy technicians and other team members of the hospital pharmacy to verify physician orders and deliver medications throughout the hospital. In addition, hospital pharmacists have other responsibilities, including:

Providing feedback on prescription orders and making medication therapy recommendations as needed
Verifying and compounding IV medications
Monitoring for drug interactions or adverse effects and adjusting medications accordingly
Making recommendations for drug dosages based on patient lab values
Meeting and consulting with physicians, nurses, and other members of the healthcare team about patient medications
Educating pharmacy and hospital team members about proper drug administration techniques and other drug information

Pharmacists can work in different areas of the hospital, such as the emergency room, behavioral health unit, cardiac unit, or IV room. The responsibilities can differ based on the area the pharmacist works in. For example, the ER pharmacist may be in charge of preparing the drugs from a code cart for a patient experiencing cardiac arrest.

Hospital pharmacist salary

The hospital pharmacist salary can vary based on a pharmacist’s years of experience and the location of the hospital pharmacy. For example, a hospital pharmacist on the East Coast or California generally makes more than a hospital pharmacist in the Midwest due to higher costs of living. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average pharmacist salary is $128,570 per year, or $61.81 per hour. However, hospital pharmacist salaries can range from $100,000 to $143,000.

What are the requirements to be a hospital pharmacist?

The requirements to be a hospital pharmacist are fairly straightforward and include the same licensing requirements needed to be a retail pharmacist. All pharmacists need to have completed pharmacy school and earned a Pharm.D. degree. It can take around six to eight years after high school to receive a doctorate degree in pharmacy. After graduating from pharmacy school, a passing score on the NAPLEX and MPJE (in most states) is required to become licensed as a pharmacist.

Most hospitals require residency training or previous job experience in a hospital for consideration for hospital pharmacist jobs. After graduating from pharmacy school, you can apply for a 1-year or 2-year hospital residency program. The type of hospital residency program you choose to apply for will depend on your interests and goals. The post-graduate year 1 (PGY-1) residency generally includes training in all areas of the hospital, while the PGY-2 residency can allow you to specialize in specific areas of the hospital.

What are the skills or qualities of a hospital pharmacist?

People with certain skills and qualities may be more apt for a hospital pharmacy job than others. Having these skills and qualities may help dictate your success as a hospital pharmacist.

Organization

Being organized is a crucial part of being a hospital pharmacist. You may be monitoring or verifying several patients’ medications at a time. Hospital pharmacists who are organized can make clearer decisions and are less likely to make medication errors.

Good communication

As a hospital pharmacist, you’ll be interacting with physicians, pharmacy team members, and other hospital staff. Communicating well can help streamline any therapeutic recommendations you make to physicians. Good communication skills also involve handling tough discussions with tact and delegating tasks to pharmacy technicians as needed.

Clinical knowledge

Hospital pharmacists generally need to have good clinical knowledge, as they’ll be a primary contact for drug information. Staying up-to-date on the latest guidelines is important for making sound clinical recommendations. With good clinical knowledge, you’ll be able to recommend cost-effective medications, spot dangerous drug interactions, and perform other clinical duties to promote patient health and ultimately reduce overall hospital costs.

Attention to details

Hospital pharmacists should be detailed in how they think and work. Being detailed can mean the difference between approving the right or wrong dose of a drug for a patient. Pharmacists who are detailed are able to easily spot discrepancies in therapy.

Tips for becoming a hospital pharmacist

Becoming a hospital pharmacist is not always easy. Following these tips may help improve your chances of becoming a hospital pharmacist.

Prepare and network early

If you have an interest in becoming a hospital pharmacist, you should prepare early. During pharmacy school, aim for hospital pharmacies when completing APPE rotations. That way, you get some experience in a hospital setting. You can also get involved and join different hospital pharmacy organizations, such as the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Speak with your professors or preceptors who work in a hospital pharmacy to get further advice.

Become a hospital pharmacy intern

One of the best ways to get your foot in the door of a hospital pharmacy is to get a job as an intern during pharmacy school. Many hospitals offer hospital pharmacy internship programs that are paid and allow you to gain hospital experience. Throughout the internship, you’ll be exposed to the inner workings of the hospital pharmacy, and you’ll also be able to network with other hospital pharmacists who can give you a letter of recommendation when applying for a hospital pharmacy residency.

Complete a hospital pharmacy residency

Most, if not all, hospital pharmacists require or strongly prefer that potential candidates have completed a hospital pharmacy residency. During pharmacy school, you should research the different pharmacy programs available based on your interests. If you’re interested in working as a hospital pharmacy director, for instance, you might look for residencies geared toward leadership and hospital management. These residencies can be competitive, so you’ll want to prepare early in pharmacy school and get as much experience as possible to have a well-rounded application for a residency.