The Skills Every Hospital Pharmacist Needs to Excel

In order to do their job, a pharmacist needs a thorough knowledge of drugs, what conditions they treat, how they operate, what their side effects are, and how they should be taken – all of which might be called technical knowledge.

Having this technical knowledge is an important aspect of the job, but it is not the only one. To really do the job well, a pharmacist also needs other skills; so-called soft skills. These are skills used when working with people. Here are some of the most important.

Communication skills

In one survey, employers identified communication skills as the number one trait they look for in job candidates. Whether you regard it as the most important or not, no one disputes the significance of effective communication skills in any job. Pharmacy is no exception.

Pharmacists, whether they work in retail or a hospital setting, need to communicate with patients and their families, as well as other healthcare professionals. Being able to communicate well means expressing yourself coherently verbally and in writing; knowing what is important and what is not; and suiting your message to the recipient.

It also means knowing how to listen and interpret body language.

Communication skills are more important than ever for pharmacists because society is becoming increasingly diverse, and healthcare professionals need to know how to interact with people of different cultures and backgrounds.

Problem-solving and organizational skills

You have to determine what the problem is; then figure out what is causing it, which is not always as easy as it may seem. You need to be able to look at the situation from different perspectives. And you need to know how to generate solutions and choose the one that will be the most effective in solving the problem.

Teamwork skills

These skills have become more important as healthcare professionals are increasingly working as part of an integrated group for patient care; groups composed of physicians, nurses, pharmacists and other professionals.

Observational skills

These are obviously important for any healthcare professional in dealing with patients and recognizing signs and symptoms of illness or other problems.

At Rx relief, we focus on the elements that make each person unique. We solicit feedback continually to make our service responsive to your needs. Rx relief has been rated among the best of staffing firms by the American Staffing Association. If you are looking for a pharmacy position, give Rx relief a call today.