As a pharmacist, it’s important to stay up to date in your practice. In today’s world, there’s a plethora of information and resources out there for you to stay on top of things in the world of pharmacy. So, when you’re trying to figure out what strategies to bring to your practice, consider your own areas of interest in the pharmacy field.
Here are some suggestions on how to stay current:
Become an instructor
If you’ve ever had a hankering to teach others, this is your chance. Becoming an instructor will require you to stay up to date with the latest in pharmacy and clinical guidelines, which will allow you to gift future pharmacy professionals with a quality education.
Check out pharmacy podcasts
This is an easy and fun way to learn some new and interesting information. There are hundreds of pharmacy-focused podcasts out there and each one covers a different topic. Visit the Pharmacy Podcast Network to find the perfect podcast(s) for you.
Keep up with continuing education
To keep your pharmacist license active, you have to keep up with continuing education (CE) courses. Each state has their own requirements on what needs to be met. Try choosing CE courses that are relevant to your area of practice and that teach topics that you’re interested in.
The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) has provided links to each state board of pharmacy website. This helps pharmacists like you stay up to date with your state laws and regulations. They’ve also created an electronic system, CPE Monitor, that maintains CD information for all the states.
Are you thinking about transferring your license to another state? If so, the NAPB website is a great starting point for the latest information.
If you’ve been wanting to find some free CE programs for members, look into national organizations like ASHP. Check out your alma mater because many pharmacy schools also offer CE programs for their graduates.
National organizations such as the American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP) have free CE programs for members. You might also want to check out your alma mater, as many pharmacy schools also offer CE programs for their graduates.
Join a professional organization
Get involved with a professional pharmacy organization, such as The American Pharmacists Association. You can also join your state’s local pharmacy association. Organizations like this can offer great opportunities to network, attend events, check out leadership opportunities, and learn more about current pharmacy trends.
Go to conferences
Conferences are a great way to hone in on everything new in the pharmacy world as well as network with others in the pharmaceutical field. Whether you attend in person or virtually doesn’t matter. You’ll be getting the same information from all of the great presenters.
Get board certified
Board certification may not be at the top of your list right now, but you may want to consider it down the road. Becoming board certified is a big deal, as it’s considered the gold standard for determining pharmacists’ qualifications within a certain area of practice. You can obtain the certification through the Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS). There are currently 14 different BPS specialties. You can hop onto the BPS website for information on what specialties are available and eligibility requirements.
Social Media
This is a great way to stay current while running a busy pharmacy. It’s easy to set up professional profiles on all of the top social sites (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.). For the latest information on health news, drug approvals, clinical studies, and pharmacy law updates, you can follow professional organizations and drug information resources. You can learn quite a bit from members’ posts, such as vaccine information, medical inquiries, and career opportunities.
Continued learning and growth as a pharmacist is essential, and with your unique interests and learning styles in the field, there are many strategies you can use to stay on top of the ever-evolving pharmacy world.
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