Nursing vs. Pharmacy Career: Which One Should I Choose?
Many students find themselves between nursing and pharmacy, not knowing which one to choose. As getting a job in each of these fields would ensure a lucrative career ahead of you, there are still some differences between the two that you need to consider.
Read this article to learn more about which school is more demanding, nursing or pharmacy, their job opportunities, and who earns more.
Nursing Overview
Nursing is a respected career in the healthcare industry as they play a vital role in taking care of patients. Nursing includes taking care of people, mainly through health promotion, illness prevention, and care for ill and injured patients. A degree in nursing will enable you to have a career in this field.
There are different levels of nursing degrees, starting from LPN Certificates, Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN), Master's Degree in Nursing (MSN), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), and so on. Even though you can be a non-degree nurse, pursuing a degree will open the doors for many more job opportunities and provide higher salaries.
Pharmacy Overview
Pharmacy is another crucial part of the healthcare system. Nursing would be almost pointless if it weren't for the pharmaceutical products and professionals who help treat patients.
Pharmacists dispense prescribed medicine and ensure the dosage is correct. Furthermore, they inform you about the medication's possible side effects and how it works. They can also work in the pharmaceutical research industry and help develop new drugs that can save peoples' lives.
To become a pharmacist, you need to complete a doctorate in pharmacy (Pharm. D) on top of your undergraduate degree.
Nursing vs Pharmacy: Which Program Is Harder to Study?
When it comes to comparing the difficulty level of the path to get a job in nursing vs. as a pharmacist, pharmacy school is considered harder. Although you need commitment for both options, studying to become a pharmacist is characterized by a more intense workload and a longer duration. In addition, the cost of education is way higher than that of nursing.
To become a pharmacist, you first need to complete four years of undergraduate study in a relevant field, such as chemistry, anatomy, or biology. Next, you need to take the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT). Finally, you can apply for a pharmacy school program. This step can take another four years.
However, dual-degree programs are available, enabling you to graduate with both undergraduate and doctorate degrees in six years. The last step is passing your license exam.
On the other hand, becoming a nurse can be way simpler. The requirements and level of education depend on the type of nurse you want to become.
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For example, Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) need to obtain a certificate to practice their profession. Meanwhile, becoming a Registered Nurse (RN) requires at least an ADN and a license. The ADN takes about two years, while a BSN can take four years to complete. More advanced roles, like the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), need an MSN degree, which typically takes two to three years.
In addition, accelerated nursing programs are available, combining degrees to help students graduate quicker.
Nursing vs Pharmacy: Career Opportunities
When analyzing nursing vs. pharmacy career opportunities, we see that both professions have several different job positions available in various settings. However, nursing entails more job opportunities than pharmacy and faster employment growth.
Pharmacists are hired in retail pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, community pharmacies, pharmaceutical companies, government agencies, research institutes, etc.
Besides the pharmacist, other pharmacy job positions include:
Pharmacy clerk;
Pharmacy dispenser;
Pharmacy assistant;
Pharmacy technician;
Chemotherapy pharmacist;
Nuclear pharmacist;
Long-term care pharmacist;
Pharmacy specialist;
Clinical pharmacist;
Pharmacologists, etc.
Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that employment for pharmacists is predicted to decline by two percent from 2020 to 2030. Despite this, an average of 11,300 job openings are projected each year for pharmacists.
On the other hand, you can find nurses in various healthcare facilities, including hospitals, clinics, doctor’s offices, urgent care centers, schools, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, government agencies, etc.
They can work as a:
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA);
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN);
Home Health Nurse;
Pediatric Nurse;
Registered Nurse (RN);
Intensive Care Unit Nurse (ICU);
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Nurse (NICU);
Labor and Delivery Nurse;
Nurse Practitioner (NP), etc.
Employment of registered nurses is predicted to grow 9 percent from 2020 to 2030, with about 194,500 job openings projected each year. Furthermore, advanced positions like nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners will experience an estimated growth of 45 percent.
Nursing vs Pharmacy: Who Earns More?
Who do you think makes more money per year, a pharmacist or a nurse? Putting pharmacist and nurse salaries side by side, we notice that pharmacy is a more lucrative profession than nursing.
According to the latest data, the average annual salary for a pharmacist in the United States is $142,773, ranging from $134,522 to $152,073.
Meanwhile, yearly wages for nurses are reportedly lower than pharmacists' salaries. The average registered nurse (RN) salary is $65,280, ranging between $58,560 and $74,630 per year, and the average salary for a nurse practitioner is $115,005, with the range falling between $106,715 and $124,937.
Final Thoughts
Nursing and pharmacy are two vital components of the healthcare industry. A job in either one of them would be a wise career decision.
If you are interested in a more lucrative career, pick the pharmacy option. But if you want to go for the easier option of the two, then choose the nursing one, as it takes less time to graduate and offers more job opportunities.