Travel Pharmacist Jobs

Travel Pharmacy Jobs

Jobs in pharmacy for traveling pharmacists may seem like a new concept to many of us, but this pharmacy job niche has been in place and thriving for over two decades now. Accepted in the nursing field for a very long time now, many pharmacists are finding this type of employment and lifestyle a very attractive alternative to the traditional pharmacist job work model. Instead of "settling down" and choosing to work and live in one specific geographical area, travel pharmacy jobs offer a way to experience a much broader array of environmental settings and pharmacy positions. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics the demand for travel pharmacists is on the rise and so are the salaries being paid.There are various reasons why employers like to hire travel pharmacists. One is that pharmacies in certain geographical locals are finding it increasingly difficult to both find and retain quality skilled pharmacists due to the national shortage of both pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. Another primary motivator is seasonality. Certain areas like Arizona and Florida experience seasonal population increases at certain times of the year (when the "snowbirds" migrate in the winter months). Additionally, certain pharmacy businesses schedule their regular staff's vacations and leave of absences at the same time each year, thus creating a need for temporary staffing.As with any type of job model, there are pros and cons to becoming a traveling healthcare professional. Since we have been dealing here at Healthcare Consultants Pharmacy Staffing with the travel pharmacist employment model for many years now, we felt that we could share some insights with anyone that is perhaps considering trying it out.

Pros of Working as a Travel Pharmacist

• Learning new skills -This includes that the travel pharmacist may perhaps learn not only new skills by working in a different or expanded role or niche, but we find that in many work settings pharmacies simply do things differently. Travel pharmacists often find that a different organization will sometimes have a unique or different way of doing what they already are skilled in doing.
• Variety -Working at different locations and in different job roles definitely adds some variety to a pharmacist's life. Many travel pharmacists actually list this as the number one reason for choosing their lifestyle. Many say that it "maintains a challenging setting" and the variety of jobs keeps them excited and motivated by always being changing, different and interesting.
• Freedom -A rather obvious, but significant component of travel work. Not only does the travel pharmacist get to choose where to work and what type of company that they prefer to work for, traveling healthcare professionals avoid the boredom of going to the same job in the same place over and over again. Most say that this gives them a feeling of freedom that must be experienced to be understood. Additionally, the freedom to choose to work in specific geographical regions of the US (especially during certain seasons of the year) is another primary motivational factor for pharmacists to choose the travel pharmacy work model. Any pharmacist working during the winter months up north certainly must be envious of those working in states such as Arizona, Florida and Southern California where snow is rarely or never seen during the winter months.
• Experience -Contrary to some "old fashioned" opinions, traveling actually makes a pharmacist more valuable. It can look great on an individual's resume and many feel that the experience gained gives candidates a distinct advantage over others who have spent their entire work history in one location or job venue. Employers view travel pharmacists as more adaptable and experienced in today's ever changing job market place.
• Increased Contacts -You hear it all the time: Its not what you know but who you know. Knowing more employers and increasing your professional contacts is how people end up "in the right place at the right time" when a job opportunity arises. In cases of job openings or opportunities where the travel pharmacist has previously worked, the employer is certainly more comfortable hiring a pharmacist that they have already employed. The pharmacy saves valuable training time and has already judged whether the pharmacist is qualified for the position (plus has already seen if the potential employee fits into their company culture).
• Traveling -The bottom line is that some people simply enjoy travelling. What better way is there to travel and experience new places than to work as a traveling healthcare professional? Imagine travelling to new places and meeting new people while getting paid to do it. For many pharmacists it simply is a lifestyle choice that they find extremely attractive. Warm weather in the winter months, the culture that large metropolitan cities offer in all seasons and specific attractions such as sports, beaches, culture and entertainment may be lucrative motivational factors for certain individuals to want to work seasonally in a specific city or region of the country.

Cons of Working as a Travel Pharmacist

• Benefits -A major factor to take into consideration in a decision for a pharmacist to choose travel pharmacy is the lack of benefits. Many benefits such as health insurance, 401k participation and pensions may not work for certain individuals or age groups. Most travel positions also do not include vacation, sick days or benefits such as grievance time off.
• Additional Licenses or Certifications -Pharmacy license reciprocity can be a challenge to individuals regarding working in specific states. The state reciprocity rules are somewhat complicated and present a challenge to some pharmacists considering the travel pharmacy work model. For more detailed information, please see our previous blog that discusses pharmacy jobs and license reciprocity. Please consider contacting us here at HCC should you have questions or need assistance in understanding your situation better. Call us today at 800.642.1652 or contact us online to discuss how we may be able to help you understand and solve any obstacles you may face.

Finding Work as a Travel Pharmacist

Finding work and jobs as a travel pharmacist is the easy part. With the demand being high, the best way to find employment that suits your individual needs is to work with a pharmacy staffing agency who can offer you multiple job opportunities and can help you to compare your options. HealthCare Consultants Pharmacy Staffing (HCC) is that staffing agency!Whatever type of position and geographical setting a pharmacist is looking to work in, HCC can help. Our pharmacy positions cover all aspects of job types: retail, hospital, clinical and specialty pharmacies. We offer solutions for almost every type of pharmacy job you may be looking for:- Compounding pharmacy- Retail pharmacy (independent community and chain store)- Specialty pharmacy- Nursing Home & Long Term Care pharmacy- Institutional (prisons and jails) pharmacy- Hospice pharmacy- Mail-order pharmacy- Home health pharmacy- Respiratory pharmacy- Infusion and IV pharmacy- Nuclear pharmacyLet HCC do the work for you! HealthCare Consultants Pharmacy Staffing is one of the leading pharmacy staffing agencies in the US. Established back in 1989 and owned and operated by pharmacists, we serve all 50 states and have vast experience in the travel pharmacy work model. We attribute our 3 decades of success to always placing the right pharmacist in the right job.If you are a pharmacist looking for opportunities to work in the travel pharmacist model, we urge you to talk with us. With positions immediately available, contact us today online or call us at 800-642-1652 to get started.