When are you allowed to call yourself a specialized type-of pharmacist?

[MelaNix12]

Sorry, non-COVID-19 post here...

I was wondering everyone's opinions on this. When is it okay to give yourself the title of, for example, "pediatric clinical pharmacist" or "psychiatric clinical pharmacist"? Do you have to be board certified in those therapeutic areas, BCPPS or BCPP? What if most of your clinical work is on a pediatric unit or psychiatric unit at a hospital, but you did NOT do a residency and you are NOT board certified? Is it still ok to refer to yourself as a "pediatric clinical pharmacist", for example? Is there an un-written rule?

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[confettiflyer]

For me it’s what you do on a day to day basis. That is indirectly driven by credentials/board cert, residency status, experience, etc...

I have an oncology pharmacist with no board cert and only experience + PGY1, they can refer to themselves as an oncology pharmacist and it would be correct. Even if they had no PGY1, would still be correct.


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[one pharmacy call]

I like to refer to myself as "pharmacist."

 

[confettiflyer]

I like to refer to myself as "pharmacist."

Our ONS nurses ask for the oncology pharmacist for obvious reasons. Introduced myself to one of the rev integrity people as such as the meeting was about onc billing.

ICU nurses call looking for the “ICU pharmacist” and won’t talk to anyone else.


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[zelman]

With the exception of “nuclear pharmacists” there is no credential required for any specialist role. In all other instances, your competency and typical activities are sufficient to warrant a descriptor in your title.

 

[Dred Pirate]

I cover the entire hospital at night - when every anyone calls the main pharmacy asking for the NICU RPH, or the ICU RPH, or the Oncology RPh, all the calls get transfered to me Often the RN will ask me "are you the NICU RPH?" - I always answer "I am tonight!"

 

[owlegrad]

With the exception of “nuclear pharmacists” there is no credential required for any specialist role. In all other instances, your competency and typical activities are sufficient to warrant a descriptor in your title.

In Florida consultant pharmacists also require extra credentials. So it is also state specific.

 

[Dred Pirate]

but to answer the OP question - it just depends, I would say whatever you do as your daily work - and that might change from day to day depending on staffing model

When working days one day I was the ICU RPH, another day the ED RPH, and so forth- Honestly I don't get caught up in titles, so does it really matter?

 

[confettiflyer]

but to answer the OP question - it just depends, I would say whatever you do as your daily work - and that might change from day to day depending on staffing model

When working days one day I was the ICU RPH, another day the ED RPH, and so forth- Honestly I don't get caught up in titles, so does it really matter?

Lol I’m the oncology pharmacist on a Monday and ICU pharmacist on a Friday.

Then I’m the laundry and gardening pharmacist on Saturday.


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[MelaNix12]

The original intent of my question was can I put this specific title on my resume? For example, can I put Pediatric Clinical Pharmacist on my resume if I am looking for a new position. Im gauging based off the answers in this post...yes I can if the majority of my work is on the NICU/Peds unit. Even if I'm not board certified...

 

[confettiflyer]

The original intent of my question was can I put this specific title on my resume? For example, can I put Pediatric Clinical Pharmacist on my resume if I am looking for a new position. Im gauging based off the answers in this post...yes I can if the majority of my work is on the NICU/Peds unit. Even if I'm not board certified...

Yeah that’s a fair assessment, best of luck on the job hunt


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[owlegrad]

Call me crazy but shouldn’t your job title be whatever is on your pay stub?

 

[mustang sally]

At least from what I've noticed around here, people just call themselves whatever title they want.

 

[RxEvileye]

Sometimes an organization can give you a more generic job title like Clinical Pharmacy Specialist or Clinical Pharmacist, but if you are working in a specialized area I think it is reasonable to say what you are actually doing on something like a CV.

 

[TateThePharmacist]

The original intent of my question was can I put this specific title on my resume? For example, can I put Pediatric Clinical Pharmacist on my resume if I am looking for a new position. Im gauging based off the answers in this post...yes I can if the majority of my work is on the NICU/Peds unit. Even if I'm not board certified...

I definitely would. I would essentially copy and paste your current job description from the job posting you applied to onto your resume then shorten it/change it into your own wording. For example, I'm not an ER pharmacist, but I'm at a small hospital so I attend all ER codes so I included that on my resume as part of my responsibilities at my current job. (I didn't put my job as ER pharmacist, however given your example I would think it's appropriate).

 

[wucool33]

Call me crazy but shouldn’t your job title be whatever is on your pay stub?

You are crazy

 

[confettiflyer]

Call me crazy but shouldn’t your job title be whatever is on your pay stub?

The closest to that I have on my stub is a 10 digit job code. I just checked because I was curious too.


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[Dred Pirate]

The closest to that I have on my stub is a 10 digit job code. I just checked because I was curious too.


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ya mine says "pharmacist" pretty generic. But I could be called "Emergency Medicine Pharmacist", "Clinical Pharmacist", "Overnight Pharmacist" and all would be accurate with zero stretching, with a little stretching, I could call myself "Critical Care Rph", etc.

 

[confettiflyer]

ya mine says "pharmacist" pretty generic. But I could be called "Emergency Medicine Pharmacist", "Clinical Pharmacist", "Overnight Pharmacist" and all would be accurate with zero stretching, with a little stretching, I could call myself "Critical Care Rph", etc.

What if you’re all of those. Sometimes when I’m ICU I’ll pop down into the ED.

It’s a bitch writing it on a white label and putting it on my badge every time I ride the elevator. I’m gonna have them stitch every physical department on my white coat


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[owlegrad]

The closest to that I have on my stub is a 10 digit job code. I just checked because I was curious too.


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Well I am sure that 10 digit code corresponds to a job title. Not that I care what people put on their resumes lol

 

[gwarm01]

I would just put whatever your actual job title is but describe your duties in a way that clearly shows your experience in peds. Job titles vary so much across institutions so I wouldn't worry much about that.

 

[SClENCE]

Whatever your job title is at your workplace

 

[Xenophylia]

Well I am sure that 10 digit code corresponds to a job title. Not that I care what people out in their resumes lol

I would just call yourself that 10 digit number. Let's face it- that's all we are to our employers.

 

[TheBlaah]

I'm the Refrigerator Repair Pharmacist at my place.

 

[BidingMyTime]

On your resume, you can call yourself whatever you want to. As long as it makes logical sense, and as long as none of your references, employer, or previous employer contradict it, it's all good! Personally, I would put as your title, whatever you spent the majority of your time doing, but then list everything else in the description.