A nuclear pharmacist handles radioactive substances to diagnose and treat conditions, requiring specialized training in handling and understanding radiation. They are responsible for safely storing and transporting radioactive materials and informing patients and colleagues of risks and benefits. Some may pursue research careers to make nuclear pharmacy safer and more effective. Nuclear pharmacy was recognized as an official specialty in the 1970s.
A nuclear pharmacist is a pharmacist who works in the field of nuclear pharmacy, focused on the safe use of radioactive substances to diagnose and treat various conditions. Radioactive substances can be harmful even in relatively small doses, but they can also be helpful if used properly. The nuclear pharmacist’s job is to ensure that they are used to help patients and that any harmful side effects are minimized.
A nuclear pharmacist must undergo a significant amount of training in addition to the usual pharmacist training. It is essential that nuclear pharmacists learn to safely handle radioactive materials without harming themselves or diminishing the effectiveness of the materials. This often involves time spent in both classroom and laboratory settings, as it is important that radiation-related concepts are well understood at conceptual and practical levels. Classroom time generally involves an in-depth study of the mathematics, physics, and chemistry of radiation as it applies to biological and pharmaceutical practices. Laboratory time is mainly spent on proper methods of handling radioisotopes or radioactive materials.
There are many different tasks that a nuclear pharmacist tends to complete over the course of their career. Nuclear pharmacists are, in most pharmaceutical environments, almost exclusively responsible for the radioactive materials present and are responsible for keeping them safely stored. They are also responsible for packaging and transporting these materials when necessary. A nuclear pharmacist is one who fills all prescriptions that include drugs with radioactive components. Another important part of the nuclear pharmacist’s job is information – he must keep patients and co-workers informed about the various treatments available, especially the various risks and benefits involved.
In many cases, a nuclear pharmacist will choose to pursue a research career rather than working in a pharmacy or hospital. A research nuclear pharmacist seeks to find new substances and new methods to make nuclear pharmacy safer and more effective. This usually involves a significant amount of laboratory work and clinical trials. In the laboratory, new substances are designed and tested to determine if they would be viable for clinical trials. After significant lab work, a drug or procedure may be tested to see if it could replace previous drugs or methods.
Nuclear pharmacy was first recognized by the American Medical Association as an official specialty for pharmacists in the early 1970s and later by the Council on Specialty Pharmaceuticals in 1978. An international venue for advancing the field was formed by the International Pharmaceutical Federation in 1997.
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