Learn more about the duties, practice settings, typical workdays, and educational opportunities, as well as personal advice from pharmacists in this practice area.
What is critical care pharmacy?
Critical care is a pharmacy practice area in which pharmacists provide care for patients with life-threatening conditions, usually in an intensive care unit (ICU). Critical care services are usually very fast-paced, and critical care pharmacists must adapt quickly in response to rapid changes in patient status.
Where does a critical care pharmacist work?
A critical care pharmacist usually works in an intensive care unit with a multidisciplinary team. Many institutions place patients into specialized intensive care units by similar conditions, such as medical, surgical, cardiovascular, neurological, and others.
What does a typical workday look like?
For a critical care pharmacist, days in the intensive care unit usually start early. A pharmacist prepares for multidisciplinary rounds by assessing patients independently. Multidisciplinary rounds begin mid-morning and are led by an intensivist physician. The team, typically including medicine, pharmacy, nursing, respiratory therapy, dietary, and case management, evaluates each patient and puts individualized plans in place. After rounds, all members focus on doing their part to achieve the goals for each patient. The critical care pharmacist’s focus is on optimizing medication therapy to achieve the best outcomes for patients, whether that is changing medications, adjusting doses, performing therapeutic drug monitoring, or assessing for efficacy and/or adverse events. It is also important to make sure time is set aside for working on projects, teaching, and staying current with medical literature. At any point during the day, the team must be ready to respond for any patient whose status starts to decline. Each day holds new opportunities to impact patient care.
What educational opportunities are available for pharmacists in this area?
- Basic life support, advanced cardiovascular life support, pediatric advanced life support, and emergency neurological life support certifications are a few to look at as you start to assess your current skill set in medical emergency response.
- Board certification is a great way to mark your level of expertise, and maintenance of board certification will help you stay well-rounded as an ICU clinician. Many critical care pharmacists practice in specialized units, from neurology, trauma, and neonatal, to surgical, medical, and burn. The recertification options through ASHP help you stay on top of current trends for specialized areas of practice across critical care.
- Additionally, ASHP certificates can help you further develop skills, explore new areas of practice, and expand the pharmacy services your institution currently provides.
How can I learn more about this career path?
- ASHP has a Critical Care Resource Center for more information, webinars, and other tools to learn more about this career path.
- Asking faculty at your school/college to help you identify practitioners who could serve as a preceptor and/or mentor to you is a great place to start. Work with your experiential education coordinator to ensure that you have exposure to critical care in your APPE schedule. Hands-on experience will definitely help you figure out if this is the path for you. Shadowing is also an option during off-months, as well as summer internships.
Member Career Profiles
Jodi Taylor, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP, FASHP
Professor and Chair of Pharmacy Practice
Union University College of Pharmacy
What interested you in pharmacy and this career path?
“I became interested in pharmacy after shadowing a community pharmacist in my hometown during high school. I was exposed to critical care during my clinical rotations and knew this was the path for me. I found great inspiration from the work of my preceptors because their patient care impact was so palpable. I loved the fast pace of the ICU and the constant challenge of caring for critically ill patients.”
What advice do you have for someone interested in this career field?
“Critical care is a very broad specialty. Make sure you allow yourself to be well-rounded in your rotations as a student and PGY1 resident. Understanding the complete picture of the health-system and drug distribution process will make you a better advocate for your patients. Commit to learning something new every day. Make time for yourself – the ICU is hard. Building a good professional network is indispensable. Surround yourself with good people, and don’t forget to have some fun!”
Member Spotlight
Aaron Cook
Credentials: Pharm.D., BCPS
Position/Title: Pharmacy Specialist-Neurosurgery/Critical care
Organization: University of Kentucky Healthcare
Primary Specialty: Critical Care
Specialties: Academia
Thomas Johnson
Credentials: Pharm.D., BCPS, MBA, FASHP
Position/Title: Professor/Clinical Specialist
Organization: South Dakota State University/Avera McKennan Hospital
Primary Specialty: Critical Care
Steven Pass
Credentials: PharmD, BCPS, FCCM
Position/Title: Associate Professor
Organization: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Pharmacy
Primary Specialty: Critical Care
