Job satisfaction and stress among pharmacists in the long-term care sector

To provide normative information regarding levels of job satisfaction and stress between consulting and dispensing pharmacists in the long-term care arena.

Cross-sectional.

United States.

All current members of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists as of March 2005.

None.

Health Professional Stress Inventory.

More than 90% of consultant pharmacists were satisfied with their jobs. The most frequently reported source of stress among the pharmacists was short staffing, affecting their ability to perform their duties. More than one-third of dispensing pharmacists were often stressed, frequently because of the need to keep up with developments to maintain professional competence.

Pharmacists serving the long-term care sector are very satisfied. Methods to assist dispensing pharmacists to keep up with practice developments must be explored. Whether or not new models of long-term care pharmacy improve job satisfaction must be explored.