How Do Pharmacists Construct, Facilitate and Consolidate Their Professional Identity?

Abstract

The pharmacy profession has, and continues to experience change regarding roles and responsibilities. The supply of medicines still remains a central function but patient facing, clinical roles are now becoming more common place where pharmacists use their knowledge to maximise patient use of medicines. This transitional state from supplier of medicine to medicine advisor raises questions over the professional identity of pharmacists. This literature-informed commentary highlights current understanding of how identity is formed and reinforced.We propose the profession needs to be clearer in articulating what pharmacy does and advocate the need for strong branding that the profession, public and other healthcare practitioners understand.