Australian hospital pharmacists reflect on career success

Background: As not all professionals have a linear, upward career trajectory, intrinsic career success is important. This study supplements job satisfaction and retention surveys by exploring the subjective notion of career success. Aim: To determine Australian hospital pharmacists' views on their intrinsic career success. Method: Interviews were conducted with experienced pharmacists from regional and metropolitan areas in central Victoria through to northern Queensland. 1 hour semistructured interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. NVivo9 was used to code broadly before interpretive coding. Results: 3 themes on career success emerged from the interviews. Hospital pharmacists felt successful in their careers when they received acknowledgement from others, from self-confi dence in their ability to do the work well and from determining their work methods. Conclusion: Hospital pharmacists valued acknowledgment for a job well done, self-confi dence in their ability and increasing autonomy.