Student Pharm Tech

Under general supervision performs activities associated with drug distribution and control for inpatient/outpatient and clinic patient dispensing. Provides functional supervision as required.

Position Responsibilities

• Performs activities associated with unit inventory maintenance in dispensing areas and utilizes computer software and equipment to obtain drugs.
• Performs activities associated with institutional-wide inventory maintenance and complete order forms which are used for obtaining drugs from vendors. Receives and verifies shipments of schedule II, III, IV, V controlled substances.
• Processes drug orders written by physicians for inpatients, outpatients, and clinic patients by interpreting the order, calculating the dosage, packaging the order, and labeling the product. Assesses the need to affix patient-specific instructions for self-administration to the drug container.
• Processes inpatient medication orders by translating the written physician order into the appropriate computerized order entry system.
• Delivers medications including patient-specific and floorstock supplies of schedule II, III, IV, V controlled substances to patient care areas. Maintains records of floorstock including inventory and discrepancy reports on schedule II, III, IV, V controlled substances. Maintains keys to safes containing schedule II, III, IV V controlled substances.
• Generates and/or maintain appropriate records related to medication distribution and dispensing.
• Utilizes various equipment including automated compounding equipment, tablet counters, label printers, laser report printers, computer keyboards/terminals, pharmaceutical packaging equipment, and pneumatic tube station.
• Utilizes aseptic technique in horizontal and vertical flow hoods to prepare sterile products, including cytotoxic drugs, in single doses.
• Packages nonsterile products in bulk supplies and single doses.
• Calculates doses and compounds parenteral nutrition solutions. Using a physician-specified concentration of amino acids, calculates total volume needed as well as the volume of each component to achieve the specified concentration.
• Maintains correct stock of prescription labels and orders new stock. Establishes and maintains the appropriate label format on the computer and resolves software and hardware problems when they arise.
• Compounds drugs and chemicals for patient care, laboratory, and research areas by mixing, weighing, measuring drugs and chemicals to create products and drug dosage forms not otherwise available in final form from a manufacturer.
• Assists the pharmacists in conducting monthly inspections of all medications stored on patient care areas.
• Provides functional supervision to student technicians and clerical staff as required.
• Participates in orientation of pharmacy technicians, pharmacists, pharmacy residents, and senior pharmacy students on rotation in the department.
• Communicates with public, patients and health care personnel.
• Maintains area orderliness and cleanliness.

Education and Experience Requirements

• Registered with the Pharmacy Board at the time of hire.
• National certification through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or the National Healthcareer Association (NHA). Must meet ongoing education requirements and maintain certification.
• High school diploma or the equivalent.
• Any combination of two years of post-high school experience and/or education in the natural sciences or satisfactory completion of an accredited pharmacy technician training program.