Responsiblities and Duties of a Pharmacy Technician
As the pharmacy technician handed me my prescription, she opened the bottle to show me that the pills were a different color "same medication, different manufacturer." Dispensing medication to patients is one of the many duties of a pharmacy technician but it is always done under the supervision of a pharmacist. And if I had never taken the drug before, it would have been the pharmacist who would have come to the window to explain how to use the drug.
Anywhere there are pharmacies, you will find Pharmacy Technicians. They may work in hospitals, retail drug chains, grocery stores with pharmacies, for internet pharmacies, clinics, pharmaceutical wholesalers, and the military. Their duties can include everything from managing assistants, handling telephone orders, handling money transactions, stocking shelves, entering data in the computer, and waiting on patients. In a nursing home or hospital setting, the Pharmacy Technician reads patient charts with a prescription and then has it verified by a physician and pharmacist before preparing and delivering medication to nurses who administer it to patients. There's a lot of interest in the new robotic pharmacy units which deliver pre-measured doses of medications. These units are helpful in delivering accurate doses and they also cut down on theft. It's the job of the Pharmacy Technician to stock them so no job security worries there.
Although some pharmacy technicians receive all their training on the job, for obvious reasons, a certified applicant has more chances of being hired. There are many programs, often in community colleges, which lead to being a certified pharmacy technician. Typically, the student will take classes like Medical Vocabulary, Inorganic and Organic Chemistry, Algebra, Pharmacy Technician Math and CPR. The student will need to take computer classes and complete the Pharmacy Technician Practicum. In addition, the student will need to pass a criminal background check and pass a national certification exam. Licensing is required in many states.
The workplace for a Pharmacy Technician is well lit and comfortable although the Tech may be required to stand for long periods of time and to lift boxes of medication for shelving. The ability to interact well with others is a must as the patient will depend upon the Pharmacy Technician for explanations and transactions. In addition, the job will include taking prescriptions over the phone and accurately conveying information. Beginning Pharmacy Technicians earn about the same as other entry level positions such as surgical techs, LPN's, and physical therapy assistants. However, there are quite a few who find the field of pharmacy so interesting that they go back to school to become full-fledged pharmacists.
There are three Pharmacy Technicians in our pharmacy two women and a man. I know each of them well and they know my husband and me. They are as knowledgeable as the pharmacist about over the counter drugs, advising us on everything from ointments for poison oak to the best blood pressure monitor. I have a medication to pick up about once a month and they know me by name. It is this friendly, caring attitude and their immaculate attention to detail that makes me trust them.
The job field for Pharmacy Technicians is constantly growing both in positions and responsibilities. For a person who is interested in the field of medicine and who has a sincere desire to help others, this is a definitely a job worth exploring.
