Perhaps you’ve heard that pharmacy technicians earn a good income and that there are increasing opportunities in the field, motivating you to find out more. As a result, you may be asking, “what does a pharmacy technician do?” Our purpose in this guide is to give a brief pharmacy technician job description so that you have a clear idea of the responsibilities of the job.
Your Job Description Will Depend on Where you Work
Before we discuss the specific job responsibilities that pharmacy technicians fulfill, you should know that your specific role will have much to do with where you are employed. You level of seniority and your specific skills will also play a part. In general, the larger the pharmacy, the more specialized your work will be. For example, working in a large hospital pharmacy as approximately 15% of pharmacy technicians do, you may be assigned just one or two primary tasks. In a smaller pharmacy, such as a retail pharmacy in a chain store, your may be required to do a broader range of tasks because there are fewer employees to handle the work load. Currently about 75% of the pharmacy technician jobs are in these types of retail settings.
Specific Responsibilities of a Pharmacy Technician
No matter where you work, you will probably be required to know something about all the tasks in this pharmacy technician job description. Here is an overview of the most common responsibilities you will encounter on the job.
1. Data Entry: Patient records are stored on computers and each time a prescription is filled for an individual, the information must be recorded in their computer file. The job also requires use of the computer to keep track of medication inventories, supplies, and more.
2. Labeling Medicine Bottles: This may sound mundane, but it is a necessary and very important part of the job. Accuracy is absolutely essential when precise doses of medication are required. This role demands care and attention to detail.
3. Filling Prescriptions: As a pharmacy technician demonstrates that they have a high level of competency on the job, they will be allowed to count out pills to fill actual prescriptions. This is more than just counting. You will have to be familiar with a broad range of medications, many of them quite similar, and get the right type and quantity into each order.
4. Interacting with Customers: As people come into the pharmacy to pick up their prescriptions, you may be handling the transaction, taking insurance information or payment from the individual. Many will have questions. Some questions you will be able to answer by directing them to the written instructions that come with most prescriptions. With time, you’ll learn which questions require you to go and get the pharmacist to answer personally.
5. Unpacking and Stocking Shelves in the Pharmacy: As shipments arrive, the pharmacy technician may be given the responsibility of checking in the medications and making sure they are stocked in the right locations. In retail pharmacies, the job may also include stocking the shelves with over the counter medications.
Tasks Related to Nursing Homes and Hospitals
If you get a job in a nursing home or hospital, additional responsibilities may be part of your pharmacy technician job description. You will need to learn to read the doctor’s orders located on the patient’s chart and fill those orders with care and precision. The licensed pharmacists you work with will always check a doctor’s orders before you are given the okay to fill the prescription.
Gathering together a 24 to 72 hour supply of medication for individual patients can also be part of the pharmacy technician job description in these settings. Accuracy in counting medication, labeling and packaging it will be required.
Conclusion
As you can see, the job description of a pharmacy technician requires knowledge, care and great attention to detail. It can be rewarding for those who want a career that offers practical help to others while earning a good income in the process. If you are interested in a career in this field, begin by finding the pharmacy technician training requirements for your state so you know exactly what you need to do to be successful.
