The career of a pharmacy technician holds a lot of promise - with the healthcare industry exploding, an aging population and growing reliance on prescribed medications. Pharmacy Technician Program teaches you the concepts, procedures and calculations needed to assume your new role in a pharmacy setting.
The Job of a Pharmacy Technician
Monday, May 11, 2009
Everyone needs an assistant to help them complete their day-to-day tasks, and a pharmacist is no different. A pharmacy technician is the pharmacist's "assistant" and helps him or her keep the pharmacy running in an efficient and orderly manner – from counting medication to answering the phone.
Pharmacy technicians play an important role – when a prescription is received, the pharmacy technician checks the prescription, completes the insurance information, labels the bottle, measures the medication and pours it. Upon completion of the medical prescription, the pharmacist will double-check the medicine for any errors in measurement, count, or labeling. The pharmacy technician assists the head pharmacist, but the final word always comes from the pharmacist.
The responsibilities of a pharmacy technician include:
- Helping the pharmacists count the prescription pills
- Labeling medicine bottles
- Answering the phones
- Taking care of the money
- Checking prescriptions
- Organizing the medication on the shelves
- Keeping count of all medication to ensure an all-day supply
The role of a pharmacy technician is a large and important one – however technicians cannot answer questions about medications and their possible side-effects or compound the actual medicines. This is the responsibility of the pharmacist, who has an extensive educational background and is licensed by the state.
A pharmacy technician can work in a hospital setting, nursing home, or pharmacy. They can set their schedules to work full or part-time. The good news is that this is a career that is on the rise – the elderly population has increased and more people are taking medications than ever before. Scientific research continues to make breakthroughs in medications and treatments, which in turn increases the need for well-trained pharmacy technicians in pharmacies nationwide.
How does a pharmacy technician learn the right skills? Pharmacy technician courses are offered at various schools and colleges, including:
These schools or colleges offer courses or programs for individuals to earn the skills needed to become a pharmacy technician. The amount of time it takes to complete the program is usually less than two years, with some as short as six months. Individuals will gain familiarity with medical terminology, types of medications, pharmacy ethics, and how to calculate dosages and read medical records.
The job of a pharmacy technician, like many other jobs, is an important one. The necessary skills learned by a pharmacy technician will provide a tremendous help to pharmacists nationwide and keep the pharmacy or medical facility running in a smooth manner – while effectively meeting the needs of patients. It's a career that helps people on a daily basis and makes a difference every day.
Labels: head pharmacist, pharmacy technician college, pharmacy technician degree, pharmacy technician job
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