If you’re thinking about pursuing a career in healthcare, be sure to consider the pharmaceutical field. Working in a pharmacy can be an excellent option, allowing you to combine your passion for helping others with the specialized knowledge of medication and its effects on patients. Not to mention, you could complete your training in under a year!
A Pharmacy Technician program helps you understand the ins and outs of this dynamic healthcare path. The more you know, the better equipped you’ll be to navigate each unique challenge that may accompany a pharmaceutical career. The following list covers four important aspects of working in a pharmacy.
1. Medication Knowledge is Intertwined With Patient Safety
Pharmacy professionals must possess a careful understanding of the purposes of different medications and which combinations are safe. Staying up-to-date with medication knowledge is essential for protecting patients.
To prioritize patient safety, it’s important for pharmacy healthcare professionals to:
- Stay updated on medications and medication combinations, including any related pharmaceutical advancements
- Implement and follow medication safety protocols, and double-check procedures to mitigate errors.
- Collaborate closely with other healthcare providers to ensure patient care.
2. Multi-Tasking and Clear Patient Communication Are Key
Do you consider yourself to be a strong multi-tasker? If so, you may shine in a pharmaceutical environment. While understanding medication interactions is crucial, effectively communicating with patients about medication is equally important. Working in a pharmacy requires you to maintain acute attention to detail while simultaneously interacting with patients — sometimes during peak business hours. In addition to ensuring that patients receive the education they need to safely take their medication and understand the effects, a pharmacy technician’s other duties include:
- Managing a constantly fluctuating medication inventory.
- Dealing with occasionally distressed patients professionally and empathetically.
- Maintaining patient confidentiality and adherence to strict privacy regulations.
- Quickly adapting to changes in pharmacy software and technology.
3. Pharmaceutical Ethics and Regulatory Compliance Are Crucial
Like other healthcare professionals, pharmacy technicians have an obligation to support and protect the wellbeing of patients to the best of their ability. The Pharmacy Technician Code of Ethics from the American Association of Pharmacy Technicians lays out important principles for providing the best possible care.
Regulatory compliance shows up in a number of ways in pharmacies given the fact that pharmacy professionals deal with controlled substances, sensitive patient information, and more.
Pharmacy technicians must have a thorough understanding of federal regulations governing the practice of pharmacy, including:
- The Controlled Substances Act (CSA)
- The Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA)
- The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
In addition, pharmacy technicians must adhere to protocols for ordering medication, managing inventory, recordkeeping, and reporting on anything related to controlled substances.
Failure to comply with regulations and procedures can open you and the pharmacy up to lawsuits, jeopardizing professional credibility for both parties. That’s why it’s essential to enroll in a Pharmacy Technician program that covers the regulatory environment and principles of effective compliance. It helps to safeguard both you and your employer.
4. Pharmacies Are Fast-Paced Environments
If you love working quickly and efficiently while maintaining precision, you’ll thrive in this fast-paced healthcare environment. When working in a pharmacy, you’ll be tasked with tapping into each aspect of your pharmaceutical knowledge. This also means you’ll likely be making pharmaceutical math calculations on the regular.
No two days will look exactly the same. From verifying the accuracy of refill requests and entering prescription information into databases to managing inventory, answering phone calls, and processing payments, working in a pharmacy will keep you on your toes.
Collaboration is another key to success. Pharmacy technicians, assistants, managers, and pharmacists must work as a team to provide optimal patient care and streamline pharmacy operations.
How Do I Find the Right Pharmacy Tech Program?
If you’re prepared to pursue a career in the pharmaceutical field, it’s wise to select a program that meets your needs and gives you hands-on experience. Consider these key components in your search for a pharmacy tech program:
- Opportunities for hands-on training in real-world pharmacy settings.
- Flexibility in program structure, such as a blended learning module that combines online classes with in-person instruction.
- An industry-current curriculum that reflects today’s pharmacy needs.
- Dedicated faculty with proven expertise in pharmacy practice.
Embark on a Rewarding Career as a Pharmacy Technician
Looking to jumpstart your career as a pharmacy technician? American Career College offers a hands-on Pharmacy Technician program that can be completed in as little as nine months. The program combines online classes with two days of in-person instruction at one of our centrally located campuses in Los Angeles, Ontario, or Orange County.
Apply online and prepare to gain the knowledge and skills needed to become a confident pharmacy technician.
