General Summary

Under direct pharmacist supervision fills orders for unit doses, pre-packaged pharmaceuticals, intravenous admixtures, controlled substances, floor stock, supplemental medications, emergency kits and general stock. Provides assistance in maintaining proper levels of pharmaceutical supplies, instruments and equipment. Performs related pharmacy duties as directed by the pharmacist, such as drug product recalls and pharmacy area inspections. Delivers and picks-up medications and related items to and from the patient care areas.

Principal Responsibilities and Tasks

The following statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by personnel so classified.

Under direct pharmacist supervision, assists to prepare and dispense medication orders for an assigned patient population (inpatient and outpatient). Assists with filling patient medications, based on physician orders and patient profiles approved by the pharmacist, in accordance with departmental procedures.

• Assists with deliveries, picks up pharmacy documents and medications from various departments and patient care locations, under guidance.
• Enters Admissions, Discharges and Transfers (ADTs) into computer system.
• Packages and labels medications into unit doses as directed by the pharmacist for inspection and approval by Pharmacist.
• Enters orders in pharmacy computer system under the supervision/approval of a Pharmacist including TPN orders.
• Prepares under direction sterile intravenous medications ("mini-bags," syringes, large volume parenterals, patient controlled analgesia medications, and chemotherapy) using proper aseptic technique.
• Fills drug and supply requests as instructed by requestor and supervisor.
• Assists to prepare and dispense controlled substances orders. Provides assistance in verifying and maintaining controlled substance drug inventories and assists the return of controlled substances to the Drug Enforcement Agency as appropriate.
• Provides assistance with documentation of all vital information regarding DEA controlled substances requests.
• Returns re-usable medications and supplies to appropriate space or container as directed.

Provides assistance to maintain appropriate inventory levels of medications and pharmaceutical supplies in the department and inpatient care areas. Tracks and maintains stock levels of pharmaceutical supplies to ensure availability in accordance to established par levels.

• Assists with the verification of accuracy of supplies received by comparing packing order to original purchase order request. Stores incoming merchandise in proper locations as instructed. Informs supervisor/pharmacist of stock needs and shortages.
• Identifies need to contact vendors to resolve discrepancies, incorrect orders or forwards them to purchasing personnel to resolve.
• Under direction retrieves expired medications from all patient care areas; documents information on expired bags, bottles and disposes of properly. Identifies all expired or damaged controlled substances to be returned to purchasing personnel or Drug Enforcement Agency for disposal.
• Assists with completing the scheduled pharmacy inventory for medications, solutions and supplies.
• Checks floor stock and related medications to patient care areas and identifies areas for replenishment.
• Processes medication recalls under direction when required in accordance with departmental policy and procedure.

Participates in the cleanliness, organization and appearance of the department.

• Ensures that each drug product stocked has a shelf space or bin, that the space or bin is properly identified and placed properly according to generic. Ensures that only one product occupies that space or bin.
• Displays constant vigilance in ensuring cleanliness of shelves, bins, counters and cabinets.
• Removes stock from cardboard and places in designated bins or shelf locations.
• Eliminates presence of cardboard containers.
• Ensures neat appearance of pharmacy. Files documents, keeps posted notes and announcements off walls and on bulletin board, keeps floors and carpet free of paper and loose medications & supplies.Produces routine and requested computer reports from a variety of pharmacy databases (e.g., DEA substances use, unit inspections, medication use studies, inventory, billing, transfers, borrow/lending transactions).Responds to telephone requests under direction of the pharmacist from user departments. Communicates problems to supervisor or pharmacist for resolution, when required.Assists in the care and maintenance of department equipment and supplies, such as, laminar flow hoods, biological safety cabinets, computers and printers, packaging and manufacturing equipment.
  • Performs routine maintenance of refrigerators, freezers, hood and other equipment.
  • Contacts Facilities Maintenance or Biomedical Engineering to perform more complex maintenance duties after receiving required approval.
  • Ensures proper functioning of pharmacy refrigerators and freezers. Checks for adequate temperature levels.
  • Thoroughly cleans laminar flow hoods and biological safety cabinets using aseptic technique. Documents all actions according to established procedure.
  • Attends and participates in in-service training and various educational programs to enhance professional growth and development.
  • Follows and completes duties as outlined in assigned area responsibility grids and shift checklists.