Profession pharmacy assistant

Pharmaceutical technicians and assistants perform a variety of tasks associated with dispensing medicinal products under the guidance of a pharmacist or other health professional.

Personality Type

• Conventional / Realistic

Related professions pharmaceutics

• Pharmaceutical assistant
• Pharmaceutical chemist
• Pharmaceutical process operator
• Pharmaceutical products machine operator
• Pharmacist in hospital or factory
• Pharmacologist
• Pharmacology laboratory technician
• Quality inspector pharmaceutical products
• Toxicologist

Knowledge

• Medicines for self-medication

  Medication which can be self-administered by individuals for psychological or physical problems. This type is sold in supermarkets and drugstores and does not require a doctors prescription. This medication mostly treats common health issues.

• Medicines

  The medicines, their nomenclature and the substances used in the manufacture of medicines.

• Hygiene in a health care setting

  The procedures related to maintaining a hygienic environment within a health care setting such as hospitals and clinics. It can range from hand washing to cleaning and disinfection of medical equipment used and infection control methods.

Skills

• Work in a multicultural environment in health care

  Interact, relate and communicate with individuals from a variety of different cultures, when working in a healthcare environment.

• Inform policy makers on health-related challenges

  Provide useful information related to health care professions to ensure policy decisions are made in the benefit of communities.

• Communicate with customers

  Respond to and communicate with customers in the most efficient and appropriate manner to enable them to access the desired products or services, or any other help they may require.

• Operate cash point

  Count the money; balance cash drawer at the end of the shift; receive payments and process payment information; use scanning equipment.

• Comply with legislation related to health care

  Comply with the regional and national legislation that is relevant to one`s work and apply it in practice.

• Follow control of substances hazardous to health procedures

  Adhere to the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) procedures for activities that involve hazardous substances, such as bacteria, allergens, waste oil, paint or brake fluids that result in illness or injury.

• Transfer medication

  Transfer medication from vials to the appropriate number of sterile, disposable syringes using aseptic techniques.

• Adhere to organisational guidelines

  Adhere to organisational or department specific standards and guidelines. Understand the motives of the organisation and the common agreements and act accordingly.

• Ensure safety of healthcare users

  Make sure that healthcare users are being treated professionally, effectively and safe from harm, adapting techniques and procedures according to the person's needs, abilities or the prevailing conditions.

• Promote inclusion

  Promote inclusion in health care and social services and respect diversity of beliefs, culture, values and preferences, keeping in mind the importance of equality and diversity issues.

• Maintain adequate medication storage conditions

  Maintain proper storage and security conditions for medication.

• Communicate effectively in healthcare

  Communicate effectively with patients, families and other caregivers, health care professionals, and community partners.

• Empathise with the healthcare user

  Understand the background of clients` and patients’ symptoms, difficulties and behaviour. Be empathetic about their issues; showing respect and reinforcing their autonomy, self-esteem and independence. Demonstrate a concern for their welfare and handle according to the personal boundaries, sensitivities, cultural differences and preferences of the client and patient in mind.

• Prepare prescription labels

  Prepare prescription labels, select the type of prescription container and attach the prescription labels to the container.

• Manage healthcare users' data

  Keep accurate client records which also satisfy legal and professional standards and ethical obligations in order to facilitate client management, ensuring that all clients' data (including verbal, written and electronic) are treated confidentially.

• Contribute to continuity of health care

  Contribute to the delivery of coordinated and continuous healthcare.

• Accept own accountability

  Accept accountability for one`s own professional activities and recognise the limits of one`s own scope of practice and competencies.

• Take pharmaceutical inventory

  Take stock of medications, chemicals, and supplies, entering the inventory data into a computer, receiving and storing incoming supplies, verifying the supplied quantities against invoices, and informing supervisors of stock needs and possible shortages.

• Apply organisational techniques

  Employ a set of organisational techniques and procedures which facilitate the achievement of the goals set. Use these resources efficiently and sustainably, and show flexibility when required.

• Work in multidisciplinary health teams

  Participate in the delivery of multidisciplinary health care, and understand the rules and competences of other healthcare related professions.

• Ensure quality assurance for pharmaceutical products

  Take the necessary steps to guarantee the quality of pharmaceutical products ensuring that the refrigerators/freezers are at the correct temperature and complete the appropriate documentation.

• Check for medication expiry terms

  Regularly check medication in pharmacy, wards and units, for expiry dates, replacing the expired drugs according to standard procedures.

• Check information on prescriptions

  Verify the information on prescriptions from patients or from the doctor`s office ensuring that it is complete and accurate.

• Advise on healthcare users' informed consent

  Ensure patients/clients are fully informed about the risks and benefits of proposed treatments so they can give informed consent, engaging patients/clients in the process of their care and treatment.

• Deal with emergency care situations

  Assess the signs and be well-prepared for a situation that poses an immediate threat to a person's health, security, property or environment.  

• Communicate by telephone

  Liaise via telephone by making and answering calls in a timely, professional and polite manner.

• Follow clinical guidelines

  Follow agreed protocols and guidelines in support of healthcare practice which are provided by healthcare institutions, professional associations, or authorities and also scientific organisations.

• Respond to changing situations in health care

  Cope with pressure and respond appropriately and in time to unexpected and rapidly changing situations in healthcare.

• Obtain healthcare user's medical status information

  Gather healthcare user information through various sources such as questioning the healthcare user, caregiver, or healthcare professional to obtain information on the patient`s health and social status, and interpreting records made by other health care professionals when appropriate.

• Use e-health and mobile health technologies

  Use mobile health technologies and e-health (online applications and services) in order to enhance the provided healthcare.

• Process medical insurance claims

  Contact the patient`s health insurance company and submit the appropriate forms with information on the patient and treatment.

• Listen actively

  Give attention to what other people say, patiently understand points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times; able to listen carefully the needs of customers, clients, passengers, service users or others, and provide solutions accordingly.

• Handle petty cash

  Handle petty cash for minor expenses and transactions required for the daily running of a business.

• Maintain pharmaceutical records

  Maintain accuracy of prescription records and inventories of medications and pharmaceutical products.

• Manage the logistics of medicinal products

  Ensure the storage, preservation and distribution of medicinal products at the wholesale stage.

• Interact with healthcare users

  Communicate with clients and their carer’s, with the patient’s permission, to keep them informed about the clients’ and patients’ progress and safeguarding confidentiality.

• Comply with quality standards related to healthcare practice

  Apply quality standards related to risk management, safety procedures, patients feedback, screening and medical devices in daily practice, as they are recognized by the national professional associations and authorities.

• Provide health education

  Provide evidence based strategies to promote healthy living, disease prevention and management.

• Ensure the appropriate supply in pharmacy

  Guarantee the correct distribution of the pharamacy products.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB