To be successful in any work, one must have the necessary abilities. Some abilities are built into a person’s nature, while others are developed through education or on the job. Pharmacy technicians, who play an important part in the healthcare business today, must have a diverse skill set in order to efficiently run the pharmacy and assist patients with their medical needs under the direct supervision of a pharmacist. With the advancement of technology, various technical skills, such as proficiency in OP Robot and Bar-Code Station software, must be taught over time. Before we get into the specifics of pharmacy technician abilities, let’s understand more about a pharmacy technician.
What is a Pharmacy Technician?
Pharmacy technicians are medical specialists who work alongside pharmacists to assist and support patients and ensure they receive the best possible treatment. They work in places like pharmaceutical production or sales in the pharmaceutical business, community (retail) pharmacies, prisons, hospital pharmacies, and primary care, education, military, or veterinary offices. Each location has various tasks for pharmacy technicians, and each state has its own restrictions regarding what a pharmacy technician can do.
Today, Pharmacy Technicians have become an essential part of the healthcare team. Pharmacy technicians are essential in the delivery of medications to patients. Currently, pharmacists’ jobs are evolving from drug delivery to health care providers. As the pharmacist’s function evolves, pharmacists are now actively involved in patient care management. As a result, the function of the pharmacy technician is changing dramatically. Pharmacy technicians will be called upon to fill in the gaps and take on new responsibilities in the medicine delivery process. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the pharmacy technician occupation is projected to grow 4% from 2020 to 2030.
Assisting a pharmacist dispense prescription medication may appear to be a simple operation, but it necessitates extreme precision and expertise. Pharmacy technicians ensure that drugs are dispensed appropriately and within a certain time frame. They, unlike pharmacists, are not the exclusive dispensers of drugs. They generally help with measuring, mixing, counting, and labeling prescription amounts. In addition, pharmacy techs often do not advise patients on proper prescription dosages and side effects in the same manner that a pharmacist does.
Let’s dive a little deeper into this.
Duties of a Pharmacy Technician
- Working at a pharmacy on the front lines, assisting patients, answering phones, and interacting with medical personnel.
- Checking the prescription, processing it, and giving the drug to the patient.
- Informing the pharmacist or assisting physician of any adverse effects.
- Enabling patients to communicate with insurance companies, doctors, and nurses.
- Keeping both paper and computerized patient records.
- Examining pharmaceutical supply to determine inventory.
Skills You Need to be a Successful Pharmacy Technician
Have you ever imagined yourself wearing a white lab coat and assisting folks in need? You certainly can as a pharmacy technician! However, before you begin applying for jobs, you need to assess your skill set.
What qualifications do you currently have on your resume? The correct set of skills might help you stand out from the crowd. As a result, you will have a better chance of obtaining a career that you enjoy. In fact, the job picture for pharmacists appears to be brighter than it has ever been. By 2026, the overall number of pharmacists employed could rise by nearly 18,000 positions.
You’ll need to hone your abilities if you want to be a good pharmacy technician. Developing the necessary skills can help you advance in your work. Set yourself up for long-term success in your job! Here are some key abilities you must have before applying for pharmacy jobs. With these abilities, you will be able to give the finest possible care for the patients you assist.
#1 Customer Service Skills
To be a good pharmacy technician, you must also have excellent customer service abilities. Every day, you will assist a number of patients. In reality, there are just six pharmacists on the globe for every 10,000 individuals. People rely on pharmacists like you to provide them with medical assistance.
As a pharmacist, you must be able to match a name to a face. Keeping your patients in mind will help you avoid costly blunders. Otherwise, you risk giving the wrong drug to the wrong patient. As a result, they may encounter side effects or drug interaction. Remembering your regular visits might also make your patients feel more welcome and valued. This way, you can form significant bonds with the people you encounter.
To provide excellent customer service, you must be able to listen to each patient’s worries and demands. You must provide service with a smile and remain calm if someone else is upset. Keeping this in mind, patience is essential. Otherwise, you may find it difficult to remain calm in a fast-paced atmosphere (such as a hospital pharmacy). Developing good customer service abilities will assist you in projecting the image of a trustworthy specialist in your job.
#2 An Eye For Detail
Before dispensing prescriptions, you will need to consider the well-being of others as a pharmacy technician. As a result, meticulous attention to detail is essential. Sweating the minor details can help you keep patients safe. Otherwise, you run the risk of making a critical error when synthesizing drugs or filling prescriptions. Giving the wrong medication to a patient could have serious effects. And in case their existing situation deteriorates, It could turn out to be a lot more than a little hassle.
You’ll need to pay close attention to detail to keep up with the aforementioned duties of a pharmacy technician. Otherwise, you risk making an important error when keeping records or distributing prescriptions. It also helps to have a good memory. To put things into perspective, you’ll need to recall several medications as well as patient information. Before you can pass your certification exam, you’ll need to know the most regularly prescribed drugs as well as their generic names.
#3 Proficiency in Mathematics and Technology
Developing a talent for math and technology can also help your career. Math will not be a problem for a competent pharmacy technician. To ensure accuracy on the job, you must be experienced working with numbers.
You’ll also spend a lot of time counting pills. Strong math skills can help you avoid costly mistakes. On the job, you will be required to use a variety of computer software tools. These applications and software will assist you in keeping track of prescriptions and customer records.
#4 Adept Pharmacology Knowledge
The study of how pharmaceuticals or treatments function within the body is referred to as pharmacology. This is a biomedical discipline of science that studies the effects and side effects of drugs. To execute your job effectively as a pharmacy technician, you must have a basic understanding of pharmacology. They will be handing out prescription medications to consumers and will be required to explain how the medication should be used. This will include the medication’s dosage and frequency of use. When dispensing medication, pharmacy technicians must also explain the basic adverse effects to the customer. The doctor should have already gone over this information with the customer, but it is the responsibility of the pharmacy technician to review the information as they hand out the prescription.
#5 Empathy & Compassion
Remember, you’ll be spending a lot of time one-on-one with patients and consumers every day. You’ll need compassion in addition to good customer service skills. Consider what your patients go through on a daily basis. You can put them at ease by assisting them.
You could assist folks suffering from either short-term or long-term diseases. In either case, your kindness can make a difference in their lives. Patients will feel more at ease if you show them compassion. Sick people aren’t usually in the best of spirits. Many of the patients with whom you encounter may be under stress. Perhaps they, too, have lately gotten dreadful news regarding their prognosis. You can assist these patients to relax as a pharmacy technician.
#6 Ability to Solve Problems
If you want to be a pharmacist, you should work on your problem-solving abilities. You’ll need to order inventory, configure a printer, contact insurance companies, and more. Learning how to deal with many challenges will assist you in meeting a variety of obligations on a regular basis.
As a pharmacy technician, you’ll need to be able to work quickly. It’s critical to learn how to keep a cool head under pressure. Otherwise, you may find it difficult to cope with the stress. It can be beneficial to learn how to prioritize specific chores. It is advantageous to have good multitasking abilities. Working more efficiently can be aided by multitasking. You can keep faultless accuracy while still demonstrating your organizing abilities.
In Conclusion: Do You Have the Healing Hands of a Pharmacy Technician?
Do you already possess these six vital skills? Great! You can become a successful pharmacy technician and take the profession by storm.
As more pharmacy jobs become available across the country, these abilities can help you stand out. So, are you looking for a job as a pharmacist? We’re here to assist you.
Did you love this post? Don’t forget to share it with your friends who dream to become pharmacy technicians.
About the author
Megan Bosa, CPhT has been a certified pharmacy tech for the past 3 years, with extensive experience in a hospital pharmacy. She lives in the Midwest and is an avid marathon runner.
