PHARMACY TECHNICIANS (HOSPITAL) California Occupational Guide Number 456 Interest Area 13 1995
THE JOB
HOSPITAL PHARMACY TECHNICIANS, also called Pharmacy Assistants, perform a wide range of clerical and technical tasks necessary to the operation of a hospital pharmacy. They enable the licensed pharmacists to concentrate on professional functions, such as providing medical staff and patients with information and advice.
The primary responsibility of most technicians is to prepare, package, and distribute medications prescribed by physicians for hospitalized patients. Orders for such medications are written by physicians on the patient's chart. Copies of these "chart orders" are sent daily from all the nursing stations to the pharmacy. After pharmacists review the order for errors or potential problems, technicians transcribe the relevant information about the patient and the prescribed medications onto the patient's profile. These profiles are the basic source of information used by technicians for filling medication orders and must be continually updated as new orders are received. Transcribing to the profile from the chart order requires an understanding of medical and pharmaceutical terminology and abbreviations. Profiles are sometimes generated by computer, using data entered by technicians combined with data already stored in the computer.
The most common method used by technicians for preparing and distributing prescribed medications is known as "unit dose distribution." Each day, technicians assemble a complete 24-hour supply of medications for every hospital patient. Individual doses of each drug are separately packaged and labeled. All of these unit-doses are then placed in the patient's medication cassette.
Commonly used medications are usually pre-packaged in unit-dose form by drug manufacturers, so that technicians need only select the right package. When pre-packaged unit-doses are not available, technicians must measure or count the prescribed amount from bulk containers and create the package themselves -- generally with the aid of a unit-dose packaging device. When unit doses are to be administered by injection, technicians transfer the medication from vials, using aseptic techniques, to the appropriate number of sterile, disposable syringes.
Another form in which medications are frequently administered to hospital patients is through intravenous (IV) solutions. To prepare these IV admixtures, technicians measure and add drugs or nutrients (IV additives) to commercially prepared intravenous solutions. All mathematical calculations must be accurate and very precise, and extreme care must be taken to maintain sterile conditions and aseptic techniques.
Inventory control is another area of responsibility for some technicians. Technicians keep track of medications, chemicals, and other supplies, and prepare orders for additional quantities when stock gets low. They also receive incoming goods, check invoices against quantities received, and put supplies into storage.
Additional duties performed by Pharmacy Technicians may include delivering drugs and pharmaceutical supplies to nursing stations, keeping pharmacy work areas clean and orderly, assisting in the processing of health insurance forms, and responding to telephone questions or requests from other hospital personnel.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Hospital pharmacies are normally neat, clean, and well-organized. Pharmacy Technicians work under the close supervision of licensed pharmacists. Although the work is often repetitive, it is highly precise, demanding good judgment, accuracy, and constant attention to detail. The work also requires extreme care in handling and storing drugs and chemicals. Physical demands may include moving heavy boxes and delivery carts, weighing up to 40 pounds.
In some hospitals, Pharmacy Technicians are represented by the Hospital and Institutional Workers Union or other labor organizations.
EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK
The following information is from the California Projections of Employment published by the Labor Market Information Division. The figures represent the combined occupations of Pharmacy Technicians and Pharmacy Assistants which include Pharmacy Technicians (Hospital).
Estimated number of workers in 1990 6,060 Estimated number of workers in 2005 7,440 Projected Growth 1990-2005 23% Estimated openings due to separations by 2005 1,360
(These figures do not include self-employment nor openings due to turnover)
Because of the increased pharmaceutical needs of a larger, older population, growth in this occupation will be almost as fast as the average for all others in the state. Other factors likely to increase the demand for Pharmacy Technicians include scientific advances that will make more drug products available and developments in administering medication. Opportunities will be best in outlying geographic areas. Pharmacy Technician training programs may cause a labor surplus in the areas where they are offered.
WAGES, HOURS AND FRINGE BENEFITS
Wages for entry-level Pharmacy Technicians range from $4.50 to $13.25 per hour. Experienced technicians currently earn from $5.50 to about $21.50 per hour. Most hospital pharmacies remain open 16 to 24 hours per day, seven days a week. Pharmacy Technicians may work day, evening, or night shift. For some positions, 10-hour shifts are required. A full-time workweek is five days, 40 hours, including rotating weekends. Many jobs are part-time or per diem/on-call. Benefits include paid vacation, sick leave, medical and dental insurance, and retirement plans. Many hospitals pay vision insurance.
ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS AND TRAINING
Pharmacy Technicians must have the minimum of a high school diploma or the equivalent and no history of drug abuse. While some employers will train and up-grade hospital pharmacy clerical assistants or ward clerks, most hospitals require completion of a recognized Pharmacy Technician training program or one to two years of equivalent hospital experience. This combination of training and experience usually must include preparation of unit doses and IV admixtures. Hospitals also expect applicants to have some degree of familiarity with medical and pharmaceutical terminology and metric measurements. Typing speed of 30 to 40 words per minute, good communications skills, and sufficient math ability to perform pharmaceutical calculations are also required. Familiarity with computer data entry is desirable.
Pharmacy Technicians should have above-average manual dexterity, good eyesight and normal color vision. The ability to work under pressure, and to deal with patients, nurses, and physicians is essential.
While in high school, students interested in becoming Pharmacy Technicians should take courses in typing, math through algebra, and the physical sciences. Chemistry laboratory classes are especially useful. Currently there are six community colleges in California that have Pharmacy Technician training programs:
-Chabot College, Hayward -Foothill College, Los Altos Hills -Santa Ana College, Santa Ana -Cerritos College, Norwalk -Saddleback College, Mission Viejo -Santa Monica City College, Santa Monica
All six colleges offer one- to two-year certificate programs and optional two-year associate degree programs. Formal training for Pharmacy Technicians is also available at several Veterans Administration Hospitals in California. In addition, all of the military services train selected individuals to be Pharmacy Technicians/Pharmacy Specialists.
One must be registered with the California State Board of Pharmacy in order to seek employment in California. An applicant for registration must meet on of the following requirements: (A) At least an associate of arts degree in a field of study directly related to the duties of a Pharmacy Technician. Directly related fields of study include: health sciences, biological sciences, physical sciences, or natural sciences; (B) Completion of a training course accredited by the American Society of Hospital Pharmacists, training provided by a branch of the federal armed forces, or any other course that provides a minimum of 240 hours of theoretical and practical instruction, provided that at least 120 of these hours are in theoretical instruction; (C) Eligible to take pharmacist licenser examination; (D) At least one year's experience including 1,500 hours performing the tasks of a Pharmacy Technician as outlined in Section 1793.2 of the California Code of Regulations; (E) A minimum of 1,500 hours experience within the last three years working in a community or outpatient pharmacy performing the tasks outlined in Section 1793.2 of the California Code of Regulations. The registration includes a fee of $25 plus $32 for fingerprint processing.
FINDING THE JOB
Students in Pharmacy Technician training programs are sometimes hired after graduation by one of the hospitals in which they performed their supervised clinical work experience. Hospitals frequently advertise openings in newspaper want ads. Some also recruit through private employment agencies or the California Employment Development Department Job Service. Job seekers should also apply directly to hospital personnel departments throughout the state. For Veterans Administration Hospital positions, applicants must pass a Federal civil service examination.
ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION
American Association of Pharmacy Technicians P.O. Box 1109 Madison, WI 53701
California Society of Hospital Pharmacists, 725 30th Street, Suite 208 Sacramento, CA 95816 (916) 447-1033
RELATED OCCUPATIONAL GUIDES
Medical Technologists No. 17 Pharmacists No. 159 Laboratory Assistants/Laboratory Technicians No. 201
OCCUPATIONAL CODE REFERENCES
DOT(Dictionary of Occupational Titles, 4th ed., Rev. 1) Pharmacy Technician 074.382-010
OES(Occupational Employment Statistics) System Pharmacy Technicians 325181 Pharmacy Assistants 660260
Source: State of California, Employment Development Department,
Labor Market Information Division, Information Services Group,
(916) 262-2162.
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