Pharmacy Intern

Job Description

About the Company

Phoenix Children’s is a leading pediatric health system in the Southwest, nationally recognized for exceptional care, innovative research, and advanced medical education.

Mission: To advance hope, healing, and the best healthcare for children and their families.

Vision: Phoenix Children’s aims to be the leading pediatric health system in the Southwest, achieving national recognition for its exceptional care, innovative research, and advanced medical education. This vision is realized by:
• Offering comprehensive care across all ages, communities, and specialties.
• Investing in innovative research, including emerging treatments, tools, and technologies.
• Advancing education and training to shape future clinical leaders.
• Advocating for the health and well-being of children and families.

Values:
• Placing children and families at the center of all operations.
• Delivering exceptional care, consistently and thoroughly.
• Collaborating with colleagues, partners, and communities to amplify impact.
• Setting the standards of pediatric healthcare today and innovating for the future.
• Being accountable for making the highest quality care accessible and affordable.

Job Description: Pharmacy Intern

This is an Apply! Apply! position for a Pharmacy Intern within the PCH-MAIN | Pharmacy department at Phoenix Children’s in Phoenix, Arizona.

Position Summary:
The Pharmacy Intern position provides valuable pediatric hospital pharmacy work experience to pharmacy students actively enrolled in a college or school of pharmacy. Individuals in this role will work at any Phoenix Children’s pharmacy location, participating in the daily activities of the medication use process and providing comprehensive pharmacy services to patients ranging from neonates to young adults. All duties are performed under the supervision of a registered pharmacist and in accordance with the Arizona State Board of Pharmacy Administrative Code (R4-23-402-407). The position reports to inpatient pharmacy leaders.

Position Duties:
The Pharmacy Intern’s responsibilities involve a wide range of activities related to medication management and patient care, including:

• Medication Preparation, Dispensing, and Delivery:
• Assists in accurately preparing and labeling medications according to Board of Pharmacy regulations and department policy, deferring to a Pharmacist when necessary.
• Prepares medications and verifies accuracy under pharmacist supervision prior to dispensing.
• Delivers medications and supplies to patient areas per hospital and department timelines.
• Restocks automated dispensing cabinets, rotates stock, and removes expiring medications from patient care areas and medication rooms.
• Ensures adherence to departmental policies and procedures.
• Processes medication orders in a timely manner, ensuring quality of dispensed products.
• Verifies that patients receive ordered medications as to dose, route, salt, regimen, and generic substitution.
• Accurately completes Controlled Substance Documentation Records for dispensing controlled substances and maintains investigational drug study records.
• Clinical Support and Patient Safety:
• Under direct pharmacist supervision, acts as a liaison between Pharmacy and medical/nursing staff for pharmacy service issues.
• Identifies and intervenes when drug therapy problems arise (e.g., allergies, drug interactions, therapeutic duplication, adverse drug reactions).
• Ensures appropriateness of all medication doses in reference to the patient’s diagnosis, weight/body surface area, age, allergies, and drug interactions.
• Verifies appropriateness of medication selected.
• Recommends initiation of drug therapy when necessary.
• Evaluates need for non-formulary medication requests, suggesting less expensive but equally efficacious alternatives where appropriate.
• Performs medication reconciliation through oral consultation with patients/caregivers and documents history according to guidelines.
• Initiates and processes medication incident reports and adverse drug reaction reports as needed.
• Participates in departmental data collection and reporting for Drug Use Evaluation, Quality Assurance, and Performance Improvement activities.
• Professional Development and Teamwork:
• Completes annual aseptic technique certification.
• Serves in a professional capacity on unit-based clinical teams.
• Monitors patients to assure optimal therapeutic outcomes.
• Performs miscellaneous job-related duties as requested.

Position Details:
• Department: PCH-MAIN | Pharmacy
• Location: Phoenix
• Shift: Mon-Fri, (Days Vary), Shifts Vary, 12am-12am (flexible/variable hours)
• Category: Pharmacy
• Employee Type: Varies (likely part-time/as-needed for students)

Position Qualifications:

• Education (Required):
• Currently enrolled and in good standing at a school or college of pharmacy.
• Experience (Preferred):
• Previous experience working as a pharmacy technician in an acute care or outpatient setting.
• Additional Requirements (Required):
• Current licensure as a Pharmacy Intern or Graduate Intern with the Arizona State Board of Pharmacy.
• Certification / License / Registry Requirements:
• Pharmacy Intern – Required

Physical Requirements & Occupational Exposure/Risk Potential:
The role involves a variety of physical activities and potential exposures, reflecting a dynamic hospital pharmacy environment:
• Physical Requirements: Frequently involves feeling, fine motor skills, pushing/pulling, reaching, sitting, standing, stooping/crouching/kneeling/crawling, talking, walking. Constantly involves hearing, near vision, and use of keyboard/mouse/computer. Occasionally involves climbing, tasting/smelling, color discrimination, and lifting up to 35 pounds without assistance.
• Occupational Exposure/Risk Potential: Applicable to inside office environment, extreme temperatures, confined areas, airborne communicable diseases, bloodborne pathogens or bodily fluid, fumes or airborne particles, hazardous materials exposure, radiation exposure, and toxic or caustic chemicals.