Pharmacy Intern

Job Description

About Company

This role is for a hospital pharmacy department, focusing on providing comprehensive pharmaceutical services within a hospital setting. The department manages a hospital-wide unit-dose drug distribution system and an intravenous admixture program, ensuring efficient and accurate medication delivery and patient care across various units and departments.

Job Description

Job Title: Pharmacy Intern

Reporting Structure: Under the direct supervision of a registered pharmacist, supervisor, or director of pharmacy services.

Overview:
The Pharmacy Intern performs a wide variety of technical and clerical duties crucial for the hospital’s drug distribution systems and intravenous admixture program. Key responsibilities include maintaining confidential reports, managing data entry and retrieval using computer systems, preparing various intravenous medications (including hyperalimentations and antibiotics), prefilling patient medication cassettes, procuring and filling pharmaceutical supply requests, and delivering supplies to nursing units. The role emphasizes accuracy, timely execution, and adherence to legal and departmental policies, all under the direct supervision of a pharmacist.

Key Responsibilities:

• Preparation of Inpatient Medications for Dispensing by Pharmacist
• Runs computer cassette fill lists and completes cassette filling within designated time frames.
• Maintains a low error rate (no more than 1 error per 250 units) during cassette filling, as documented on the cassette fill log.
• Accurately fills medications based on chart orders and labels generated during the order entry process.
• Provides bulk containers for pharmacist examination prior to dispensing non-unit dose items.
• May perform other assigned duties under pharmacist supervision, as permitted by pharmacy law.

• Preparation of Sterile Products for Dispensing by Pharmacist
• Runs IV product labels and completes sterile product preparation within designated time frames.
• Performs status checks of IV solutions on nursing floors and adjusts computer system times to minimize waste.
• Ensures high accuracy in sterile product preparation (no more than 1 error per 250 units) and maintains sterility (no more than 1 incident per year of breaks in technique).
• Accurately fills products needed from chart orders and labels generated from the order entry process.
• Prepares batch IV solutions and products as needed, making appropriate log book documentation.
• Demonstrates competency in preparing chemotherapy, hyperalimentation solutions, and other specialty products through management observation and written testing.

• Entry of Medication Orders and Report Generation Using Pharmacy Computer System
• Accurately enters medication orders, noting allergies, therapeutic duplications, and other system-generated alerts for pharmacist review.
• Accurately processes requests for missing medications, including appropriate charging.
• Timely generation of medication administration records, medication summary sheets, food/drug interaction reports, and other necessary documents.
• Minimizes incorrect entries (e.g., wrong patient, drug, strength) as reviewed by pharmacists or MAR correction forms.

• Preparation of Outpatient Prescriptions for Dispensing by Pharmacist
• Accurately enters patient information into the computer system.
• Prepares medications for pharmacist review before transfer to patient containers.
• Accurately prepares patient/physician receipts, charge tickets, and third-party billing information.
• Maintains a low error rate in order processing (no more than one error per quarter).
• May perform other assigned duties under pharmacist supervision, as permitted by pharmacy law.

• Distribution of Medications to Nursing Units and Other Hospital Areas
• Delivers medications and retrieves new orders at least hourly, or more frequently as needed or directed.
• Understands and prioritizes normal, ASAP, and STAT medication orders, recognizing those requiring expedient delivery.
• Handles requests for floor stock replacements via phone or order sheet in a timely manner, delivering or notifying departments upon completion.
• Accurately reconciles patient accounts for replaced doses with chart orders.
• Ensures timely delivery of cassettes for exchange and appropriate transfer of medications between old and new cassettes.

• Maintains Medication Stock and PAR Levels in Pharmacy
• Assesses medication stock levels to ensure sufficient quantities are maintained.
• Documents needs via order book for entry into the wholesaler computer system.
• Orders medications using the wholesaler computer system and obtains items from outside vendors and other hospitals.
• Performs periodic assessment of expiration dates in assigned areas, removing outdated or soon-to-be-outdated medications.
• Orders stationary supplies, plastic goods, bags, and other items as needed.

• Prepares Patient Billing for All Drugs Used
• Runs billing charges from the computer system at appropriate times.
• Collates paperwork needed for processing by Information Systems.
• Accurately charges in the computer system for items requiring manual entry (e.g., narcotics, surgical order sheets, anesthesiology records).
• Accurately charges for outpatient prescriptions.
• Maintains records of items dispensed from department requisition forms.

• Communicates with Pharmacists, Nurses, Physicians, Ancillary Personnel, and Patients
• Resolves problems within the scope of intern responsibilities and duties.
• Refers problems outside the scope of duties to a pharmacist for resolution.
• Accepts direction from supervising pharmacists to maximize workflow.
• Advises pharmacists on situations/medication needs to maximize workflow.
• May perform additional duties under pharmacist supervision, as permitted by pharmacy law.

• Professional Conduct
• Demonstrates willingness and ability to perform additional duties in different unit areas as needed or directed by management.
• Follows established hospital and department policies, with no more than 2 written substantiated complaints of policy breach since the last evaluation.
• Demonstrates the philosophy of team concepts, participating in group projects and staff meetings with constructive suggestions.
• Communicates effectively with supervisors, reporting equipment, supply, or procedural problems and requesting assistance as appropriate.
• Maintains confidentiality related to job responsibilities.
• Exhibits willingness to resolve problems promptly and projects a positive professional image through appearance and behavior.
• Attends 75% of staff meetings or reads and initials minutes.
• Completes assigned work within normal and customary time frames.

• Guest/Interdepartmental Relations
• Conducts all interactions in a professional manner, as observed by management.
• Receives positive verbal and written feedback from patients, family members, medical staff, visitors, and co-workers regarding guest relations.
• Consistently exhibits appropriate phone protocol (e.g., answers promptly, is courteous and helpful).
• Consistently contributes to team effort (e.g., assists co-workers, offers constructive suggestions).
• Consistently displays a cheerful and positive attitude.

• Professional Growth and Development
• Completes annual safety updates, ethics training, etc., within established time frames.
• Completes general and departmental orientation within established time frames.
• Attends 80% of in-service programs.
• Maintains licensure/certification as appropriate.
• Under pharmacist supervision, develops clinical skills and performs duties for clinical assessment and pharmaceutical care (e.g., interpreting lab data, pharmacokinetic dosing, hyperalimentation formulation, patient monitoring).

• Performance Improvement
• Consistently strives to understand, anticipate, and meet the needs and expectations of patients and other “customers.”
• Brings errors, inefficiencies, and inaccuracies to management’s attention with suggestions for improvement.
• Develops innovative solutions to departmental problems.
• Identifies and implements methods of controlling costs or generating revenue while providing maximum value.
• Maximizes efficiency in all departmental operations.
• Measures progress against quality goals.

• Participation in Training of New Pharmacy Technicians
• As directed by management, provides instruction to new technicians and interns, ensuring proficiency in all responsibilities within 4 to 6 weeks.

• Age-Specific Competencies
• Able to recognize patient age (Neonate through Geriatric) and use proper dosage forms.
• Able to recognize patient age and question the appropriateness of medications.

• Department-Specific Competencies
• Able to prepare intravenous admixtures using sterile technique and a laminar flow hood.
• Able to fill cassettes.
• Able to prepare chemotherapeutic drugs using all manufacturer and OSHA cautions.
• Able to use a vertical flow hood.

Minimum Education: Currently enrolled in or a graduate of an accredited school of pharmacy.

Required Certification/Registration: California pharmacy intern license, BLS (Basic Life Support).

Minimum Requirements: Proficiency in written and oral English.