Pharmacy Technician

Position Information:

Position Title:
Pharmacy Technician

Job Group:
Merit

Required Minimum Qualifications:
• High school graduation including a general mathematics course, or the equivalent. • Two years experience in a position directly related to the natural sciences, or Two years post high school education in the natural sciences or related area, or A combination of related experience and related post high school education to equal two years. • National certification as a certified pharmacy technician by a National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) accredited pharmacy technician certification program and examination is required. • Must meet ongoing education requirements and maintain certification. • An exception to the certification requirement is available to pharmacy interns who maintain registration as a pharmacy intern (per Iowa Administrative Code – Chapter 3, Pharmacy Technicians, Section 3.3). • Per Board of Pharmacy Regulations (Iowa Administrative Code — 657-Chapter 3, Pharmacy Technicians): A pharmacy technician must register with the Board of Pharmacy within 30 days of employment, and Effective July 1, 2009, all pharmacy technicians must be certified by July 1, 2010.

Preferred Qualifications:
Two years experience working in a veterinary hospital pharmacy
Experience working with animals
Pharmacy experience including dispensing, inventory management, and record keeping.
Experience with compounding procedures and using compounding software.
Experience with automated dispensing technology.
Experience with unit dose systems.
Post high school education.

Job Description:
Job Description

Under general supervision this position performs drug compounding, dispensing, and distribution for the Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center. Duties include activities associated with inventory maintenance such as generating and placing orders and receiving and verifying shipments. This position will also provide functional supervision of student and part-time technicians.

The candidate should be knowledgeable in custom compounding, pharmacy prescription processing, have worked in a pharmacy as a technician for at least 2 years, and have the ability and preparation skills to take on multiple tasks within the pharmacy on short notice.

Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities

• Performs activities associated with unit inventory maintenance in dispensing areas and utilizes computer software and equipment to obtain drugs.

• Performs activities associated with institutional-wide inventory maintenance and complete order forms which are used for obtaining drugs from vendors.

• Receives and verifies shipments of schedule II, III, IV, V controlled substances.

• Processes drug orders written by physicians for inpatients, outpatients, and clinic patients by: interpreting the order, calculating the dosage, packaging the order, and labeling the product.

• Assesses the need to affix patient-specific instructions for self-administration to the drug container.

• Processes inpatient medication orders by translating the written physician order into the appropriate computerized order entry system.

• Delivers medications including patient-specific and floorstock supplies of schedule II, III, IV, V controlled substances to patient care areas.

• Maintains records of floorstock including inventory and discrepancy reports on schedule II, III, IV, V controlled substances.

• Maintains keys to safes containing schedule II, III, IV, V controlled substances.

• Generates and/or maintain appropriate records related to medication distribution and dispensing.

• Utilizes various equipment including automated compounding equipment, tablet counters, label printers, laser report printers, computer keyboards/terminals, pharmaceutical packaging equipment, and pneumatic tube station.

• Utilizes aseptic technique in horizontal and vertical flow hoods to prepare sterile products, including cytotoxic drugs, in single doses.

• Packages nonsterile products in bulk supplies and single doses.

• Calculates doses and compounds parenteral nutrition solutions.

• Using a physician-specified concentration of amino acids, calculates total volume needed as well as the volume of each component to achieve the specified concentration.

• Maintains correct stock of prescription labels and orders new stock.

• Establishes and maintains the appropriate label format on the computer, and resolves software and hardware problems when they arise.

• Compounds drugs and chemicals for patient care, laboratory and research areas by mixing, weighing, and measuring drugs and chemicals to create products and drug dosage forms not otherwise available in final form from a manufacturer.

• Assists the pharmacists in conducting monthly inspections of all medications stored on patient care areas.

• Provides functional supervision to student technicians and clerical staff as required.

• Participates in orientation of pharmacy technicians, pharmacists, pharmacy residents, and senior pharmacy students on rotation in the department.

• Communicates with public, patients, and health care personnel.

• Maintains area orderliness and cleanliness.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of the metric system.

• Knowledge of drug and medical nomenclature.

• Knowledge of most common drugs and their uses and usual doses.

• Knowledge of the computerized pharmacy medication order entry system.

• Ability to read, write, and follow directions.

• Ability to use various equipment including computers, typewriters, and pharmaceutical packaging equipment.

• Ability to use a computer keyboard to translate written physician orders into the computerized medication order entry system.

• Ability to interpret the physician’s orders.

• Ability to perform drug calculations.

• Ability to work safely and willingness to comply with special safety and health precautions.

• Ability to maintain effective working relationships.

• Ability to lift, stand for an entire shift as required, and deliver medications to meet standard and emergent patient care requirements according to department policies and procedures.

• Ability to maintain records and responsibility for controlled substances.

• Ability to maintain inventory of drugs and supplies.

• Ability to train and direct the work of the clerical staff.

• Ability to use pharmaceutical compounding equipment for compounding sterile and non-sterile products.

• Ability to translate physician orders into patient specific labels for self administration of medication.

Appointment Type:
Regular

Number of Months Employed Per Year:
12 Month Work Period

Time Type:
Full time

Pay Grade:
09

Application Instructions:

To apply for this position, please click on “Apply” and complete the Employment Application. Please be prepared to enter or attach the following:
1) Resume/Curriculum Vitae
2) Letter of Application/Cover Letter
If you have questions regarding this application process, please email employment@iastate.edu or call 515-294-4800 or Toll Free: 1-877-477-7485.
Why Choose ISU?
Iowa State University is committed to fostering a workplace of belonging, where diversity is celebrated and equity is a core value. Our Iowa State Employees enjoy comprehensive health and work life benefits, including medical and dental; as well as:
• Retirement benefits including defined benefit and defined contribution plans
• Generous vacation, holiday and sick time and leave plans
• Onsite childcare (Ames, Iowa)
• Life insurance and long-term disability
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Various voluntary benefits and discounts
• Employee Assistance Program
• Wellbeing program
• This job may also be eligible for flexible work schedules and flexible workplace options that may include flexible working hours and a hybrid working environment.

Original Posting Date:
September 8, 2022

Posting Close Date:
September 18, 2022

Job Requisition Number:
R9673