Pharmacy Tech Duties

Common Tasks for a Tech

There are multiple pharmacy settings where a pharmacy technician can work: retail, hospital, and mail-order pharmacy is just a few examples. No matter where you choose, pharmacy tech duties are mainly the same.

Data/Order Entry

 Interpret prescriptions and enter them into your pharmacy’s software system. Although the pharmacist will check your work before the prescription is filled, you should always double check your work.

Dispensing

You will have a work queue of prescriptions that have been entered into your pharmacy’s software system. Print the prescription label and match the NDC on the label with the manufacturer’s bottle. Sometimes you will have a different manufacturer’s bottle on hand than what was chosen in the system. This is an easy fix as you should be able to override or re-select the dispensed product, unless otherwise directed.

Inventory Management

Any business that sells products wants to have the optimal amount of product on the shelf because this reduces waste and decreases costs. As a tech, you will contribute by assisting with shelf maintenance:

  • Ensure proper stock rotation by placing new product behind older product on the shelf.
  • Mark open bottles and packages so that multiple bottles or packages of the same product are not opened.
  • Mark any medications that are nearing their expiration dates. This makes them easy to identify to remove from stock and also ensure that they do not get placed behind a newer bottle.
  • Review any products that have not been used within a certain time frame and return to vendor if possible.
  • Pull any recalled medications from the shelves

Drug Expiration Dates

Manufacturers’ bottles will have expiration dates printed as just month and year. The true expiration date is always the last day of the month printed. An example is 03/2015. This means the expiration date is March 31, 2015.

Drug Recalls

As with any product, sometimes drugs are recalled because of defects or some other issue. There are three classes of drug recalls, which indicate the severity.

  • Class I: high likelihood that the use or exposure will cause serious adverse health effects or death
  • Class II: Chance of temporary of medically-reversible adverse health effects from use or exposure. Serious health effects or death is unlikely
  • Class III: Use or exposure is not likely to cause any adverse health effects

Customer Service

Even if you work in a closed-door pharmacy, there is a good chance you have to communicate with a customer. A great pharmacy tech must have great communication skills! Brush up on your speaking skills and phone etiquette. You want to be the best representative for your pharmacy as possible.

There are more pharmacy tech duties than this! A tech can wear many hats depending on experience and job title!