If you are considering a job as a pharmacy technician, you may want to know exactly what does a pharmacy technician do. The simple answer is that they fill prescriptions. But really, there's much more to the job than just that.
Pharmacy technicians not only fill prescriptions, but they compounded drugs, instruct patients on the proper use of their medications and medical devices, and fulfill administrative duties.
They are also expected to perform such duties as pouring, measuring, counting medicines and seeing that they are put into proper containers and correctly labeled. In many pharmacies that are required to create prescription labels.
Other duties which they may be expected to perform can include preparing insurance forms, phone answering, inventorying medications, and making sure that they stay current and aware of the latest medicines through continuing education programs.
In many pharmacies, pharmacy technicians are expected to instruct patients on diet and possible side effects of the medications which they have been prescribed for them.
Being a pharmacy technician can be a rewarding job and is frequently a stepping stone toward other higher-paying jobs in the medical field.
Pharmacy Technician And Beyond
Being a pharmacy technician is for the most part a relatively low-paying job. However, it can be used as a stepping stone to bigger and better jobs within the medical industry.
It's not unusual for a pharmacy technician to decide that they wish to pursue the education needed to become a pharmacist. Other jobs can lead to may include medical sales. Being a good salesperson can be an extremely lucrative position.
An advantage pharmacy technician has been pursuing a job as a medical salesperson is a great familiarity with a wide range of drugs and medical devices. They also receive training in dosing, side effects, drug interactions. All of this information can be put to use in medical sales.
The same information is useful should a pharmacy technician decide to pursue a career as a pharmacist. Their familiarity with drugs gives them an advantage over a lay person entering pharmacy school.
While a pharmacy technician may not be a well-paying job at first, it could certainly lead to better things later on.