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What does a typical day look like as pharmacy tech
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Scott’s Answer
Wow, what a great question that does not have one answer. :) There are many different types of pharmacy techs depending on the practice setting. All technicians are responsible for interacting with patients to ensure that their medication are filled timely and accurately. As a technician you would be involved in communicating with patients in person, on the phone, via text etc. In addition, you are responsible for the data entry of the prescriptions, interacting with nurses and doctors as well as finalizing insurance claims. While pharmacists verify prescriptions for accuracy and counsel the patients, technicians generally prepare the medications by obtaining them from stock, putting in bottles or other delivery devices and labeling them. A technician will do anything required to get a patients prescription filled timely and accurately and that also includes managing the drug inventory and the business part of the pharmacy with direction from the pharmacists.
Visit a pharmacy and talk to a technician.
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Updated
N’s Answer
Hi Jayda,
It depends on where you work at. Pharmacy techs always work under direct supervision of a pharmacist so they do not have a lot of room for making their own decision or do things by themself. Also pharmacy techs can never consult patients because a pharmacist has the knowledge to consult patients about medications.
In retail pharmacies technicians do data entry, count and fill prescription and give it to pharmacist for review, answer phones, communicate with patients and refer them to the pharmacist, inventory count, and etc.
Technicians in hospitals and nursing homes have a little different day v.s retail pharmacies such as cvs. Since those place may not be as fast paced as a retail pharmacy.
It depends on where you work at. Pharmacy techs always work under direct supervision of a pharmacist so they do not have a lot of room for making their own decision or do things by themself. Also pharmacy techs can never consult patients because a pharmacist has the knowledge to consult patients about medications.
In retail pharmacies technicians do data entry, count and fill prescription and give it to pharmacist for review, answer phones, communicate with patients and refer them to the pharmacist, inventory count, and etc.
Technicians in hospitals and nursing homes have a little different day v.s retail pharmacies such as cvs. Since those place may not be as fast paced as a retail pharmacy.
Updated
Lori’s Answer
I would recommend that you put on comfortable shoes and get your caffeine fix for the day before punching into the pharmacy. Although it varies from pharmacy to pharmacy, most of the day will involve being on your feet all day and running from the drop off to the pick up window, to the drive thru, to answering the phone. A pharmacy technician is a customer service oriented position and responsible for many tasks. You will probably spend part of your day registering new patients, adding insurance information into the system, counting tablets and answering the phone. You will also need to order new products, restock the shelves, sweep and empty the trash. Although some of the tasks are not glamourous, it is a rewarding job.
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Dinah’s Answer
In the pharmacy, you need to have some thick skin. At many times, you will be yelled at and talked down to by a patient. As a pharmacy technician, you will need to learn how to multitask because you will be on the phone will filling prescriptions. In retail pharmacy, you need some great gym shoes because you will literally be running from drop off to pick to drive to picking up the phone when it is ringing. Pharmacy technicians do so much more than filling prescriptions. You can work the drive thru, helps patients at pick up and drop off, filling prescriptions, calling doctors, calling insurance, registering new patients, ordering new supplies, restocking shelves, and doing closing duties. I don't want to discourage you, but it is a hectic job, but also rewarding at the end of the day.
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Bandar’s Answer
Mostly processing prescriptions, answering phone calls, and guiding patients to find a good OTC, So the pharmacy tech supposes to handle a multi-task at the same time.