Pharmacist Intern

Overview

Under the direct supervision of a registered pharmacist, maintains drug inventories, and pharmaceutical service records (i.e. patient profiles), prepares medication, issues medication to patient care areas, restocks medications, and assists the pharmacist in all other areas of drug distribution as needed and allowed by State Law.  Commensurate with class standing, provides pharmaceutical care to patients by promoting health; preventing disease; and assessing, monitoring, initiating, and modifying medication use to ensure that drug therapy regimens are safe and effective under the supervision of a pharmacist. Complies with applicable laws and regulations.

Responsibilities

Essential Job Functions

Consistently applies infection control policies/practices.

• Understands and practices standard precautions for self and others in patient care activities.
• Understands and practices appropriate disease-specific isolation.
• Appropriately handles and disposes of sharps (i.e., needles, etc.) as required.
• Ensures sterility of supplies and equipment.

Meets population/age specific competencies per unit specific addendum.

Attends department specific education/training, inservices, and staff meetings

• Attends mandatory inservices/educational/training activities.
• Submits all required paperwork on time.
• Verifies, by signature/initials, attendance at staff meetings or reading of staff meeting minutes

Department specific performance improvement project.

• Actively assists in unit performance improvement monitoring.
• Knows and understands PDSA model for unit’s Performance Improvement Program.
• Demonstrates understanding of performance improvement principles in job performance

Provides pharmaceutical care in accordance with law and regulation.

• Complies with medication use policies and procedures and assists in dispensing all medications per legal order.
• Demonstrates the ability to utilize and troubleshoot pharmacy computer system and automated dispensing cabinets appropriately
• Participates in quality assurance program by reporting all compounding and dispensing errors.
• Participates in successful completion of biannual Board of Pharmacy survey and The Joint Commission/CMS/DHS accreditation.
• Performs quality control activities including but not limited to review of stock for expired medications, appropriate documentation on pre-packaging and temperature logs, and documentation of workload as directed by management

Participates in cost containment strategies for the department.

• Performs daily IV rounds in a timely manner and complies with opportunities to minimize waste.
• Demonstrates the ability to follow billing procedures for automated dispensing cabinet rejections, non-formulary drugs, and floorstock per policy.
• Actively participates in action plans to maintain pharmaceutical inventory at appropriate levels and in limiting the use of non-formulary drugs as determined by manageme

Prepares medications and sterile products in accordance with department standards.

• Incorporates best practice standards and safe medication practices into daily practice.
• Complies with ASHP guidelines on aseptic technique and department compounding policies and procedures.
• Demonstrates the ability to perform unit dose, IV syringe, and specialty tray pre-packaging per policy & procedure.
• Demonstrates the ability to perform cassette fill and exchange per policy and procedure.
• Demonstrates the ability to prepare neonatal IV and PO doses accurately and per policy and procedure

Serves as a drug information resource to patients and professional staff.

• Under the direct supervision of a pharmacist, demonstrates the ability to provide drug information upon request and document per policy.
• Collaborates with appropriate individuals to promote department and organizational efficiency, quality of care and prompt problem resolution

Demonstrates increasing knowledge and skills as a pharmacist.

• Serves as a patient advocate as circumstances require.
• Demonstrates flexibility in performing duties and in adjusting schedule to workload fluctuations.
• Demonstrates the ability to perform clinical monitoring of pharmacy protocols under the direct supervision of a pharmacist.
• Demonstrates continual development of pharmacy intern expertise and current knowledge of health care trends related to pharmacy practice.
• Participates in implementing action plans to maintain and/or improve nursing satisfaction with pharmacy services

Qualifications

Qualification

• Current certification as a registered intern by the California State Board of Pharmacy
• Current enrollment in an ACPE-accredited school of pharmacy
• An ability to effectively communicate verbally with patients and healthcare workers
• Proficient understanding of common computer programs used in pharmacy practice
• IV compounding and sterile technique experience is preferred

Compensation: 26 to N/A (USD)