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Pharmacy Clerk |
Career OverviewThe pharmacy clerk does much to assist pharmacist practitioners. The pharmacy clerk is, in many respects, the pharmacist’s general assistant, as their role is to help the registered pharmacist to fill prescriptions ordered by physicians and other medical personnel who are licensed to prescribe medications, such as nurses, dentists, and psychiatrists.
Typically, the pharmacy clerk will locate and select medications from the storage area of the pharmacy, according to the prescription requirements specified in a given order. The pharmacy clerk works under the direct supervision of the pharmacist, who will ensure that the correct medication is distributed to the individual or to the groups for whom it was prescribed.
The pharmacy clerk may also be responsible for packaging the medications that are to be dispensed to the customer; this could be as simple as securing the medication in a standard product box and a bag, featuring the prescription information prominently. The packaging might be more substantial if the medications are intended for a patient care group, such as a general practice or a hospital.
The pharmacy clerk is generally responsible for typing out or printing out the necessary prescription labels. State and federal pharmacy regulations and laws dictate that all medication containers must have labels detailing information about the prescription. The clerk of the pharmacy typically undertakes this task.
The clerk will also maintain the inventory of the pharmacy to reduce the instances in which a patient or client is required to wait to have their prescriptions filled. Stock must be ordered as necessary and its expiration date monitored to avoid waste.
Maintaining a record of prescriptions, including dates of fulfillment and delivery, can also help to ensure that the best quality of care is provided by the pharmacy. It is possible and a standard practice to monitor the expiration dates of medication that has been distributed.
In most pharmacies, the clerk is responsible for maintaining the computer-based information system and database that keeps a general track of activities within the pharmacy, such as drug sales, orders, and prescription fulfillments.
The clerk may also be called upon to answer inquiries from patients or physicians relating to prescriptions, but the pharmacist generally addresses all critical queries about prescriptions and other issues relating to patient care.
Due to the number of tasks that they can perform to assist pharmacists, the pharmacy clerk is a vital member of the pharmacy team and can expect to have a valued position within the general community of any pharmacy setting.
Although most clerks are employed in local, store-based pharmacies, some do work in pharmacies of hospitals or clinics.
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Career RequirementsThe minimum educational requirement for a pharmacy clerk is a high school diploma or GED equivalent. A background in science is certainly desirable, but it is more important that candidates understand and follow standardized operating procedures for the pharmacy, including procedures for retrieving, compiling, and reporting data and for operating complex machines.
Viable candidates also have knowledge of business practices and procedures, often obtained during a technical training course related to medicine, business, or both.
Excellent written and oral communication skills are essential in pharmacy clerks; strong mathematical skills and a ready ability to work with others, in particular, to take direction from pharmacists and pharmacy managers and directors, is also desirable.
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Job OutlookThe demand for pharmacists is expected to increase over the next decade so the job outlook for pharmacist assistants is positive because the elderly population of the United States, one of the fastest-growing population segments, is also one of the largest consumers of pharmaceuticals.
Like medical and dental assistants, pharmacy clerks offer pharmacies a relatively cheap alternative to employing simply more pharmacists to meet the anticipated rise in work load. Pharmacy clerks should expect ready employment at local pharmacies, chain pharmacies, and a variety of larger stores.
The job outlook for pharmacy clerks is good and is expected to remain so for the foreseeable future.
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Career TrackPharmacy clerks are vital members of a team. They take direction from pharmacists and may also take direction from pharmacy managers or pharmacy directors, depending on the hierarchy established in their place of work. Most pharmacy clerks perform regular job functions of an assistant in an environment that is largely safe and comfortable.
Some opportunities for promotion do exist for pharmacy clerks working in relatively large pharmacies; promotion would typically be to a supervisory position in the regular pharmacy setting.
Depending upon their career goals, a pharmacy clerk may also apply their experience of assisting in a pharmacy setting to undertake formal training to become a pharmacist, however, this requires at least six years of training post high school. It is not desirable for all applicants.
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CompensationMost pharmacy clerks work fulltime and receive an annual salary plus standard benefits such as medical insurance coverage as compensation. The typically annual salary for a fulltime pharmacy clerk is $17,500. The range of salaries for pharmacy clerks is between $15,500 and $20,500, depending on experience, place of employment, and job position.
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