What Does a Pharmacy Technician Do?
A pharmacy technician is usually the first contact for patients getting medications. You will receive and process the prescriptions from patients and those sent electronically (online) from their doctors’ offices.
You’ll prepare the medications by counting, mixing, or pouring and accurately assigning labels and packages, following drug handling and storage safety practices.
You’ll manage drug inventory and prepare and process insurance claims. You’ll deal with patients and customers as well.
A high school diploma or General Education Degree (GED), a pharmacy technician certification/registration, and licensure for the state you’re working in can help you get started as a pharmacy technician. But, you’ll also need to have specific personality traits.
Top 7 Personality Traits for Pharmacy Tech Career Success
Make sure you have these seven pharmacy technician personality traits to become successful in your career:
1. Attention to Detail
A pharmacy technician has to be alert and focused at all times, even though you’re working in a fast-paced environment.
You must ensure that the right medications are dispensed at the correct doses or strengths. Errors can be severe, often putting the patient’s health or life at risk.
2. Basic mathematical/analytical skills
Filling prescriptions and compounding medications require basic mathematical skills such as adding, subtracting, and multiplying units of measure.
3. Organizational Skills
As a pharmacy technician, you have to balance the duties delegated by your pharmacists, like stocking shelves and keeping an inventory, while serving patients and customers. You have to stay organized to manage many tasks at the same time without missing a beat.
4. Customer Service Orientation
For this role, you’ll be dealing with different personalities both in-person and on the phone. Some of them can be difficult and demanding. You may even find yourself in the middle of conflicts between patients and insurance companies.
You’ll need to be patient and empathetic even if you’re having a rough day yourself.
5. Communication Skills
Communication skills focus on exchanging vital information effectively. Don’t be afraid to ask questions if you don’t understand. Ask for information to be repeated if you didn’t get it the first time. Communication is a two-way street.
As part of your job, you may have to correctly interpret patient questions and concerns and redirect them to the pharmacist or the correct department.
6. Being a Team Player
Another important “people” skill is the ability to be a good team player. Taking instruction and handling criticism is essential to becoming a successful pharmacy technician. You’ll also need to manage conflicts with co-workers if and when they arise.
7. Tech Skills
You don’t have to be a techno-maven to succeed in the field. But you must have a basic understanding of technology. You should be able to use the computer, scan guns, tablet counters, and cash registers. You should also be familiar with the software applications that pharmacy technicians use.
Put Your Skills to the Test
All of this can sound overwhelming at first. But the key to building a career in any field is to take things one step at a time. With training, experience, and persistence, there’s no reason why you can’t be a successful pharmacy technician in time! Ready to take the first step toward a new career, pursue your Pharmacy Technician certification with MedCerts today!
