Making a choice to pursue a career as a Pharmacy Technician, or really any career for that matter, is a big, exciting step! The healthcare field is a rewarding and meaningful field that puts you on the front lines of helping people improve their health and, ultimately, their lives. Just as you would want to ensure for any field you were looking into, it’s important to know that a career as a Pharmacy Technician is for you. We came up with a list of a few of the qualities of a successful Pharmacy Technician. Do you have what it takes?
1. Attention to Detail
This one may be obvious, but it’s very important when distributing medications that the right amount of the right thing is given to the right person. You will be responsible for entering and updating patient information as well as labeling and distributing medications, so it’s imperative that you are exact and correct. As a Pharmacy Technician, you may also be responsible for tracking inventory and ordering as stock gets low.
2. Patience & Compassion
When people are sick or in pain, they are not always the most pleasant to be around. This is especially true when they are waiting for the thing that is promised to alleviate the pain or annoyance of their ailment. Since you will likely be the one they are talking to while frustrated and irritable, it’s important to be able to remember that their feelings aren’t really directed at you. It’s also important to be able to be courteous and empathetic no matter what; sometimes that is even enough to help them feel a little more at ease.
3. Commitment to Ethics
Just as it is important to be very attentive to details when distributing and labeling medications, it is just as necessary to be very ethical. There are very strict guidelines and regulations that you must follow in order to protect your patients, your coworkers, and yourself. No matter what a patient says, you must be willing to do what’s right and lawful.
4. Enthusiasm
This may sound like a strange quality for a Pharmacy Technician, but it is a service-oriented occupation, and as such, you must be able to engage with your clients. As previously mentioned, most of those that come to you for help are likely going to be unhappy, scared, sick, or in pain. Sometimes just being enthusiastic and looking for ways to help will change their demeanor completely.
5. Strong Communication Skills
As a Pharmacy Technician, you will often be the member of the team communicating the most with clients. You will be doing things daily that require excellent communication skills like answering the phone, taking patient information, and working with the pharmacist and other technicians. When people are sick, they may need more communication or more clarity than normal, so gauging the needs of your patients and addressing their concerns and questions is important.
6. Dependability
Like any career in the healthcare field, your team is counting on you to be to work on time and prepared. In a pharmacy, there are certain people in the needed positions, so if you aren’t dependable, everyone on your team and your clients are affected. Pharmacy Technicians are an important part of the pharmacy, allowing everything to run smoothly.
7. Desire to Keep Learning
It’s important to complete a Pharmacy Technician training program and gain certification. However, the learning doesn’t stop there. The healthcare field is always growing, changing, and advancing, so you must also be commitment to doing so. New medications are always entering the field, so it’s important that you are committed to staying current in your career in order to help you be successful and to keep your patients safe!
Do you have what it takes to become a Pharmacy Technician?
Many of our Ross campuses offer Pharmacy Technician training courses and we would love to talk with you and determine if this career is a fit for you and your goals!