Job Description

Summary

Under direct pharmacist supervision. Pharmacy Interns assist with provision of medications and other pharmaceutical services as needed for adequate patient care according to professional standards and practices. Additionally, pharmacy interns monitor drug therapies, counsel patients, and advise medical providers and nursing staff concerning drug therapy. Their activities focus on select entry-level competencies for pharmacist practice based on Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) standards, integrated with support for core pharmacy operations.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

These duties and responsibilities described below represent the general tasks performed daily. Other duties may be assigned as needed to drive to the vision, fulfill the mission, and abide by the values of the organization.

Pharmacy General

• Demonstrate a commitment to flexible work scheduling when necessary to ensure patient care.
• Attend required hospital-wide orientations, meetings, and in-services.
• Counsel patients, families/caregivers regarding all aspects of medication use as needed.
• Provide education and recommendations to physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, pharmacy staff, and other stakeholders as needed.
• Support medication use system management towards quality patient care.
• Follow established department policies, procedures, objectives, quality assurance programs, and safety, environmental, and infection control protocols.

Inpatient/Hospital Pharmacy

• Perform activities within the hospital medication use system, including order receipt, evaluation, and review, and describe the appropriate roles of pharmacy technicians and pharmacists in this system. (Hospital/Health Pharmacy Systems-ACPE)
• Employ performance improvement techniques used in health system and describe how they are used to improve the medication use process. (Medication Safety and Quality-ACPE)
• Make useful contributions to the establishment of medication-use policies, criteria, and maintenance of the formulary to the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee using an evidence-based approach to evaluation of the literature. (Clinical Applications-ACPE)
• Accurately triage multiple patient-care priorities in times of high activity and workload. (Professional Practice-ACPE)

Outpatient/Community Pharmacy

• Effectively function as part of a team engaged in inter-professional, team-based care. (Communication Skills-ACPE)
• Assist with accurate medication prescription interpretation and evaluation for appropriate medical use and dosing. (Dispensing Systems Management-ACPE)
• Assist in establishing inventory levels to ensure adequate stock is always available. (Business Management-ACPE)
• Identify and resolve medication therapy problems, manage drug interactions, and resolve gaps in care. (Pharmacist-Delivered Patient Care-ACPE)
• Proactively assist with patient self-care, including helping patients make appropriate selections of over-the-counter medications and dietary supplements. (Public Health-ACPE)
• Demonstrate professional behavior (attitude, dress, appearance, etc.) in practice setting. (Leadership Abilities-ACPE)
• Apply knowledge and understanding of all legal and ethical aspects of pharmacy practice required to evaluate a patient care decision. (Legal Considerations-ACPE)

Supervisory Responsibilities

Reports to: Clinical Manager Pharmacy

Supervises: Not applicable

Responsibilities: Not applicable

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and Experience

Minimum Required Education

1. High School Diploma or GED and at least 2 years of college work.
2. Active enrollment in an ACPE-accredited school of pharmacy or graduate of an ACPE-accredited school of pharmacy.

Minimum Required Experience

None

Preferred Experience

• 6 months of experience in a pharmacy setting.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

Minimum Required

Applicant must be registered as a Pharmacy Intern with the respective Board(s) of Pharmacy for the pharmacy(ies) where job duties and responsibilities take place.

Preferred

1. Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) Pharmacy Technician Certification.
2. Pharmacy Technician Registration with the respective Board(s) of Pharmacy for the pharmacy(ies) where job duties and responsibilities take place.