Pharmacy Technician Internship - Essay Example

Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) have been known to encompass the following: “Take from customers or health professionals the information needed to fill a prescription; Count tablets and measure amounts of other medication for prescriptions; Compound or mix medications, such as preparing ointments; Package and label prescriptions; Accept payment for prescriptions and process insurance claims; Do routine pharmacy tasks, such as answering phone calls from customers” (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2012, par. 2). From among the duties that were assigned in the nursing home, the following were noted to have provided opportunities for learning, to wit: (1) initial patient consultation where the following information of the patients are accurately logged and recorded: name, address, DOB, phone number, allergy information, and insurance information for prescriptions; (2) assisted RPH in the filling and dispensing of prescription medications; (3) reconciled daily deliveries from wholesaler; (4) stocked prescription and over-the-counter medications; (5) conducted monthly evaluation of existing stocks for out dated medications; (6) assisted RPH in the re-packing of medications utilizing AutoMed; where the Pharmacist puts in the patient's date; and then the machine AutoMed makes packs of medicine for the patient to take.

It was thereby noted that each pack has all the pills the patient needs for one serving; and finally (7) re-packing of medications through wholesaler (AmeriSource Bergen). All the responsibilities were consistent with those disclosed under the duties of a pharmacy technician from the perspective of the BLS. It is highly emphasized that the work of a pharmacy technician should always be under the governance of a licensed pharmacist, who was regarded as one’s mentor, coach, and supervisor. Accordingly, and as observed, the nursing home’s pharmacist reviews “all prescriptions before they are given to patients.

If a customer's question is about the medication or health matters, the pharmacy technician arranges for the customer to speak with the pharmacist” (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2012, par. 3). Although the internship period was only four months (June to September), the work experience was both challenging and rewarding. It was observed to be challenging in terms of the need to be extra careful in ensuring accuracy of the kind of medicines, the dosage, and the quantity needed according to the requirements noted in the prescriptions.

One had to be extra diligent in double checking entries and notations to ensure that medication errors would be avoided. Likewise, one realized that final review still needs to be done, verified and confirmed by the pharmacist to enforce accountability that the work done complied with the standards and requirements of the profession. Learning was also appreciated in terms of enhancement in skills development that focused on interpersonal relationship, communication, customer service, and in adherence to ethical, moral and legal standards.

Skills in interpersonal relationship need to be enhanced as one works within an environment where people from different walks of life and from diverse cultural orientations are the stakeholders: colleagues, customers, management, suppliers, and the community, among others. Likewise, skills in communication were also developed through realizing and recognizing the importance of using appropriate verbal and non-verbal communication patterns, as well as in understanding diversity in culture that influences the level of understanding the messages being relayed.

One also recognized the paramount relevance of customer satisfaction through professionalism and by ensuring that one’