Pharmacy Intern

VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER

Job Description

Pharmacy Department

The position description is a guide to the critical duties and essential functions of the job, not an all-inclusive list of responsibilities, qualifications, physical demands and work environment conditions. Position descriptions are reviewed and revised to meet the changing needs of the organization.

TITLE: Pharmacy Intern

Job Overview:

The pharmacy intern, under the supervision of a registered pharmacist, is responsible for providing drug therapy order monitoring, preparation and dispensing in keeping with departmental programs. He/she maintains close working communications with their precepting pharmacist on duty and the appropriate supervisor. He/she facilitates department programs being carried out in accordance with regulatory agency requirements.

ROLE: See job description for Clinical Support Partner for generic job duties.

AREA OF ASSIGNMENT: Hospital Pharmacy

HOURS OF WORK: Assigned Days and Hours

RESPONSIBLE TO: Director of Pharmacy

PREREQUISITES:

1. Licensed as a Pharmacy Intern in the State of Washington

QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Previous hospital experience with I.V. admixture, unit dose and computers preferred.

2. Demonstrated ability to exercise independent judgement and discretion.

3. Demonstrated skill in developing and maintaining positive interpersonal relationships

with a diverse population.

UNIQUE PHYSICAL/MENTAL DEMANDS, ENVIRONMENT AND WORKING CONDITIONS:

1. Extensive medication/IV order entry (keyboarding) into computer.

2. Requires ability to continually change priorities in response to changing patient needs.

3. Requires the ability to work in an environment of constant interruptions.

4. Requires the acquisition and maintenance of a knowledge base of current medications,

drug therapies and distribution services.

1. Same as generic job description.

2. Punctual attendance is a condition of employment.

PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Generic Job Functions: See Generic Job Description for Clinical Support Partner

B. Unique Job Functions:

Responsible for performance of the currently assigned level of responsibilities (see

levels below).

Responsible for providing quality pharmaceutical care to inpatients and outpatients

of Valley Medical Center.

Responsible for documenting all interventions in the HMM system (eg. drug information questions, drug use evaluation activities, adverse drug reactions, and age/weight specific dosing - pediatrics/geriatrics).

Promotes the adherence to the VMC Drug Formulary as approved by the Pharmacy

and Therapeutics Committee of the Medical Staff.

Assures that proper charging documentation is completed correctly for services

provided.

Promote and market Valley Medical Center and the Pharmacy Department of the

community, patients, hospital employees, members of the medical staff and their

office employees in an informational manner.

Maintain a positive, direct, open communication line with members of the VMC

Medical Staff and their employees.

Completes assigned competency assessments.

Completes additional responsibilities/projects when assigned by supervisor or

pharmacist in charge.

Level 1 (First professional year or no prior experience)

Requirements:

• Licensed pharmacy intern with the Washington State Board of Pharmacy.
• Without significant hospital pharmacy intern experience.

Responsibilities:

• Learns aseptic technique
• IV admixture
• IV chemotherapy preparation
• Medication delivery
• Order entry in McKesson Meds Manager
• Floor stock/Pyxis restocking
• Outpatient Rx preparation
• Pyxis Connect order triage

All order entry will be verified by a pharmacist.

Level 2 (Second professional year or previous hospital experience and demonstrated

Level 1 abilities)

Requirements

• Completion of the following:
• Preceptor/intern coordinator evaluation of competency

Responsibilities:

• All Level 1 responsibilities
• Outpatient prescription dispensing AFTER a check by a pharmacist
• Drug information question response after review with a pharmacist
• Compounding
• Drug dosing (geriatric and pediatric)
• Training in BCLS certification
• Unit inspections
• Journal Club
• Synthesis of drug information from available resources

Level 3 (Third professional year or previous hospital experience and demonstrated Level 2 abilities)

Requirements:

• Has only one year remaining to complete a pharmacy degree from an accredited

College/School of Pharmacy

• Completion of the following:
• Preceptor/intern coordinator evaluation of competency

Responsibilities:

• Pyxis refill checking

• Limited IV batch' checking

• Drug information

• DUE project

• Journal Club

• Patient case presentation

• Triage/Problem solving

Level 4 (Fourth professional year or previous hospital experience and demonstrated Level 3 abilities)

Requirements:

• Work experience in a variety of pharmacist-related shifts, and upper level technician shifts. It should be noted that the intern should never be the only person involved in the process of entering, checking and dispensing an inpatient medication order or outpatient prescription. A staff pharmacist or pharmacy resident will conduct the final check on all prescriptions.

Responsibilities:

• Level 3 functions

• Training in anticoagulation teaching and monitoring

• TPN & CVVH monitoring

• DUE project and presentation

• Participates in teaching and mentoring 1st, 2nd, and 3rd year interns.

Job Qualifications:

PREREQUISITES:

1. Licensed as a Pharmacy Intern in the State of Washington

QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Previous hospital experience with I.V. admixture, unit dose and computers preferred.

2. Demonstrated ability to exercise independent judgement and discretion.

3. Demonstrated skill in developing and maintaining positive interpersonal relationships with a diverse population.