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As a pharmacy technician, you’ll work alongside pharmacists to help patients access their critical medications. Your day-to-day will consist of preparing prescriptions, operating dispensing equipment, filling orders and dispensing medication directly to patients. You’ll also have great flexibility in where you choose to work.
Do you want to have face-to-face interaction with your patients? Or do you wish to work behind the scenes? Do you want to serve a specific type of patient or a range of patients? You have plenty of options as a pharmacy tech.
Retail Pharmacies
Many pharmacy technicians work in retail pharmacies located inside retail stores or standalone pharmacies. For example, most Walmart stores include a pharmacy to serve their customers. Other stores such as CVS and Walgreens base their services around their pharmacy, yet they offer additional products and services to their customers.
The benefit of working in a retail pharmacy is flexible work hours. You’ll typically work only when the retail establishment is open, eliminating the need to work the nightshift. Retail pharmacies typically have several techs on staff, so you may be able to flex your schedule as needed to fit your needs.
Hospitals, Clinics & Long-Term Care Facilities
Some healthcare facilities have pharmacies on location to serve patients and their families. Some of these facilities include:
- Hospitals
- Doctor’s offices and clinics
- Nursing homes
- In-patient therapy centers
- Rehabilitation facilities
If you choose to work inside a hospital or other healthcare facility, you’ll need to prepare single-dose medication as well as prescriptions. You may also need to prepare IV solutions or fill syringes for controlled medications.
Many pharmacy techs choose the healthcare setting for its variety. Depending on where you work, you may provide medications to patients of all ages and medical conditions. You may serve emergency room patients, those receiving long-term care, or those visiting for medical testing.
Your work schedule will differ depending on the facility you choose. For example, hospitals require pharmacy techs 24 hours a day, so nightshift is a possibility.
Mail-Order Pharmacies
Mail-order pharmacies allow patients to receive their prescriptions via mail. In a mail-order facility, pharmacy techs work behind the scenes to fulfill numerous prescriptions each day. Due to the factory-like nature of mail-order, it’s also possible to have the sole duty of entering prescriptions as they come in via fax, mail or phone.
Pharmacy techs working for mail-order pharmacies often enjoy a flexible schedule with weekends off.
Ready to Start Your Career as a Pharmacy Technician?
Cambridge offers a complete Pharmacy Technician program to students ready to enter the field. To learn more about our program or to get started today, give us a call at 877-206-4279 or send us a message.