Pharmacy Assistant

Develops communication skills when engaging with pharmacy personnel, other health care professionals and customers. Students are encouraged to use effective listening skills when dealing with different or difficult individuals. Ethnic and cultural differences are celebrated and tolerance and understanding is applauded.

Explores the fundamentals of dispensing Prescriptions, including translating Latin abbreviations, analyzing directions for patient use in order to calculate quantities, pricing, preparing labels, maintaining accurate patient profiles and ensuring all record keeping required by legislation is accurately maintained. Accuracy, quality assurance, and proper inventory management are emphasized. Students are exposed to a “hands-on approach” and learn retail software necessary to fill a prescription from start to finish with complete accuracy.

Develops an understanding for mixing extemporaneous pharmaceutical solutions including liquids, suspension, ointments and creams. Special focus is given to the importance of accuracy in calculations, weighing and measuring as well as maintaining accurate records and documentation.

Prepares students with the basic knowledge and skills necessary to work in an institutional pharmacy setting. Students are introduced to various drug distribution systems and policies and procedures applicable to handling and dispensing of medication in this setting.

This course will prepare students to perform functions common to all Microsoft Windows applications. Elements include the ability to create and manipulate Word, Excel, or PowerPoint, modify the display of toolbars and other on-screen elements, use online help, and perform file management, editing, formatting and printing functions common to most Windows applications.

Familiarizes students with the roles of the Pharmacy Assistant, Pharmacy Technician and Pharmacist. In addition, students are introduced to the legislation governing the practice of pharmacy and to the professional standards and ethics.

Explores the skills needed to effectively search for industry related employment, including preparing a resume, LinkedIn account, cover letter and interviewing skills.