Pharmacy Technician - Hackensack Meridian Health

Our team members are the heart of what makes us better. At Hackensack Meridian Health we help our patients live better, healthier lives — and we help one another to succeed. With a culture rooted in connection and collaboration, our employees are team members. Here, competitive benefits are just the beginning. It’s also about how we support one another and how we show up for our community. Together, we keep getting better - advancing our mission to transform healthcare and serve as a leader of positive change.

The Pharmacy Technician functions under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist, and assists the pharmacist(s) with the completion of their responsibilities. This includes: the preparation of medication orders for review by the pharmacist; maintenance of adequate drug supplies in filling areas; and delivery of medications to patient care areas.

1. Inventory - Maintains accurate and appropriate inventories of medications and supplies. Supports the drug inventory process including rotation and restocking of drug dispensing areas with drugs and supplies needed to process patient medication orders.
2. Regulatory compliance - Maintains a safe and clean work area by complying with procedures, rules, and regulations.
3. Communication and teamwork - Communicates with other team members, physicians  and patients in an effective and positive manner.
4. Helps prepare intravenous admixtures according to established practices of aseptic techniques and pertinent department policies under the supervision of a registered pharmacist; assists in accurately labeling and dispensing inpatient unit dose medications according to department policy; delivers medications to patient care areas as needed.
5. Assists in compounding medication by means of weighing, measuring, mixing, blending, filtering, distilling, emulsifying and titrating, according to standard pharmacy practices and department policy.
6. Delivers and fills controlled substances and other medications to nursing units' automated medication dispensing cabinets (ADC) timely and accurately; assists in reconciling all narcotic discrepancies on a daily basis.
7. Prepares medications and subsequently loads and unloads medications into ADC with appropriate barcode scanning.
8. Answers phones according to established phone etiquette and directs calls to the proper personnel.
9. Prepares and packages hazardous medications and other medications requiring special handling for subsequent administration to patients under the supervision of the pharmacist.
10. Maintains all necessary paperwork, legal documents, and records for all medications, prepared for administration.
11. Participates in departmental quality-assurance and safety activities for drug usage, infection control, and handling hazardous materials according to state/federal regulations and departmental policy; assists in the collection and review of patient-specific data used by pharmacists for monitoring drug therapy.
12. Assumes responsibility for performance of job duties in the safest possible manner, to ensure personal safety and that of coworkers, and to report all preventable hazards and unsafe practices immediately to management.
13. Other duties and/or projects as assigned.
14. Adheres to HMH Organizational competencies and standards of behavior.

Education, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

1. High School diploma, general equivalency diploma (GED), and/or GED equivalent programs.
2. Effective oral and written English communication.
3. Strong ability to multitask.
4. Ability and willingness to work cooperatively with others.

Education, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Preferred:

1. At least one year of pharmacy experience (outpatient or inpatient).

Licenses and Certifications Required:

1. Valid New Jersey Pharmacy Technician registration or 180 day waiver.
2. PTCB or ExCPT Certification Required within 6 months of start of employment with the following exceptions:  Hired prior to January 2024 or
Actively enrolled in ACPE accredited school of pharmacy / another allied health program

Working Conditions:

Lifts a minimum of 5 lbs., pushes and pulls a minimum of 5 lbs. and stands a minimum of 4 hours a day.