Pharmacist Intern

Banner Health•Mesa, AZ

13d•Onsite

About The Position

This position works under the supervision of a pharmacist to support medication preparation, distribution, inventory management, and recordkeeping. Assists with sterile compounding, IV medications, TPNs, and chemotherapy preparations. Supports medication order processing and documentation while maintaining accuracy and compliance with established standards. Collaborates with pharmacists and healthcare teams to promote safe and effective medication use and quality patient care across all age groups. Banner Baywood Medical Center has served the growing East Valley for more than 30 years, and every day we work hard to provide the best care to our patients. This evening shift position is Saturday and Sunday, every other weekend and from 2:00PM to 10:30PM. Banner Baywood Medical Center is a 342 bed hospital serving the health care needs of the dynamic and growing East Valley communities of metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona. We provide complete acute care services and outpatient services to include but not limited to cancer, stroke, women's health, rehabilitation, emergency medicine and surgery. Our Emergency Department treats a variety of ailments and offers advanced treatment areas, with 68 beds, seeing over 50,000 patients per year. We are certified as pediatric prepared as well as designated as a Trauma level 3 emergency room. In addition, our comprehensive orthopedic unit is one of the nation’s premier orthopedic programs. The unit's commitment to excellent patient care has earned a 4 STAR rating by CMS and repeated recognition as having one of the Top 100 Orthopedic Programs in the U.S. by The Health Network and HCIA, Inc. Because we are also a leader in neurological medicine, people throughout Arizona come to us when they need treatment for conditions of the brain, spine and nervous system. POSITION SUMMARY This position will work under the supervision of the pharmacist. Performs routine duties in packaging, distribution and record keeping of pharmaceutical supplies. Assists in preparing compounded and intravenous medications, total parenteral nutrition products, and chemotherapeutic agents. Consistently demonstrates an ability to assess a situation, consider alternatives, and choose the appropriate course of action. May work with the Pharmacist in processing physician orders for medications by entering information in to the medication management system in an unverified status. Under the supervision of the pharmacist, assesses and formulates potential recommendations to physicians and provides information to physicians, nurses, and others regarding topics relating to the medication use system. Must demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients being served.

Requirements

Must be attending an accredited school of Pharmacy.
Requires current and unrestricted pharmacy intern licensure in the state of practice.
Incumbents in Arizona are also required to provide the AZ Board of Pharmacy Wallet Card at time of hire.
Must possess good organizational, problem solving and computer skills.
Must have good written and verbal communication skills for interfacing with all levels of Staff, physicians, patients and other contacts.
Must have knowledge of computer software, particularly medication management information system software, Microsoft applications and Automated dispensing systems.
Employees working at Banner Behavioral Health Hospital must possess an Arizona Fingerprint Clearance Card at the time of hire and maintain the card for the duration of their employment.
An Arizona Criminal History Affidavit must be signed upon hire.

Nice To Haves

Pharmacy technician experience preferred.
Additional training in specialty areas (such as automatic dispensing technology, controlled substances and satellite pharmacy) preferred.
Additional related education and/or experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Selects and/or prepares medications, under direct supervision, as indicated on the patient medication orders. Places medications in patient boxes or in designated area for pharmacist to review, sends/delivers medications to nursing units as required.
Investigates missing medication requests.
Charges/credits patients for medications and intravenous solutions as appropriate.
Restocks unused and credited returned medications.
Attends to customers and answers telephones in a courteous and timely manner.
Serves as a liaison between the customer and the pharmacist.
Using automated dispensing technology or requisition, restocks medications to nursing and ancillary areas after checked by a pharmacist.
Restocks medications to all areas outside automated dispensing technology which may include but not be limited to trays, code carts and emergency boxes.
Adds users to the automatic dispensing technology database as per policy.
Investigates discrepancies in automated dispensing technology.
Troubleshoots automated technology malfunctions.
Identifies medications and other items for reorder as necessary to maintain a continuous inventory of medications and supplies.
Receives, checks-in, and restocks medications ordered through wholesaler and other vendors.
Compounds specialty drug products.
Repackages bulk medications into unit of use packaging.
Completes accurate documentation of items compounded and repackaged.
Assists in preparing and labeling of intravenous medication orders including total parenteral nutrition products and chemotherapy products using proper sterile and aseptic technique.
Under the supervision of a pharmacist, utilizes education and pharmacy skills in assessing and formulating potential recommendations to physicians to help ensure quality and economical drug therapy, and positive patient outcomes.
May provide information (under pharmacist supervision) to physicians, nurses, and others regarding medication therapy, medication systems, drug product guidelines, laws and regulations, medication formulary, and other topics related to the medication use system.
Medication assessments may be performed with special consideration given to medication safety and the needs of the specific patient age groups served.
Performs quality control activities such as monthly nursing unit checks and pharmacy section checks in a timely manner.
Completes documentation on refrigerator temperatures, intravenous hood cleaning, and equipment maintenance activities as required.
Participates in all aspects of medication use, including (1) selection, procurement and storage, (2) dispensing, (3) monitoring of all medications utilized.
Internal customers may include Patients, Nurses, Licensed Independent Practitioners, Nursing Directors, Department Directors, Administrators and other health care team members for the purpose of integrating services, improving patient care and ensuring effective communication systems.
External customers may include local, state, and national pharmacy organizations, Joint Commission, state Board of Pharmacy, colleagues and peers, educational institutions and pharmaceutical representatives.