What Do Pharmacy Aides Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Pharmacy Aides record drugs delivered to the pharmacy, store incoming merchandise, and inform the supervisor of stock needs. May operate cash register and accept prescriptions for filling. They also greet customers and help them locate merchandise.

Other tasks include:

• Prepare prescription labels by typing or operating a computer and printer.
• Accept prescriptions for filling, gathering and processing necessary information.
• Operate cash register to process cash or credit sales.
• Answer telephone inquiries, referring callers to pharmacist when necessary.
• Compound, package, and label pharmaceutical products, under direction of pharmacist.
• Provide customers with information about the uses, effects, or interactions of drugs.

We asked Pharmacy Aides how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

---

72% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 78% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Featured Schools

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Pharmacy Aides prepare prescription labels by typing or operating a computer and printer. They operate cash register to process cash or credit sales.

A typical day for a Pharmacy Aide will also include:

• Answer telephone inquiries, referring callers to pharmacist when necessary.
• Greet customers and help them locate merchandise.
• Unpack, sort, count, and label incoming merchandise, including items requiring special handling or refrigeration.
• Receive, store, and inventory pharmaceutical supplies or medications, check for out-dated medications, and notify pharmacist when inventory levels are low.
• Perform clerical tasks, such as filing, compiling and maintaining prescription records, or composing letters.

We asked some Pharmacy Aides a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	96% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	67% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	83% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	59% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	24% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	49% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Pharmacy Aides also prepare, maintain, and record records of inventories, receipts, purchases, or deliveries, using a variety of computer screen formats. They may also provide customers with information about the uses, effects, or interactions of drugs.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Pharmacy Aides Deliver medication to treatment areas, living units, residences, or clinics, using various means of transportation. They might also Receive, store, and inventory pharmaceutical supplies or medications, check for out-dated medications, and notify pharmacist when inventory levels are low.

In addition, they Compound, package, and label pharmaceutical products, under direction of pharmacist.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Maintain and clean equipment, work areas, or shelves.

To some Pharmacy Aides, it is also their responsibility to Restock storage areas, replenishing items on shelves.

Working life

Less than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Pharmacy Aide, you can expect to work less than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas..

They also like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes319095.htm