Pharmacy technicians ensure medications are filled correctly in a specified window of time. “One of the most challenging aspects [of the job] comes down to maintaining knowledge on all the changes that occur within the field. Helping a pharmacist dispense prescription medication might seem like an easy task, but it requires immense precision and detail.
Pharmacy practice changes on a weekly basis with new generics and new drugs,” says Mike Johnston, chairman and CEO of the National Pharmacy Technician Association. Another challenge is interacting with patients who are “not always feeling their best,” he says. “The majority of your customers that you’re going to be dealing with are sick – whether it be a cold or sinus infection or a much more serious, chronic condition. So it takes a lot of compassion and empathy.”
