10 Traits of a Stellar Pharmacy Technician

Behind every successful pharmacist is a driven, highly skilled and compassionate pharmacy technician. From navigating client profiles, health history and records, accurately filling medication prescriptions and educating patients to supporting the whole healthcare team, pharm techs are vital to patient care. The specialized knowledge gleaned from a pharmacy technician course/pharmacy technician program is invaluable on the job, but equally as essential are the qualities that shift a professional from solid to stellar. This is what gives college graduates the competitive edge when heading out into the marketplace.

The Top 10 Traits You’ll Want to Master to Thrive in Your Pharm Tech Profession …

1.Patient-First Focus

If all you do is driven from a genuine desire to ensure a patient receives quality care and support with every encounter with your team, and with you, every other extraordinary thing you do will flow from here … and make you essential and irreplaceable in the workplace. This intention will drive you to deliver on the next 9 qualities.

2.Team Player

To deliver quality service you need to be aware of the attributes of each one of your team members, communicate openly and effectively and provide support and service to them, as each of your roles works together to ensure Trait #1.

3.Inspiring Initiative

Everyone appreciates working alongside someone who goes above and beyond, who cares about the details, listens actively and then does whatever they can to pitch in. Your initiative builds trust with the team and the patient and transforms your work, day to day, from a job to a career that makes a difference professionally and personally to those around you.

4.Impeccable Work Ethic

Your ability to apply what you learned in your pharmacy technician classes, understanding regulations on patient privacy and honouring those, doing what is ultimately right to uphold the professional guidance of the pharmacist, in the best interest of the patient, will inevitably earn you respect in the workplace. Your commitment to show up, consistently doing your best, with passion will win you accolades from those you work for and serve.

5.Ever Adaptable

Working in a community and/or healthcare environment is busy, often inconsistent, and demanding, as you respond to the shifting needs of others. Being able to adapt with enthusiasm and apply your knowledge to creatively support and solve issues that arise will make your team grateful you’re there to cheer them on and effectively contribute.

6.Fabulous Communicator

To do all this you need to be an effective communicator, using your verbal and written skills to relay and record essential information, and address challenges or offer praise and kindness as needed. From speaking with the pharmacists, ER doctors and nurses, lab professionals or insurance companies to supporting patients with information, you will indeed need to master this trait to thrive in your career.

7.Diligently Detailed

Decisions are often made based on your assessments, calculations, and descriptions and, as such, you need to be precise, well-versed, and confident with the responses and information you offer. Understanding medical histories, and ensuring prescriptions are filled precisely, as well as knowing what recommendations or referrals to make to get health professionals and the patients the info they need, requires your unrelenting dedication to the details.

8.Purposeful Prioritizing

With so many operations and responsibilities on the go daily, you will need to recognize what is most urgent and prioritize accordingly from there. Utilizing your insight to understand what is needed and when, and organizing your schedule and perhaps even the tasks of others on the team, will add to the efficiency and accuracy of care and enhance the team vibe overall.

9.Master Motivation

In an industry that evolves rapidly, it is essential that you are committed to perpetual learning and growth throughout the course of your career. Being on the leading edge of regulations, considerations for patients, and technology as it continues to streamline information, will make you ever valuable in your position or help you in the process of promotion.

10.Stress-Relief Skills

It is no secret that a career in healthcare, while exceedingly rewarding, can be highly demanding and carries a level of stress that needs to be managed effectively to ensure career longevity. As you complete an incredible array and variety of tasks in a short timeframe, and even face staff shortages at times, you need to be able to recognize your need to take breaks, clear your mind and do what helps you to relieve pressure and come back to a sense of calm and positivity. This will benefit you and will influence your interactions with your team and help with fulfilling your desire to provide consistent, compassionate, empowering patient care.

If you feel you exude, or are excited to cultivate, these traits, then pursuing a pharmacy technician course in Ontario, could lead to the perfect rewarding career for you … and we can help you get there. You can take the “Anderson College Pharmacy Technician Career Discovery Quiz” to determine if your interests match this choice. Or, if you’re ready to start your Pharmacy Technician career, book a virtual appointment with our admissions team. We’re here to help you navigate every step along the way to your first, or next, incredible, and in-demand career.

Quick Links to Fuel Your Success!

We want to make sure you have what you need to succeed! Check out these reference links:

• Pharmacy Programs – Anderson College
• Pharmacy Assistant vs Pharmacy Technician -The Differences & Your Best Career Move