Here are a few of the qualities theyÌýwould find inÌýtheir ideal candidate.
“Showing up to work on time!” said Dr. Linda Nguyen. “It’s embarrassing to mention, but nowadays that seems like a really hard characteristic to come by.”
According to Indeed, to showcase professionalism in any job, but as the coronavirus pandemic creates a huge technology shift to accommodate coupled with the surge of pharmacy foot traffic that occurred the pandemic’s onset, there is no shortage of work to do once a pharmacy technician clocks in. Pharmacists need to know that they can depend on their technicians to show up on time and do what needs to be done.
For Dr. Linda, a reliable pharmacy technician is also one who takes initiative. “I think a lot of times,” she states, “people come and they are just here for a paycheck.”
Pharmaceutical work is not for the employee who wants to do the bare minimum. For a successful career path, a pharmacy technician must devote time and resources to career training and earning their certification and should be prepared to achieve their team’s goals in a timely manner every time they clock in.
When it comes to pharmaceutical methodology, the time for learning doesn’t end when you become a Certified Pharmacy Technician. The bottom line, Dr. Johnny Nguyen says, is that “they need to beÌýteachable—able to learn, open toÌýnew ideasÌý²¹²Ô»åÌýnew methods.â€�
“We want someone who wants to work hard and wants to learn more so they can excel onto the next step.â€� – Dr. Linda Nguyen, DFW Wellness Pharmacy
´¡Ìýhealthy sense of curiosityÌýcan create a wider variety of career opportunities for a pharmacy technician who is just starting out.
For instance, investing in moreÌýspecialized training, such asÌýSterile Compounding and Aseptic Techniques, creates chances not only to be employed by non-compounding or non-sterile compounding pharmacies, but also by rarer, more specializedÌýsterile compounding pharmaciesÌýin the area.
“ […] if someone was to get specialized training,� Dr. Johnny remarks, “I’m pretty sure that there’s an area in the city where they would be able to find employment.�
“We look for […]ÌýefficiencyÌýand theÌýspeedÌýat which they work,â€� Dr. Johnny Nguyen says.ÌýIn a pharmacy setting, efficiencyÌýis made up ofÌýgood habitsÌýdeveloped over time, such as
At peak times, a pharmacist can easily get in over their head ensuring that every order gets filled. They rely on pharmacy technicians toÌýkeep an eyeÌýon their surroundings,ÌýevaluateÌýthe needs of the team, andÌýeasily switch tasksÌýto pitch in when necessary.
When it comes to compounding medications,Ìýa pharmacy technician who thinks they haveÌýall the answers is not the kind of person they are looking for.
“There are associatesÌýwhoÌýthink ‘I got it,’ and then they don’t,Ìýwhich is kind of scary,â€� says Dr. Linda. “[…]ÌýI think you really need somebody whoÌýhasÌýgood character, isÌýtrustworthy, and knows toÌýask questions if they aren’t sure how something is done.â€�
In compounding, whether sterile or non-sterile, the decisions made by a pharmacy or lab technician have a direct impact on the outcome of a patient. Mistakes can happen anywhere, even a pharmacy, but there is no room for errors that go unaddressed by a technician that can’t admit that there is a problem.
“[…]Ìýif they feel like there may be a mistake,Ìý[a good pharmacy technician]Ìýknow[s]Ìýhow toÌýspeak up,â€� she went on. “That is pretty critical in compounding.â€�
Drs. Johnny and Linda Nguyen emphasize that right now,Ìýpharmacies in Dallas-Fort Worth need pharmacy technicians. Period.
Dr. Linda says, “What we are hurting for is just hard-working technicians or trainees, the ones that are in the heavy day-to-day workflow.�
According toÌý, the North Texas region is experiencing theÌýhighest rate of annual growthÌýfor pharmacy technicians in the entire state atÌýan increase of 2.98 percent,Ìýwith Tarrant and Dallas counties close behind.
If this list makes you think you’re the kind ofÌýemployeeÌýthese pharmacists are looking for,Ìýthe Dallas-Fort Worth areaÌýisÌýcurrentlyÌýtheÌýbest place in the stateÌýfor opportunities toÌýbecome aÌýpharmacy technician.
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