Pharmacy assistant jobs in Finland
Pharmacy assistants perform general duties, such as stock management, serving at the cash desk, or performing administrative duties. They deal with the inventory within the pharmacy under the supervision of a pharmacist.
Pharmacy assistant - Which skills are essential?
Adhere to the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) procedures for activities that involve hazardous substances, such as bacteria, allergens, waste oil, paint or brake fluids that result in illness or injury.
Verify the information on prescriptions from patients or from the doctor`s office ensuring that it is complete and accurate.
The procedures related to maintaining a hygienic environment within a health care setting such as hospitals and clinics. It can range from hand washing to cleaning and disinfection of medical equipment used and infection control methods.
Cope with pressure and respond appropriately and in time to unexpected and rapidly changing situations in healthcare.
Provide useful information related to health care professions to ensure policy decisions are made in the benefit of communities.
Ensure the storage, preservation and distribution of medicinal products at the wholesale stage.
Respond to and communicate with customers in the most efficient and appropriate manner to enable them to access the desired products or services, or any other help they may require.
The medicines, their nomenclature and the substances used in the manufacture of medicines.
Contribute to the delivery of coordinated and continuous healthcare.
Use mobile health technologies and e-health (online applications and services) in order to enhance the provided healthcare.
Maintain accuracy of prescription records and inventories of medications and pharmaceutical products.
Understand the background of clients` and patients’ symptoms, difficulties and behaviour. Be empathetic about their issues; showing respect and reinforcing their autonomy, self-esteem and independence. Demonstrate a concern for their welfare and handle according to the personal boundaries, sensitivities, cultural differences and preferences of the client and patient in mind.
Transfer medication from vials to the appropriate number of sterile, disposable syringes using aseptic techniques.
Count the money; balance cash drawer at the end of the shift; receive payments and process payment information; use scanning equipment.
Take stock of medications, chemicals, and supplies, entering the inventory data into a computer, receiving and storing incoming supplies, verifying the supplied quantities against invoices, and informing supervisors of stock needs and possible shortages.
Gather healthcare user information through various sources such as questioning the healthcare user, caregiver, or healthcare professional to obtain information on the patient`s health and social status, and interpreting records made by other health care professionals when appropriate.
Keep accurate client records which also satisfy legal and professional standards and ethical obligations in order to facilitate client management, ensuring that all clients' data (including verbal, written and electronic) are treated confidentially.
Prepare prescription labels, select the type of prescription container and attach the prescription labels to the container.
Guarantee the correct distribution of the pharamacy products.
Assess the signs and be well-prepared for a situation that poses an immediate threat to a person's health, security, property or environment.
Maintain proper storage and security conditions for medication.
Provide evidence based strategies to promote healthy living, disease prevention and management.
Handle petty cash for minor expenses and transactions required for the daily running of a business.
Communicate effectively with patients, families and other caregivers, health care professionals, and community partners.
Contact the patient`s health insurance company and submit the appropriate forms with information on the patient and treatment.
Follow agreed protocols and guidelines in support of healthcare practice which are provided by healthcare institutions, professional associations, or authorities and also scientific organisations.
Take the necessary steps to guarantee the quality of pharmaceutical products ensuring that the refrigerators/freezers are at the correct temperature and complete the appropriate documentation.
Ensure patients/clients are fully informed about the risks and benefits of proposed treatments so they can give informed consent, engaging patients/clients in the process of their care and treatment.
Apply quality standards related to risk management, safety procedures, patients feedback, screening and medical devices in daily practice, as they are recognized by the national professional associations and authorities.
Comply with the regional and national legislation that is relevant to one`s work and apply it in practice.
Give attention to what other people say, patiently understand points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times; able to listen carefully the needs of customers, clients, passengers, service users or others, and provide solutions accordingly.
Adhere to organisational or department specific standards and guidelines. Understand the motives of the organisation and the common agreements and act accordingly.
Interact, relate and communicate with individuals from a variety of different cultures, when working in a healthcare environment.
Promote inclusion in health care and social services and respect diversity of beliefs, culture, values and preferences, keeping in mind the importance of equality and diversity issues.
Communicate with clients and their carer’s, with the patient’s permission, to keep them informed about the clients’ and patients’ progress and safeguarding confidentiality.
Make sure that healthcare users are being treated professionally, effectively and safe from harm, adapting techniques and procedures according to the person's needs, abilities or the prevailing conditions.
Employ a set of organisational techniques and procedures which facilitate the achievement of the goals set. Use these resources efficiently and sustainably, and show flexibility when required.
Liaise via telephone by making and answering calls in a timely, professional and polite manner.
Medication which can be self-administered by individuals for psychological or physical problems. This type is sold in supermarkets and drugstores and does not require a doctors prescription. This medication mostly treats common health issues.
Participate in the delivery of multidisciplinary health care, and understand the rules and competences of other healthcare related professions.
Regularly check medication in pharmacy, wards and units, for expiry dates, replacing the expired drugs according to standard procedures.
Accept accountability for one`s own professional activities and recognise the limits of one`s own scope of practice and competencies.
Pharmacy assistant - Which skills are useful but not essential?
Offer evidence-based advice on how to avoid ill health, educate and advise individuals and their carers on how to prevent ill health and/or be able to advise how to improve their environment and health conditions. Provide advice on the identification of risks leading to ill health and help to increase the patients' resilience by targeting prevention and early intervention strategies.
Register and handle cash transactions by using point of sale register.
The characteristics, the effects and the use of herbal medicines.
Provide information and advice on medicinal products such as the appropriate use, the adverse reactions and the interactions with other medications.
Apply a broad range of bio-medical, psycho-social, organisational, educational, and societal aspects of health, disease, and healthcare to improve healthcare services and to improve quality of life.
The chemical aspects of identification and synthetic alteration of chemical entities as they relate to therapeutic use. The way various chemicals affect biological systems and how they can be integrated in drug development.
The body interaction with a specific drug after administration, the mechanisms of absorption and distribution and the substance chemical changes in the body.
Apply foreign languages in communicating with health service providers such as doctors and nurses.
Develop a mutually collaborative therapeutic relationship during treatment, fostering and gaining healthcare users' trust and cooperation.
The alternative medicine whereby pills or liquid mixtures containing only a little of an active ingredient (usually a plant or mineral) can treat a disease.
Apply professional and evidence based assessment, goal setting, delivery of intervention and evaluation of clients, taking into account the developmental and contextual history of the clients, within one`s own scope of practice.