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Pharmacy Assistant

AHS Employees

Preparing and dispensing medications

Pharmacy assistants play a key role in providing patients with quality healthcare services. Working closely with pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, they ensure high-quality medications are prepared for patients.

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Compensation


$22.55 - $25.90 per hour

Other benefits

Education


Grade 12 education or equivalent

Registration


Not required

Duties

  • Perform automated and manual packaging or repackaging such as breaking down orals, liquids, or topical ointments and creams into single dose/single patient use containers
  • Select medications for patient refill cycles
  • Receive, verify quantities, and quality check pharmaceutical and supply orders
  • Maintain pharmacy and nursing unit stock inventory, perform physical counts, investigate discrepancies, and manage expired or recalled medications
  • Deliver medications to different parts of the facility or prepare products for shipping

Make a Difference

  • Ensure the safety and effectiveness of patients’ drug treatment plans
  • Provide education and counsel to healthcare professionals, patients, and families
  • Have the knowledge to prevent interactions with other medications or treatments
  • Advise patients and families on safe storage or disposal of medications
  • Monitor the effects and outcomes of drug therapies

Work Collaboratively

  • Work within an interprofessional team including doctors, nurses, dieticians, social workers, physiotherapists, and occupational therapists, as well as, other pharmacy assistants, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacists
  • Work in various settings, including hospitals, community health offices, cancer care centres, ambulatory clinics and home care

Grow Your Career

  • Teaching/training other health professionals
  • Pharmaceutical research
  • Pharmacy supervisor or manager
  • Healthcare leadership and management
  • Health system administration

Did you know?

Although post-secondary education is not mandatory, select colleges in Alberta offer Pharmacy Assistant Certificate programs and courses, which may help prepare you for a pharmacy assistant role.

Additional Information

To learn more about a career as a pharmacy assistant in our province visit Alberta Learning Information Services (ALIS).