SENIOR PHARMACIST

Code: 03503 Local Competitive

Official job specification

The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.

Definition

Under direction, compounds and dispenses medications prescribed by a physician, dentist, or other authorized medical practitioner; monitors patient medication regimen, noting possible incompatibility, contraindications, or adverse reactions to certain medications; provides advice to medical and nursing staff on the efficacy and use of controlled medication therapies; provides guidance and instruction to one or more pharmacists; does other related duties as required.

Examples of work

• Provides guidance and instructions to one or more pharmacists.
• Compounds and dispenses medications and other pharmaceutical supplies using standard physical and chemical procedures to fill written prescriptions issued by physicians, dentists, and other authorized prescribers.
• Reviews written prescriptions to determine ingredients needed and to ensure that overdoses have not been prescribed or that toxic compounds will not result from combining ingredients.
• Weighs, measures, mixes, or compounds ingredients according to standard formulas through such processes as filtering, distilling, emulsifying, or titrating to prepare medication.
• Sterilizes injectable preparations if prepared in pharmacy or purchased in nonsterile prepared form.
• Fills bottles, capsules, or other package forms with measured amounts of medication to prescription specifications.
• Prepares and affixes labels to container showing identification data and directions for prescription use.
• Maintains records on prescriptions filled.
• Maintains control records on narcotics, poisons, and habit forming drugs required by federal/state laws.
• Maintains inventory of pharmaceuticals and supplies, stores supplies under proper conditions of refrigeration and security.
• May compound bulk emulsions, liquids, powders, and ointments for pharmacy and nursing unit stocks.
• Informs physician and other staff members of the availability of new drugs, warnings on currently marketed drugs, incompatibility of certain drugs, and contraindications of drugs and other pharmaceuticals.
• Packages medication in unit dose containers where appropriate.
• Prepares intravenous admixtures utilizing aseptic techniques.
• Counsels patients and their families regarding proper use of medication and possible side effects.
• Requisitions, stores, and records use of medication and medical and surgical supplies.
• Reviews electronic records of medication information.
• In facilities using outside pharmacy vendors, verifies accuracy of medication ordered and dispensed.
• Monitors patients' charts for drug-drug, drug-food, or drug-lab interactions, side effects, adverse drug reactions, and efficacy of drug therapy; records observations and provides recommendations.
• Consults with professionals on clinical use of therapeutic agents.
• Discusses medication regimen for patients, and provides recommendations for changes when appropriate.
• Obtains medication histories for inclusion in patient records.
• Maintains a patient profile system screening for incompatibilities in prescribed drugs or pharmaceuticals.
• Identifies patients with potential medication problems; records information regarding adverse reactions.
• Monitors drug utilization within the facility.
• May participate in clinical research on a health care team.
• Coordinates pharmaceutical services with those of other patient care units.
• Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

Experience

One (1) year of experience as a Registered Pharmacist in a hospital or institutional setting.

License

Applicants must possess a current, valid license as a Registered Pharmacist issued by the NJ State Board of Pharmacy.

Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform essential duties of the position.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of drugs and pharmaceuticals, and medical and surgical supplies.
• Knowledge of pharmaceutical techniques, medical terminology, and of the equipment, materials, and supplies, used to compound and dispense prescribed medication.
• Knowledge of the use of weights, measures, and other dispensing devices.
• Knowledge of pharmaceutical mathematics and of drug classification according to their action, use, and dosage.
• Knowledge of pharmacology, drug-drug interactions, drug-lab interactions, adverse drug reactions, and side effects.
• Knowledge of intravenous drug incompatibilities.
• Knowledge of methods used to compound, prepare, file, label, and distribute medical prescriptions.
• Knowledge of pharmaceutical storage and security procedures.
• Ability to read, interpret and apply laws, rules and regulations.
• Ability to provide assignments and instruction to pharmacy employees.
• Ability to follow safeguards required to handle and store controlled drugs.
• Ability to maintain records of prescriptions filled and other pharmacy record and files.
• Ability to prepare intravenous aseptic admixture solutions.
• Ability to package unit dose medications.
• Ability to review patient medication histories and to recommend changes as necessary.
• Ability to counsel patients and their families regarding proper use of drugs.
• Ability to recommend individual medication plans.
• Ability to compound, file, label, and distribute medical prescriptions and prepare medical preparations used in other hospital units.
• Ability to order, receive, record, store, and oversee use of drugs, antibiotics, pharmaceuticals, and medical and surgical supplies.
• Ability to prepare reports.
• Ability to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
• Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
• Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform the essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.

Note

The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.