Pharmacy Intern Duties

Pharmacy interns are pre-graduates who are fulfilling their obligation to earn college hours and learn their craft by working under the close supervision of a pharmacist. The intern is the lowest person on the chain of command at a pharmacy, though he may still carry out functions a pharmacist would regularly do. The hours a student is required to serve as an intern for varies from state to state and from college to college. This training is essential for entry into the field and later certification as a pharmacist.

Delegation of Duties

• The pharmacy intern will perform the duties of a pharmacist under the close supervision of the pharmacist while completing pharmacy school or pending licensure. A pharmacist may delegate aspects of pharmacy practice to an intern or other pharmacy technician at any time he chooses. The pharmacist chooses which duties the intern will handle and these may vary greatly from pharmacy to pharmacy. The pharmacist must supervise the intern's work after delegation. This way the intern can gain valuable knowledge and avoid errors. The pharmacist may provide clear, express and personal supervision to the intern.

Broad Duties

• During supervision, the intern may dispense prescriptions, measure doses, weigh ingredients, compound ingredients and process the ingredients in a prescription. While filling prescriptions, the intern must use sterile tools when working with the raw ingredients. The pharmacist is available to answer the questions of the intern involving the prescription, dose and dispensing of the drug or problems concerning the drug before it is ready for sale to the prescription holder. It is essential that the intern be able to work well with others, including the staff and pharmacist where he will be training.

Specific Duties

• At some pharmacies, the intern may read and decipher prescriptions, enter them into a pharmacy computer system and prepare the medication for inspection by the pharmacist. The intern must also have the ability to maintain an adequate stock of medication and learn how to order more medication if the pharmacy is running low. The intern must be comfortable with pharmaceutical calculations. The intern must also be familiar with drug names in brand and generic form. The intern must be able to advise people on proper care for all age groups and the appropriate medications for all age groups.