Pharm Intern, Cancer Institute Pharmacy

About the Role

The Student Employee in the Cancer Institute Pharmacy will assist and support the pharmacist in day-to-day dispensing operations, including compounding sterile preparations such as chemotherapy infusions, under direct supervision.

Key Responsibilities

• Preparation of Sterile Products
• Assists with sterile compounding under the direction of pharmacists, including hazardous and non-hazardous medications.
• Performs basic pharmaceutical calculations.
• Assembles products for the preparation of parenteral medication.
• Properly performs barcode scanning to verify correct components.
• Reconstitutes, measures, and adds medications to parenteral fluid under supervision.
• Accurately documents waste in the electronic medical record for billing compliance.
• Prepares batches of commonly used IV medications for future patient use under supervision.
• Troubleshoots and corrects drug delivery and equipment issues.
• Operates compounding equipment including syringes, needles, tubing, IV bags, laminar airflow hoods, biological safety cabinets, elastomeric pumps, and infusion cassettes.
• Promotes a safe working environment.
• Complies with departmental and institutional policies and procedures.
• Understands and follows USP 797 and USP 800, and applicable standards for sterile compounding and hazardous drug handling.
• Maintains cleanliness and disinfection of rooms, equipment, work surfaces, hoods, and storage carts/bins in cleanroom suites by completing assigned cleaning tasks.
• Deactivates/decontaminates hazardous drug residues as defined by policy and USP 800.
• Documents all cleaning activities.
• Documents temperatures for rooms, refrigerators, and freezers.
• Documents daily pressure differentials for all rooms in cleanroom suites.
• Calibrates Repeater pumps when appropriate and documents.
• Performs and documents monthly inspection of assigned medication storage areas.
• Promptly reports deficiencies or problems with equipment, facilities, or drug distribution to supervisors.
• May perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Assists and supports the pharmacist in day-to-day dispensing operations.
• Compounding sterile preparations, including chemotherapy infusions.
• Utilizes technology, such as the electronic medical record, when necessary.
• Ensures compliance with USP and required cleaning, deactivation, decontamination, and disinfection.
• Performs daily and monthly cleaning tasks for cleanroom suites.
• Prioritizes work based on immediate need and changing workload.
• Works as a team member to perform day-to-day work efficiently and accurately.
• Assists in achieving departmental goals with additional tasks or projects.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Enrolled or accepted into an ACPE accredited college/school of pharmacy.
• Must work towards obtaining a Pharmacy Intern License within six months of hire.
• Possesses a Pharmacy Intern License by the Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy OR a Pharmacy Technician License by the Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Relevant pharmacy experience as a technician or intern (e.g., previous hospital experience, sterile compounding experience, hazardous drug handling).
• Specialized certificate/certification (e.g., PTCB Certified Compounded Sterile Preparation Technician, ASHP Sterile Compounding Certificate).
• Computer skills (e.g., Microsoft Office and EMR experience).
• Strong math skills.

Physical Activity Notes:

Constant Physical Activity: N/A

Frequent Physical Activity: Feeling, Grasping, Hearing, Lifting, Manipulate items with fingers (including keyboarding), Reaching, Repetitive Motion, Sharps, Sitting, Standing, Talking, Walking

Occasional Physical Activity: Crawling, Crouching, Kneeling, Pulling, Pushing, Stooping