Pharmacy Technician Lead | Inpatient Pharmacy | St. Cloud Hospital

As a Pharmacy Technician Lead at St. Cloud Hospital, your primary responsibilities include guiding and providing direction to pharmacy technicians, training them, and conducting competency assessments. You will also engage in dispensing, preparing, and delivering various pharmacy products while ensuring compliance with safety standards and regulations. Your role in monitoring medication expiry checks and participating in quality improvement initiatives is essential for maintaining operational excellence.

To qualify for the Pharmacy Technician Lead position at St. Cloud Hospital, candidates must possess a High School Diploma or GED and have a minimum of three years of experience as a pharmacy technician. These qualifications ensure that you have the necessary knowledge and practical experience to effectively lead a team and support the pharmacy's dynamic environment.

The Pharmacy Technician Lead role at St. Cloud Hospital is crucial for enhancing patient safety by ensuring adherence to best practices and safety standards in medication handling. The lead will monitor compliance with USP guidelines and be proactive in analyzing workflows to propose improvements, thereby minimizing the risk of medication errors and promoting a safe environment for patient care.

As a Pharmacy Technician Lead at St. Cloud Hospital, you can expect a competitive pay range starting at $20.20 per hour and increasing with experience. In addition to a rewarding salary, you will have access to full-time benefits including medical, dental, paid time off, retirement plans, employee discounts, and opportunities for tuition reimbursement and college grant programs, which make your career growth feasible.

Successful Pharmacy Technician Leads at St. Cloud Hospital exhibit strong leadership, excellent communication, and problem-solving skills. Being detail-oriented and committed to patient safety is essential, along with the ability to foster a collaborative team environment. Embracing the principles of Family Centered Care will also enhance interactions with both patients and colleagues, contributing to an atmosphere of compassion and support.

In answering this question, share specific instances where you led a team, implemented training programs, or improved workflow efficiencies. Highlight your ability to foster teamwork and communication among technicians to understand how your leadership directly contributes to operational success.

Discuss your familiarity with USP Chapters 795, 797, and 800. Provide examples of how you monitor compliance, such as conducting regular checks and training staff on safety protocols to enhance patient safety standards.

Elaborate on your hands-on experience with dispensing and preparing medications, including chemotherapy agents if applicable. Describe your attention to detail and accuracy in this process, and how you ensure quality control throughout.

Share specific strategies you use to resolve conflicts, such as active listening and collaborative problem-solving. Highlight your commitment to maintaining a positive work environment and ensuring patient interactions reflect compassion and respect.

Discuss any tools or metrics you’ve used to analyze pharmacy workflows for efficiencies. Mention how you gather team input and how implementing feedback led to real improvements, showcasing your proactive approach to workflow management.

Describe any quality improvement initiatives you’ve led or participated in, emphasizing the outcomes achieved. Your ability to engage with these projects and show measurable results underlines your commitment to continuous improvement.

Express your passion for patient care and your desire to lead and mentor others. Highlight moments where you feel you've made a difference in patient outcomes or team dynamics, which reinforces your motivation for this role.

Share your strategies for effective task prioritization in a fast-paced environment. Discuss how you assess urgency levels, delegate tasks when necessary, and ensure that patient care remains your top priority amidst competing demands.

Select a relevant scenario where you identified a problem and successfully implemented a solution. Highlight your analytical skills and the positive outcome that resulted, underlining your capability to address challenges efficiently.

Discuss your views on patient safety, specifically regarding medication accuracy and proper communication among pharmacy staff. Relay the significance of a culture of safety, where everyone feels responsible for maintaining high standards.