Pharmacy Assistant Online Diploma **NUS Card Eligible with this course**

What you will learn

The training course will help introduce you to multiple aspects of the pharmacy sector:

Introduction to the field of pharmacy: The course will introduce you to the importance and role of the pharmacy profession. You will have the opportunity to learn about how the pharmacy sector plays a pivotal role in the UK’s healthcare system.
The Pharmacy Team: As an assistant, you will be working together with a pharmacy team. The course will explain the different component members of a pharmacy team. Pharmacy assistants may work in community, retail or hospital pharmacy environments. As a pharmacy assistant, you may also have the opportunity to develop your customer service skills.
Checking and management of stocks in a pharmacy: Pharmacy assistants are often in charge of tracking and managing stocks in a pharmacy. The stocks may include medication, surgical gloves and bandages among many other healthcare-related commodities.
The role of a pharmacy assistant: As a pharmacy assistant, you will be expected to execute multiple tasks and responsibilities. Some examples include management of prescriptions, dispensation of medication, interacting with customers, ordering supplies, delivering medications etc to different parts of a hospital and so on.
Regulations, health and safety in a pharmacy: According to UK law, there are certain standards of health and safety that are governed by regulations. As a pharmacy assistant, you will be actively involved in the implementation of health and safety rules.
Prescriptions: One of the most important parts of your job would involve dispensation of medications. The training course will explain how to read and interpret prescriptions and how to avoid mistakes. The course will also cover risk assessment and error prevention.
Reporting problems and issues to the pharmacist: You will also learn how to report problems and issues to the pharmacist.
The course will also explain work environments, salaries and career advancement and learning about these topics will help you make an informed career decision.

The ten modules on 'How to become a Pharmacy Assistant' will help stimulate your interest in the field of pharmacy. Every aspiring pharmacy assistant can develop his or her personal niche and will have early opportunities to improve their efficacy and competence in the field. The training course is designed to give you a solid foundation on which you can begin your career as a pharmacy assistant.

Course Modules/Lessons

Module 1: How to become a Pharmacy Assistant

Role and importance of pharmacy in the healthcare system
Brief history and development of pharmacy in the UK
Multiple benefits of pharmacy
How the pharmacy sector can contribute to patient outcomes
Module 2: How to become a Pharmacy Assistant The Pharmacy Team and Practices (Part I)

How pharmacists can support self-care choices amongst patients
Significance of self-medication practices and how the pharmacy team plays a crucial role
Code of Ethics for Pharmacy team workers
Seven principles of Code of Ethics (Royal Pharmaceutical Society)
Module 3: How to become a Pharmacy Assistant The Pharmacy Team and Practices (Part II)

Vision for the future
The pharmacy team
Role of the pharmacy assistant
Skills and knowledge required for the role of pharmacy assistant
Module 4: How to become a Pharmacy Assistant Communication in Pharmacy Settings

Changing communication behaviour in pharmacies
Establishment of open, honest and mutual relationships
Communication behaviour in community pharmacies
Important aspects of communication behaviour in pharmacy settings
Module 5: Pharmacy Assistant Patient Counselling Guide

Detailed guide to patient counselling in a pharmacy
Therapeutic alliance, egalitarian relationships and self-awareness
Barriers to effective communication in a pharmacy setting
Assumptions and their role in counselling communication
Module 6 : Job Role and Responsibilities and Patient Record Maintenance in a Pharmacy

Define roles and responsibilities executed by pharmacy assistants
Pharmacy record keeping and maintenance
Information contained in pharmaceutical records
How EHR records are useful for pharmacy record keeping
Module 7 : Fundamentals of Prescription and Drug Dispensation

Explaining prescriptions and the information contained in them
Why pharmacy workers should learn about drug dispensation
Factors affecting accurate dispensation of drugs
Cleanliness and hygiene in the dispensing area
Module 8 : Different Dispensing Methods, Electronic Prescription Service, How to Minimise Dispensation Errors

Different types of dispensing methods
Electronic prescription services
Prescription and dispensing tokens
Medicine dispensation errors and how to minimise them
Module 9 : Stock Management in Pharmacies

Different methods and technologies used for stocking products
Understand the concepts of availability, turnover and expiration dates
Process of ordering medication, along with use of appropriate inventory terminology
Automatic, manual stock and special ordering procedures
Module 10 : Health and Safety Risks Assessment and Pharmaceutical Terminology

Basics of pharmacy terminology
Importance of health and safety standards and risk assessments in pharmacies
Pharmacy health and safety standards guidelines
Arrangement of medicines on pharmacy shelves