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Follow the links below to find material targeted to the unit's elements, performance criteria, required skills and knowledge

Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Elements define the essential outcomes
2. Accept order for dispensing
   • Receive prescription or medication order and complete and confirm client details
   • Identify the prescriber and initiating source for the purpose of costing and data entry
   • Read documentation to confirm the legality, validity and completeness of the prescription or medication order
   • Identify if client is eligible to access the medicine through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
   • Identify and report discrepancies to pharmacist
   • Provide information to client about dispensing expectations in terms of time and cost as required
3. Ensure clinical evaluation by pharmacist
   • Refer prescription or medication order to pharmacist for clinical evaluation
   • Confirm pharmacist has completed a clinical evaluation before filling the order
   • Complete required documentation prior to dispensing
4. Prepare for labelling of medicines
   • Enter dispensing data into the pharmacy system and check accuracy against documentation
   • Generate label, and cautionary and advisory labelsto meet legal and regulatory requirements
   • Follow procedures to deal with contraventions of law
   • Check information on labels for accuracy and clarity against dispensing requirements
   • Alert the pharmacist to any relevant warnings from the pharmacy system
5. Assemble items
   • Interpret prescription or medication order requirements and refer to pharmacist where details or quantities are unclear
   • Select prescribed products in the correct quantities of each item, according to prescription or medication order, ensuring expiry date is appropriate
   • Use barcode scanning technology during the dispensing process according to Pharmacy Board of Australia Guidelines for dispensing medicines
   • Package and label correct quantities into a suitable container with correct and clear labelling
   • Check packed item for accuracy and visibility of expiry date
   • Mark order with the quantity supplied, signature and date
   • Self check work to ensure accuracy of assembled items
   • Assemble items for an easy and complete check by the pharmacist
6. Finalise dispensing of medicine
   • Verify that prescription or medication order is checked and signed by the pharmacist
   • Complete accurate final documentation
   • Record relevant information and statistics according to workplace requirements

Performance Evidence

The candidate must show evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the job role. There must be evidence that the candidate has:

followed workplace procedures, safe dispensing practices, The International System of Units (SI) and most recent Australian pharmaceutical formularyand handbook (APF) to accurately process at least 50 items from prescriptions/medication orders

identified issues outside scope of own practice and referred to the authorised person

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Knowledge Evidence

The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the work role. This includes knowledge of:

legal and ethical requirements (national, state/territory) for dispensing prescriptions, and how these are applied in organisations, including:

codes of conduct

duty of care (and implications of negligence)

privacy, confidentiality and disclosure

records management

rights and responsibilities of workers, employers and clients

specific legislation:

medicines and their use

the practice of pharmacy

different schedules of medicines and pharmaceutical products

work role boundaries – responsibilities and limitations

work health and safety

legal requirements for dispensing of medicines:

information requirements on prescriptions and medication orders

requirements to be satisfied for a complete, unambiguous and valid prescription/medication order and actions to take if validity is questionable

specific requirements for dispensing controlled medicines

Pharmacy Board of Australia Guidelines for dispensing medicines

key information in standard pharmaceutical references and their use by pharmacy assistants, including:

APF

MIMs

Australian medicines handbook (AMH)

Micromedex

dispensing procedures:

procedures and rationale for validating orders

types of discrepancies or potential issues found on prescriptions and medication orders, and how to respond to these

accepted self-checking processes to ensure accuracy

charging for pharmaceuticals e.g. organisation policy and the PBS

legal requirements and principles of pharmaceutical product labelling

prescribing conventions, and abbreviations and medical terminology used for instructions for the use of medicines

principles of calculations, weights and measures using the SI system

processes for reconstitution of products

properties of container types and principles of selection for use

features of pharmaceutical products:

methods of administration, and use and effect on human physiology

common proprietary and generic names and their differences

medicine forms, dose, strength and quantity

principles and procedures for maintaining their security

principles and range of storage requirements

product identification and handling, including those for:

formulary medicines and non-formulary medicines

products with the required integrity as well as those whose integrity has been

routine of handling products and products requiring special handling

infection control principles and their relevance to dispensing medicines

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