Essential knowledge: The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively do the task outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage the task and manage contingencies in the context of the identified work role This includes knowledge of: Current reference material for dispensing medicines Dispensing procedures: accepted self-checking processes when dispensing medications to ensure accuracy of own work charging for pharmaceuticals e.g. organisation policy and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme prescribing conventions, and abbreviations and medical terminology used for instructions for the use of medicines principles of calculations, weights and measures using Standards International (SI) system procedures and rationale for validating medication orders processes for reconstitution of products properties of container types and principles of selection for use specific requirements for dispensing controlled medicines Identification and handling of products, including: formulary medicines and non-formulary medicines e.g. clinical trial medicines and Special Access Scheme (SAS) medicines products with the required integrity as well as those whose integrity has been compromised e.g. damaged, contaminated or deteriorated stock routine handling of products and products requiring special handling, e.g. cytotoxics and their spill management, refrigerated and frozen items, light sensitive materials and flammables Infection control principles and their relevance to dispensing medicines including: maintaining a clean working environment and equipment personal hygiene and the use of protective clothing Knowledge of and the rationale for applicable legislation, organisation policy and in-house standard operating procedures (SOPs), relating to prescription preparation Labelling: requirements for different types of medicine orders and their different labelling requirements, including inpatient items, outpatient, and PBS and Section 100 prescriptions legal requirements principles of labelling pharmaceutical products e.g. product name, batch numbering and expiry date Limitations of own work role including: identification and referring of issues outside scope of practice to the authorised person awareness of circumstances/situations where referral to a pharmacist is necessary Work Health and Safety (WHS) policies, guidelines and symbols and their relevance to dispensing medicines Pharmacy dispensary systems Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme (PBS): Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme Process for Pharmaceutical Benefit Authority items including streamline authority, phone authority and written authority. Process for High Specialised Drugs Pharmaceutical products: administration, and use and effect on human physiology common proprietary and generic names drug forms, dose, strength and quantity factors affecting the administration of medicines and pharmacokinetics prescribing conventions, and abbreviations and medical terminology used for instructions for the use of medicines principles and procedures of maintaining their security principles and range of storage requirements procedures for dealing with returned goods scheduling of medicines and their different dispensing/ handling/recording requirement, including schedule 8 medicines Pharmacy Board of Australia Pharmacy Guidelines for dispensing medicines Pharmacy or health facility in-house computer system Policies, standards and guidelines, industry codes of practice, legislative and regulatory requirements in regards to performing dispensary administrative tasks Prescriptions / medication orders: requirements to be satisfied for a complete, unambiguous and valid prescription / medication order and actions to take if validity is questionable types of prescriptions / medication orders and their use Principles and practices of ethical and professional codes of conduct Understand the difference between generic drug and trade name(s) of medicines |