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
Skills must have been demonstrated in the workplace or in a simulated environment that reflects workplace conditions. The following conditions must be met for this unit:
use of suitable facilities, equipment and resources, including:
weighing and measuring equipment
prescriptions and medication orders
pharmaceutical references
modelling of industry operating conditions, including time constraints for completing dispensing activities
Assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.