Pharmacy Student (2030 & 2031 Graduates)

Seeking Breakthrough Makers

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) offers countless ways to change lives. Our diverse community of more than 20,000 Breakthrough Makers will inspire you to pursue passions, develop expertise, and drive innovation. At CHOP, your experience is valued; your voice is heard; and your contributions make a difference for patients and families. Join us as we build on our promise to advance pediatric care—and your career.

CHOP does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, religion, or any other legally protected categories in any employment, training, or vendor decisions or programs. CHOP recognizes the critical importance of a workforce rich in varied backgrounds and experiences and engages in ongoing efforts to achieve that through equally varied and non-discriminatory means.

A Brief Overview

Assist in various pharmacy activities, under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist, and other duties not requiring the review of a pharmacist. The majority of tasks and responsibilities are related to preparing, dispensing, and distributing compounded non-sterile and sterile products including, but not limited to, compounded non-sterile products (CNSPs), patient specific and non-specific non-sterile medication doses, and prepackaged or unit-dose products containing oral, injectable, or other medications.

The Pharmacy Students maintain high standard for the quality and controls of processes, components, and environments with the skill and knowledge of practices to prevent harm to patients due to:

• Microbial contamination
• Excessive bacterial endotoxins
• Variability in the intended strength of correct ingredients
• Unintended chemical and physical contaminants
• Ingredients of inappropriate quality in compounded sterile preparations (CSPs).

What You Will Do

• Practice- Non-Sterile Product Production
• Responsible for accurately preparing patient-specific and non-patient specific doses by ensuring that medications are identified, retrieved, drawn-up, labeled, packaged and stored according to the CHOP Pharmacy Standard Operating Procedures.
• Responsible for completing required 4 Quadrant Training Programs
• The correct medications are prepared for the correct patient, in the correct amount, at the appropriate time
• Medication concentrations and volumes are properly confirmed to match the order details on the patient label or patient pick-report
• Ensure all patient doses are verified by a pharmacist prior to dispensing - prepared doses are accurately identified, retrieved, drawn-up, labeled, packaged and stored.
• Doses are prepared and distributed within cycle time to ensure that the turnaround time standards are met
• Prepare accurately and safely Compounded Non-Sterile Products (CNSPs) in accordance with USP795 and CHOP Pharmacy Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).
• Responsible for accurately delivering patient-specific medications by ensuring that medications are delivered to the designated medication storage location in the proper patient care unit according to the CHOP Pharmacy Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).
• Responsible for completing required 4 Quadrant Training Programs
• Responsible for proper handling and accurate oversight (including, but not limited to, handling, delivery, return, inventory count, expiration monitoring) of floor-stock medications to designated automated dispensing cabinetry according to the CHOP Pharmacy Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).
• Responsible for completing required 4 Quadrant Training Programs
• Responsible for proper handling and accurate oversight (including, but not limited to, handling, delivery, return, inventory count, expiration monitoring) of medications in all non-automated distribution systems (i.e. medication trays, narcotic packs, transport bags or kits, etc) according to the CHOP Pharmacy Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).
• Responsible for completing required 4 Quadrant Training Programs
• Responsible for compliance to all federal, state, and department standards and regulations for non-sterile product compounding- USP795, USP800, CMS Conditions of Participation, FDA Compounding Guidance and JCAHO standards
• Responsible for accurately repackaging medications into unit-dose packages using pharmacy repackaging hardware according to the CHOP Pharmacy Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).
• Responsible for accurately performing Inspection process according to the CHOP Pharmacy Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).
• Responsible for ensuring that all documentation and record keeping requirements set forth by CHOP Pharmacy are met, including but not limited to:
• PO Preparation logs
• CNSP Preparation logs
• Anesthesia Controlled Substance Records
• Prepack Controlled Substance Records
• Departmental Health Status Boards
• Compliant to all mandates set forth by CHOP Pharmacy and by CHOP Human Resources
• Compliant to all dress code and PPE maintenance and associated CHOP Pharmacy SOPs
• Practice- Sterile Products Production Process
• Responsible for accurately preparing patient-specific and non-patient specific doses by ensuring that the compounded sterile products (CSP) are accurately identified, measured, reconstituted, diluted, mixed, sterilized, packaged, labeled, and stored.
• CSPs are prepared aseptically, accurately, and safely in accordance to USP 797, USP 800 and CHOP Pharmacy Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)
• Only medications and ingredients with correct identity, quality and purity are used in the preparation of CSPs
• Ingredients, medications and CSPs are appropriately stored to preserve the sterility and strength until the manufacturer expiration date or CHOP assigned beyond-use date (BUD)
• Equipment, devices, and fixtures are routinely cleaned, appropriately maintained, and used for accuracy and effectiveness for their intended use as per CHOP SOP
• Labels products with proper information and appropriately assigns the BUD as per CHOP SOP
• Prior to dispensing, ensures all prepared CSPs are verified by a pharmacist for accurate identity, measure, reconstitution, dilution, mixture sterility, packaging, labeling, and storage at the recommended temperature.
• CSPs are prepared within allotted cycle times to ensure that the turnaround time for all first-doses and non-STAT medication orders does not exceed 1 hour and the turnaround time for all STAT medication orders does not exceed 15 minutes
• Responsible for compliance to all federal, state, and department standards and regulations for sterile product compounding- USP797, USP800, CMS Conditions of Participation, FDA Compounding Guidance and TJC standards
• Completes initial aseptic technique training and passes competency test
• Reviews all CHOP Pharmacy SOPs related to CSP preparation and practices
• Completes electronic competency with score ≥ 90%
• CSP microbial contamination risk levels
• Beyond Use Dating
• Environmental Quality and Control
• ISO Class Air Sources, Buffer Area and Ante Area
• Personnel Cleaning and Garbing (Non-Hazardous and Hazardous)
• Cleaning/Disinfection Procedures (Non-Hazardous and Hazardous)
• Complete three consecutive cycles of Non- Hazardous and Hazardous PPE donning/doffing with zero (0) standard work variances including three gloved fingertip test samples with zero (0) CFU growth results after a 3 day incubation
• Completion of aseptic media fill practical evaluation with zero (0) standard work variances including test media samples with zero (0) CFU growth results after a 14 day incubation
• Completes annual/semi-annual aseptic technique recertification and passes competency test
• Completes electronic competency with score ≥ 90%
• Completes one cycle of Hazardous and Non- Hazardous PPE donning/doffing with zero (0) standard work variances including one gloved fingertip test samples with zero (0) CFU growth results after a 3 day incubation
• Completion of aseptic media fill practical evaluation with zero (0) standard work variances including test media samples with zero (0) growth results after a 14 day incubation
• Compliant to all dress code and PPE maintenance and associated CHOP Pharmacy SOPs
• No make-up or head/neck/wrist jewelry can be worn
• Appropriate attire in Sterile Product areas
• Scrub sets
• Short-sleeved, collarless shirts
• Full-length pants
• Skirt or dress - NOTE: Stockings/hose MUST be worn with skirt or dress
• Socks covering above ankle
• Compliant to all