Kern Medical·Bakersfield, California
Performs complex pharmacy duties including filling ambulatory and inpatient prescriptions, managing inventory, and preparing sterile solutions using aseptic techniques. Responsible for operating automated dispensing devices and training subordinate pharmacy technicians.
Kern Medical has been a community cornerstone since its founding in 1867. Today, we are an acute care teaching center with 222 beds, offering the only advanced trauma care between Fresno and Los Angeles. Kern Medical offers a range of primary, specialty, and multi-specialty services including high-risk pregnancy care, inpatient psychiatric services integrated with county mental health programs, and a growing network of outpatient clinics providing personalized patient-centered wellness care. Kern Medical cares for 15,500 inpatients and 125,000 clinic patients a year.
Pharmacy Technician III - Full Time
The estimated pay for this position is $28.4316 to $38.2097 per hour.
The rates shown include a 6% premium pay (base= $-$ plus 6%).
This reflects only a portion of the total compensation package for this position.
Additional compensation may be available for this role through differentials, incentives, and bonuses.
In addition, this position may be eligible for participation and company contributions into the Kern County Employees’ Retirement Plan.
This is the advanced journey level of the Pharmacy Technician flexible series. Incumbents are registered Pharmacy Technicians. Incumbents perform routine, complex and specialized duties in Pharmacy practice.
Regularly fills ambulatory care prescriptions for dispensing by the pharmacist;
Manages inventory including issues, orders, stores, cost accounts, issues floor stock, approves payments for inventory received;
Processes orders for controlled substances;
Refills physician's orders by placing patient's medications in individual drawers in medication carts; refills other medication requests from nursing units; prepares individualized unit dose preparations for patients; performs manual filling function.
Fills requests from nursing units for floor stock medications and charges items to that unit; delivers controlled substances to requesting nursing units;
Retrieves physician's order copies from nursing units and returns medications to the proper unit;
Assists in the control and storage of inventory; notes items which appear to be low in level; receives and unpacks incoming stock and places it on the shelves; removes unacceptable or expired medication from inventory for return or discard;
Cleans and cares for equipment carts, medications and Pharmacy fixtures and automated pharmacy equipment;
Fills orders using automated dispensing devises and completes basic functions, such as filling cells (outpatient), filling/removing items in MedStations (PYXIS); performs report checking/resolves discrepancies and performs basic trouble shooting.
Maintains patient medication profiles by properly charging and crediting computer system for inpatients and outpatients;
Receives prescriptions from outpatients, enters data into computer system and assists pharmacist with record keeping and charging/crediting; assists in dispensing completed prescriptions to outpatients or discharge patients;
Reduces bulk medications into unit dose or unit of use packaging with proper labeling and lot numbers; assists in simple labeling and simple dilutions;
Prepares sterile solutions, including chemotherapy using aseptic technique, both manual and automated pharmacy equipment usin
Operates hospital information system for printing fill lists for cart filling, ambulatory prescriptions, charges, and label printing.
Trains subordinate incumbents; delegates work assignments to subordinate incumbents.
Responsible for advances automated functions.
Performs other related duties as assigned.
Three (3) years’ experience as a Pharmacy Technician I with Kern Medical Center or equivalent pharmacy practice.
Current registration by the Board of Pharmacy as a Pharmacy Technician.
Appointees not possessing the American Heart Association Responder or Provider Basic Life Support (BLS) card at time of hire must successfully complete appropriate training and qualify for the RQI Responder certification within 60 days of employment. As a continued condition of employment, employee must maintain RQI Responder certification and competency.
Non-professional pharmacy practices for inpatient and ambulatory care; restrictive nature of medications and controlled substances; aseptic techniques in the preparation of sterile products; laboratory techniques and inventory procedures including process, expiration and limited stability dates.
Read and understand prescriptions and chart orders for medications and related information; perform mathematical calculations for reducing bulk medications, diluting medications and transposing American and Metric systems; process charges for medications and related services; operate a computer; work with health professionals and patients; understand and follow oral and written instructions; organize and delegate work; provide guidance to subordinate incumbents.
A background check may be conducted for this classification.
All Kern County employees are designated "Disaster Service Workers" through state and local laws (CA Government Code Sec.3100-3109 and Ordinance Code Title 2-Administration, Ch. 2.66 Emergency Services). As Disaster Service Workers, all County employees are expected to remain at work, or to report for work as soon as practicable, following a significant emergency or disaster.
If position responsibilities require driving a personal vehicle, then possession of a current valid California Driver’s License and adherence to the Kern County Hospital Authority Vehicle Use and Driving Standard Policy (ENG-EC-119) is required.
If position responsibilities require driving a vehicle owned, leased or rented by Kern Medical, then possession of a current valid California Driver’s license, a signed authorization for Release of Drivers Record Information and adherence to the Kern County Hospital Authority Vehicle Use and Driving Standard Policy (ENG-EC-119) is required.
Requires three years of experience as a Pharmacy Technician and current registration by the Board of Pharmacy. Must obtain or maintain RQI Responder certification and possess a valid California Driver's License if required for duties.
Market context
California pharmacy roles typically stay competitive because employers look for candidates who already hold a BS Pharmacy or Pharm.D., a valid California Pharmacist License, and current BLS and ACLS certifications. These positions can also require additional board-style certification within two years, so applicants with closely matched credentials and recent clinical experience often stand out. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits here to quickly confirm fit, then verify your license and certifications before applying.
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