Technical Standards

Clinical Requirements

Technical Standard Examples of Activities
(Not All-Inclusive)
Cognitive ability:
  • Demonstrate critical-thinking ability sufficient for collecting, analyzing, and integrating information and knowledge in order to safely and accurately process primary care provider orders and promote positive patient outcomes and professional behavior.
  • Exhibit ability to follow policies and procedures required by clinical and academic settings.
  • Exhibit ability to organize and prioritize tasks.
  • Exhibit ability to function effectively under stress and time constraints.
  • Exhibit awareness of, and ability to work with, diverse populations.
  • Exhibit ability to follow policies and procedures required by clinical and academic settings.
  • Demonstrate problem-solving abilities (measure, calculate, reason, prioritize, and synthesize data).
  • Understand and recall complex information and apply to new situations.
  • Perform calculations.
  • Organize and prioritize multiple tasks; integrate and analyze written, verbal, and observed data regarding patient care.
  • Manage distractions.
  • Follow a process from start to finish utilizing sequential established policies and procedures.
  • Utilize sound judgment and safety precautions.
  • Understand the rationale for, and comply with, HIPAA standards, especially confidentiality.
  • Process prescriptions and/or prepare compound medications Description (Performed consistently and dependably)
  •  Demonstrate the ability to be familiar with, and acquire a knowledge base of, brand/generic names of the most commonly prescribed medications. 
  • Demonstrate the ability to read and interpret handwritten prescriptions.
  • Process prescriptions in an accurate and timely manner that matches the level of training and pharmacy’s demands.
  • Demonstrate the ability to assist accurately with all patient care duties and pharmacy procedures.
Communication Ability:
  • Demonstrate the ability to speak, read, comprehend, and write English at a level that meets the need for clear and effective communication with instructors, peers, other healthcare professionals, and patients. 
  • Demonstrate the ability to adjust non-verbal and verbal language appropriately to meet the needs of the multilingual and culturally diverse patients, families, and colleagues.
  • Understand written and verbal English communication and follow directions explicitly.
  • Read and interpret common medical/pharmacy abbreviations.
  • Understand patient information and provide verbal feedback.
  • Interact and establish rapport with individuals, families, and groups from diverse populations.
  • Read and respond to professional emails in a timely manner.
  • Provide explanations and teaching.
  • Demonstrate empathy.
Interpersonal/Intrapersonal Skills and Behavior:
  • Demonstrate emotional and psychological stability sufficient to function under stress and to adapt to ever-changing situations.
  • Follow a professional code of ethics.
  • Display a caring attitude.
  • Demonstrate professional behavior in the classroom, lab, and clinical settings; including, but not limited to, appropriate personal hygiene, timeliness, preparation, and concentration.
  •  Demonstrate empathy for patients and peers, exhibit sensitivity to the needs of others’, and treat all with dignity and respect.
  • Demonstrate awareness of other’s reactions and understanding of why they react the way they do.
  • Respond calmly to, and remain focused during stressful situations.
  • Respond professionally and appropriately to emergency situations.
  • Maintain composure in clinical and didactic environments.
  • Establish productive working relationships.
  • Work independently or in a team.
  • Interpret non-verbal communication.
Visual Ability:
  • Demonstrate visual acuity sufficient for reading, evaluating, and processing prescriptions, labels, and packages of all types.
  • Read numbers and letters in fine print, such as would appear on prescription labels and patient package inserts accurately.
  • Differentiate solid dosage forms by size, shape, and color.
  • Demonstrate the ability to accurately distinguish demarcations and be able to calibrate all equipment used to weigh, measure, and dispense medication.
  • Read Roman numerals accurately.
  • Read medication labels, and draw up and read syringe volumes accurately.
  • Perform visual inspections of preparations for discolorations, precipitations, bubbles, clumps, etc. on compounded sterile and not-sterile preparations.
Auditory Ability:
  • Demonstrate hearing acuity sufficient to communicate and interact with patients, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals.
  • Hear and communicate clearly in person and by telephone.
  • Hear conversations well enough to communicate with patients, peers, instructors, and other healthcare providers.
  • Listen for awareness of equipment function or malfunction and/or emergency signals.
Tactile Ability:
  • Demonstrate tactile ability sufficient for preparation and compounding of sterile and non-sterile products.
  • Demonstrate the ability to put on and remove Personal Protective Equipment, or PPE.
  • Manipulate syringes and dispose of needles safely.
  • Manipulate vials, ampules, and medication packaging.
  • Calibrate and use the equipment.
  • Demonstrate the ability to put on and remove gloves, gown, shoe covers, mask, protective eyewear, and head covering.
Olfactory Ability:
  • Demonstrate olfactory ability sufficient to detect unusual odors/smells in the environment.
  • Detect malodorous or unusual odors of medicines.
  • Distinguish smells which adversely affect the environment (fire, noxious fumes, etc.).
  • Tolerate exposure to various chemical odors.
Strength and Mobility:
  • Demonstrate physical abilities and strength sufficient to perform clinical and administrative duties.
  • Demonstrate strength sufficient to lift heavy objects.
  • Demonstrate the ability to move in tight quarters.
  • Demonstrate the ability to freely walk, stand, sit, squat, balance, climb, reach, grip, lift, pull, and push as needed in the performance of clinical duties.
  • Demonstrate the ability to maneuver in small spaces (walk, stand, and bend over).
  • Squat, bend/stoop, reach above shoulder level, kneel, and use standing balance.
  • Demonstrate the ability to withstand repetitive hand, fine motor movements, and manual dexterity without incident.
  • Squat, bend/stoop, reach above shoulder level, kneel, and use the standing balance to place medications in the proper place.
  • Lift and/or carry up to 50 pounds safely and exert up to 100 pounds force for push/pull utilizing a cart with wheels.
Motor Skills:
  • Demonstrate gross and fine motor abilities sufficient to effectively prepare, package, carry and deliver medications in a timely manner.
  • Demonstrate physical ability sufficient to maneuver in small spaces (including standing, walking, bending, and range-of-motion of extremities).
  • Calibrate, adjust, use, and clean equipment.
  • Demonstrate fine motor skills required to safely manipulate syringes and needles. 
  • Manipulate vials, ampules, and medication packaging.
  • Load paper and labels in the printer or automated medicated dispensing machines.
  •  Demonstrate keyboarding skills sufficient to complete data entry and/or clinical duties in a timely manner.
  • Perform Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) on a patient if needed.
Physical Endurance:
  • Demonstrate sufficient physical endurance to complete assigned periods, the required shift, and assigned tasks.
  • Work 8- to 12-hour shifts on AM or PM rotations.
  • Sit or stand for long periods of time, including up to 12 hours.
  • Carry at least 20 pounds while walking for extended periods of time.
  • Climb stairs
Environmental Tolerance:
  • Demonstrate the ability to work in the pharmaceutical environment.
  • Demonstrate sensitivity and ability to protect self and others from environmental risks and hazards.
  • Demonstrate the ability to tolerate prolonged periods of time amidst artificial lighting, air conditioning, dust and odors, residue from cleaning products, noise, and congested workplace.
  • Demonstrate the ability to wear Personal Protective
  • Equipment, or P.P.E., for extended periods of time during work, educational study, and labs.
  • Demonstrate awareness that the healthcare environment may contain latex and other allergens, including but not limited to medication (topical and ingestible), chemical, and mundane; tolerance of such allergens in the workplace must also be demonstrated
  • Wear gloves, mask, head covering, protective eyewear and gown for extended periods of time during patient treatment, educational study, and labs.
  • Perform frequent evaluation and correction of the facility for vapors/fumes, excessive noise, and facility cleanliness in the performance of patient care.
  • Use MSDS (materials safety data sheets) for specific drugs, chemicals, and common environmental handouts.
Adapted from: Cerro College. Cerritos College, n.d. Web. 1 Aug. 2017.