Your Pharmacy Team
Pharmacists work across many settings, including diabetes care centres, primary care clinics, and collaborative health teams. The three main practice areas are community pharmacies, hospitals, and collaborative health teams.
Hospital pharmacy teams—made up of pharmacists, regulated technicians, and assistants—work closely with patients and the healthcare team to ensure safe and effective medication use. They prepare medications, manage treatment plans, provide patient education, prescribe for minor ailments, support transitions home, collaborate with community pharmacies, and contribute to research and training. Patients can ask any member of their care team to speak with a pharmacist during a hospital stay.
Community pharmacy teams include pharmacists, registered pharmacy technicians, pharmacy students, pharmacy assistants, and clerks. Each team member plays a distinct role in supporting patient care.
Collaborative Health Teams often also include a pharmacist. Collaborative health teams practice in healthcare setting where you will find a variety of providers working together, such as physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, dietitians, pharmacists and other providers. Examples include NSH Primary Care Clinics, Diabetes Centers and more.
Learn more about their roles below:
Pharmacy Professionals are Healthcare Profesionals
All pharmacists in Nova Scotia receive the same education and certifications, regardless of their work setting. While their day-to-day roles may differ, all pharmacists are highly trained healthcare professionals.
Become a Pharmacy Professional!
Pharmacy Professionals are sought after roles in healthcare. Learn more about these dynamic careers here.
Your Community Pharmacy Team
Pharmacy Manager
A Pharmacy Manager is a licensed pharmacist who oversees the day-to-day operations of the pharmacy. They supervise staff to ensure they follow professional standards and are also responsible for creating and maintaining policies to meet legal requirements for running a licensed pharmacy.
Pharmacists
Pharmacists in Nova Scotia provide more than just medications they assess and prescribe for common conditions, manage chronic diseases, review medications, and administer vaccines.
Pharmacy Technicians
Registered Pharmacy Technicians are regulated professionals who prepare, package, and manage prescriptions and inventory but do not provide drug therapy advice.
Pharmacy Assistants
Pharmacy Assistants support prescription preparation and inventory under a pharmacist’s supervision. They do not provide drug therapy advice.
Other Roles in Community Pharmacy
Pharmacy Students/ Candidates are currently enrolled in accredited university pharmacy programs and are completing practical training under supervision of a licensed pharmacist.
Pharmacy Interns are pharmacy graduates who are in process of becoming fully licensed as a pharmacist. They provide all pharmacist duties under supervision.Â
Cashiers/Clerks work under a pharmacist’s supervision to manage transactions and assist with inventory. They do not provide drug therapy advice.
