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Clinical Pharmacist Float-Critical Care and ED, Full-time Rotating

Northwestern Medicine · Chicago, IL · Full time · Health Care Provider

Posted Sep 23, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

You're floating between the ICU and the ED in a rotating schedule. How do you get up to speed quickly on each unit?

What they are checking: Whether they can adapt fast to different teams and workflows as a float pharmacist.

Tell me about a time you caught a medication error that could have caused serious harm.

What they are checking: Whether they have real catches and understand how errors happen in busy settings.

How do you teach a nurse or resident about a medication issue during a busy shift?

What they are checking: Whether they share knowledge clearly and respectfully, which the role describes as being an authoritative resource.

What would you do

A physician orders a drug that you think interacts dangerously with something the patient is on. They push back. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they hold firm on safety with clear evidence and know how to escalate.

Which piece of your verification workflow do you never skip, even when the queue is long?

What they are checking: Whether they protect core safety checks like allergies and duplicates when under pressure.

About the work

You're floating to the ED and a patient with a suspected stroke needs alteplase. Walk me through what you check and how you dose it.

What they are checking: Whether they can verify weight-based thrombolytic dosing quickly and screen for contraindications under time pressure.

How do you approach vancomycin dosing in a critically ill patient with changing kidney function?

What they are checking: Whether they use AUC-based dosing and adjust for unstable renal function in the ICU.

In a code, what is your role as the pharmacist and what medications are you preparing?

What they are checking: Whether they know ACLS drugs and doses and can stay calm and useful in the room.

How would you manage sedation and analgesia for a mechanically ventilated patient in the ICU?

What they are checking: Whether they know current sedation practices that aim for light sedation and treating pain first.

How do you manage anticoagulation reversal for a patient on apixaban who comes in with a brain bleed?

What they are checking: Whether they know reversal options and can act fast in a high-stakes emergency.

An ICU patient's potassium is 2.8 and the nurse asks how fast it can be replaced through a peripheral line. What do you say?

What they are checking: Whether they know safe infusion rates and limits, which prevent serious harm.

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The full job description

As published by Northwestern Medicine.

The Clinical Pharmacist reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards. The Clinical Pharmacist is responsible for identifying, preventing, and/or resolving medication related problems; for providing authoritative information to other health care professionals, patients, and the public; and for assuring that the informational, clinical, and drug distribution components of pharmacy services function as an integrated system to provide patient centered care to the patients and staff of Northwestern Medicine. The mission of the Department of Pharmacy is to deliver the safest, highest quality, most effective and efficient patient care while developing the best people, advancing research, and integrating pharmacy services to successfully coordinate care across the Northwestern Medicine enterprise. The vision of the Department of Pharmacy is to be a recognized as a national leader in advancing the pharmacy enterprise through excellence, innovation, education and research. Responsibilities: • Interprets medication orders to ensure safety and proper use of medications and is alert to compatibilities, incompatibilities, medication duplication, medication allergies, and potential medication administration errors. Coordinates the solving of medication related problems between pharmacy, nursing, and prescribers, demonstrating initiative and sound judgment. • Monitors medication therapy for significant drug-drug, drug-diet, or drug-laboratory test interactions. Intervenes in circumstances of significant interactions, therapeutic duplications, and other occasions where pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetic expertise is warranted. • Evaluates and documents that the medication(s) selected are appropriate for achieving the desired therapeutic outcome. Communicates potential problems and likely solutions to the prescriber. • Acts as a consultant in the areas of pharmacokinetics and adverse reactions to physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals. Participates in all therapeutic drug monitoring or intervention programs; adjusting therapy as indicated by patient condition and laboratory results. • Processes all medication order information into the Electronic Health Record to ensure accuracy of records regarding past, current and future dispensing and charging. • Maintains a comprehensive pharmacy patient profile. The profile should include age, maturation, weight, allergies, diagnosis, estimated and actual pharmacokinetic parameters, and pertinent information which may affect medication therapy decisions. • Oversees the packaging labeling, and distribution of medications for all patients and employees according to established policies, procedures, and guidelines. Monitors the use of scheduled medications on the nursing units and maintains controlled inventories of medication in the dispensing areas. • Compounds and dispenses pharmaceuticals including sterile products, chemotherapy and parenteral nutrition products. • Verifies medication orders before delivery to patient care areas and ensures accuracy and completeness. Resolves discrepancies as necessary. • Reviews all laboratory data for appropriateness of medication use and recommends changes when needed. Including microbial culture and sensitivity data, toxicology, therapeutic drug monitoring, etc. • Develops and presents orientation, education and training programs for medical, nursing, hospital and pharmacy staff, as well as assisting in the educating of pharmacy students, residents, and fellows. • Educates patients and their families about specific medications. • Responds to emergency situations to assist with medication management (e.g. response to cardiac arrests) • Provides accurate and timely medication information and or teaching to healthcare professionals or patients. • Maintains the hospital formulary and acts to limit medication usage to formulary items when appropriate • Documents all clinical activities and interventions performed. Collects data, maintains logs, records and other documentation as required by the department • Communicates professional knowledge effectively in both oral and written forms to patients and other health professionals. • Participates in quality improvement and medication use review activities of the department. • Organizes, prioritizes, and plans workload within given time constraints. Works cooperatively with fellow pharmacists to oversee and direct the activities of the work area, to assign work to technicians, and to assure that the established department objectives are accomplished • Reviews restocking automated dispensing cabinets (ADCs) throughout the hospital and resolves any problems. • Ensures compliance with hazardous waste collection and disposal procedures. • Maintains proficiency and expertise in area/s of practice through continuous professional development. • All other job duties as assigned. Minimum Requirements: Education: • Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmacy or a Doctor of Pharmacy Degree Licensure: • Active Clinical Pharmacist license in the state of Illinois (IDFPR) Preferred: • Training and knowledge of specialty areas (neonatology, critical care, oncology, etc.) • Completion of a pharmacy residency program or equivalent hospital pharmacy experience Northwestern Medicine is an equal opportunity employer (disability, VETS) and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status. Background Check Northwestern Medicine conducts a background check that includes criminal history on newly hired team members and, at times, internal transfers. If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check. Results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act. Artificial Intelligence Disclosure Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person. Benefits We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Click on or copy and paste URL to your browser to view detailed benefits information NorthwesternMedicine Career Page https://jobs.nm.org/benefits Please refer to the Benefits Eligibility by Employment Classification to determine benefits eligibility for job postings. If sign-on bonus is included in a job posting eligibility is as followed: Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within 1 year are not eligible for the sign-on bonus. Exception : New graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position as a Registered Nurse at NM may be eligible.

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