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Pharmacy Tech - Full Time Night shift

Northwestern Medicine · Lake Forest, IL · Full time · Health Care Provider

Posted Oct 2, 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'll work overnight, 10-hour shifts, seven days on and seven off, often with little supervision. How do you stay accurate and alert?

What they are checking: Self-discipline and judgment working nights with minimal supervision, as the posting describes.

Tell me about a time you caught your own mistake before it reached a patient.

What they are checking: Honesty and self-checking habits, which matter most when working alone.

What would you do

You notice a vial you're about to use expired last week. What do you do?

What they are checking: Catching and removing outdated stock before it reaches a patient.

A nurse calls urgently for a missing dose while you're in the middle of a compound. What do you do?

What they are checking: Prioritizing safely without breaking aseptic technique or rushing a critical step.

About the work

This role includes preparing sterile compounds, including chemotherapy and other hazardous drugs. What experience do you have with sterile compounding?

What they are checking: Real experience with aseptic technique and hazardous drug handling under USP 797 and 800.

Walk me through how you'd prepare an IV admixture from start to finish in the clean room.

What they are checking: Garbing, hand hygiene, aseptic technique and labeling done correctly every time.

What extra precautions do you take when compounding chemotherapy?

What they are checking: Knowledge of protective equipment, containment and spill handling for hazardous drugs.

How do you restock an automated dispensing cabinet without making errors?

What they are checking: Careful checking of product and location, since a wrong pocket can lead to a wrong dose.

How do you fill an emergency crash cart tray, and why does accuracy matter so much there?

What they are checking: Understanding that crash cart errors can fail during a code.

How do you keep a log of each preparation, and why does that matter?

What they are checking: Recordkeeping that supports traceability and compliance.

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The full job description

As published by Northwestern Medicine.

• 72 hours/pay period • work 7 days on and 7 days off • 10 hour shifts • Overnight shift The Pharmacy Tech 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. Responsibilities: • Requires critical thinking skills, decisive judgment, and ability to work with minimal supervision. Must be able to work in a stressful environment and take appropriate action. • Identifies and fills medications, surgical kits, medication carts, emergency crash carts, requisitions, and specialty items. • Prepares Sterile compounds and IV admixtures for injection and infusion including hazardous medications, chemotherapy, and biologics • Fills and labels individual patient medications according to a computer-generated medication profile. • Packages medications into a unit-of-use form, labeling all medications and supplies with the required information; maintains a log of each preparation. • Delivers medications to nursing units to automated dispensing cabinets and retrieves discontinued medications • Maintains appropriate inventory of automated dispensing cabinets; rotates all floor stock and inventory to reduce outdated medications. • Assists in ordering, receiving, unpacking, and storing pharmaceuticals and supplies in appropriate locations. • Replaces returned medications to appropriate locations, rotating the inventory and checking for expired medications. • Controls and checks medications outside of the department by performing unit inspections and emergency cart checks. • Appropriately handles controlled substances, including maintaining security, reconciling controlled substance dispenses and accounting for transactions of expired, waste and return. • Enter patient charges and credit information into the computer. • Maintains logs, records, and other required documentation. Minimum Requirements: Education: • High School Diploma or equivalent Licensure: • Pharmacy Technician License (IDFPR) Certification: • Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) certification through PTCB or NHA required for all licensed after 2008 (within 6 months of hire or sooner if required by IL pharmacy practice act) Preferred: • One year or less of related work experience, demonstrating familiarity with routines and procedures customary to the position. 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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