Jobs › Northwestern Medicine

Pharmacy Technician III-Central Operations, Full-time Rotating Shifts

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

Posted Sep 28, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

Apply at Northwestern Medicine

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

Tell me about a time you caught a medication error before it reached a patient.

What they are checking: Whether they have a habit of double-checking work, which is the heart of pharmacy safety.

Tell me about a time you worked with a nurse who was frustrated with the pharmacy.

What they are checking: Whether they can stay professional and solve the problem instead of becoming defensive.

How do you keep your focus during repetitive tasks like filling unit-dose carts?

What they are checking: Whether they stay accurate during routine work, where small slips can still harm patients.

What would you do

You notice a dose on a label doesn't look right for the patient. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they stop and check with the pharmacist rather than assume the order is correct.

How do you prioritize when nurses are calling for missing doses and you have a batch of IVs to prepare?

What they are checking: Whether they can balance urgent requests against scheduled work without cutting safety corners.

This role rotates between AM and PM shifts, every other weekend and some holidays, and may move to other pharmacies. How does that work for you?

What they are checking: Whether they can reliably handle the schedule and location changes the role requires.

You're delivering medications and a nurse asks you a clinical question about a drug. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they know the limits of their role and refer clinical questions to the pharmacist.

About the work

Walk me through how you prepare a sterile IV admixture from start to finish.

What they are checking: Whether they know aseptic technique and steps that keep compounded products safe for patients.

What do you know about USP 797 and why it matters in a hospital pharmacy?

What they are checking: Whether they understand the sterile compounding standards that govern clean room work.

How do you handle controlled substances in the pharmacy and on delivery?

What they are checking: Whether they understand chain-of-custody and documentation that keeps controlled drugs accounted for.

What steps do you follow when manufacturing or repackaging a product in the pharmacy?

What they are checking: Whether they follow documented procedures and record-keeping exactly as written.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at Northwestern Medicine from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

Practice this out loud

The full job description

As published by Northwestern Medicine.

The Pharmacy Technician III 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. Under the direction of a registered pharmacist, performs all technical duties associated with the daily operation of the dispensing areas; performs prescription related, unit dose related, and sterile product related functions; performs manufacturing procedures that have been documented in the Department records. Scheduling: • This position is regularly scheduled to work full-time, 40 hours weekly. Shift times are subject to change based upon departmental/patient care needs. Currently this position is anticipated to work rotating shifts (AM and PM shifts). • Weekend Commitment: Every other weekend (Saturday and Sunday) • Holiday Commitment: 1 winter and 1 summer holiday • The primary work location for this position is the Prentice 10th floor pharmacy. However, this position could rotate to other pharmacies, subject to the needs of the work group. Responsibilities: • Prepares medication orders for inpatients. • Prepares prescriptions for outpatients. • Picks up orders and delivers medications to nursing units. • Schedules intravenous admixture solutions according to the patient’s medical record. Reports any variance from the record to a pharmacist. • Answers the telephone according to hospital policy. Screens the call to determine if the call should be handled by a pharmacist or a technician. • Enters new drug orders and renewal/refill information into the computerized patient medication profile. • Uses the computer system to assist in all dispensing and inquiry functions. • Compares the patient medication bin with the pharmacy and nursing record. Returns unnecessary and/or outdated medication to the pharmacy. Reconciles use records and reports any discrepancies to a pharmacist. • Receives, prepares, and distributes floor stock requisitions and requisitions for other clinical locations. • Compounds dosage forms needed for dispensing to patients. • Assists in maintaining adequate inventory levels in the dispensing areas. • Packages extemporaneous and STAT single doses of medications under the supervision of a pharmacist. • Prepares and maintains the emergency medication systems. • Prepares sterile products for administration to patients. Selects proper diluents and vehicles and determines the appropriate stability. • Prepares cytotoxic agents for administration employing hospital and department aseptic and protective procedures. • Plans and performs the daily tasks required to provide department services under the direction of a pharmacist. • Prepares and delivers narcotics and narcotic admixtures. Conducts narcotic perpetual inventories as directed. • Meets quality and quantity requirements for new orders, unit doses, and IV admixtures. • Ensures compliance with hazardous waste collection and disposal procedures. Quality Management Responsibilities • This position assists in maintaining emergency carts, inventory, and controlled substances records. Accurate completion of responsibilities is essential to an efficient, error free drug distribution system. Required : • High School Diploma • Illinois Pharmacy Technician License (IDFPR). • Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) certification through PTCB or ExCPT through NHA required for all those licensed after 2008. • Newly licensed Technicians have 2 years from license effective date to obtain their certification. Preferred : • Completion of a Technician Training Program • Previous experience as a Pharmacy Technician 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.

Apply at Northwestern Medicine