Clinical Pharmacist Onboarding Checklist

Clinical Pharmacist Onboarding Process

Are you looking for help setting up a staff orientation process so that when your new Clinical Pharmacist starts their role, they can learn about their responsibilities and your company as quickly as possible? Whether you’re keen to use buddy onboarding, want to automate your Healthcare onboarding experience or just need an onboarding checklist for your new Clinical Pharmacist, you’re in the right place. We’ve put together a sample Clinical Pharmacist onboarding checklist below and have created onboarding templates & resources to help.

Clinical Pharmacist Onboarding Checklist

1. Orientation: The new clinical pharmacist attends an orientation session to familiarize themselves with the company’s policies, procedures, and culture. This task is typically performed by the human resources department or a designated orientation coordinator.

2. Introduction to the Pharmacy Department: The new clinical pharmacist is introduced to the pharmacy department, including meeting the pharmacy manager, other pharmacists, and support staff. This task is usually performed by the pharmacy manager or a designated preceptor.

3. Review of Job Responsibilities: The new clinical pharmacist receives a detailed review of their job responsibilities, including medication order verification, drug therapy monitoring, patient counseling, and participation in interdisciplinary rounds. This task is typically performed by the pharmacy manager or a designated preceptor.

4. Training on Pharmacy Systems: The new clinical pharmacist undergoes training on the pharmacy’s computer systems, including the electronic health record, medication dispensing software, and clinical decision support tools. This task is usually performed by the pharmacy informatics team or a designated trainer.

5. Familiarization with Medication Formulary: The new clinical pharmacist becomes familiar with the hospital’s medication formulary, including the preferred medications, therapeutic guidelines, and restrictions. This task is typically performed by the pharmacy manager or a designated preceptor.

6. Review of Policies and Procedures: The new clinical pharmacist reviews the pharmacy department’s policies and procedures, including medication safety protocols, medication storage and handling, and controlled substance management. This task is usually performed by the pharmacy manager or a designated preceptor.

7. Shadowing Experienced Pharmacists: The new clinical pharmacist shadows experienced pharmacists to observe their workflow, interactions with healthcare providers, and patient counseling techniques. This task is typically performed by experienced pharmacists or a designated preceptor.

8. Introduction to Interdisciplinary Teams: The new clinical pharmacist is introduced to the interdisciplinary teams they will be working with, such as physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. This task is usually performed by the pharmacy manager or a designated preceptor.

9. Review of Clinical Guidelines and Protocols: The new clinical pharmacist reviews the hospital’s clinical guidelines and protocols, including those related to antimicrobial stewardship, pain management, and medication reconciliation. This task is typically performed by the pharmacy manager or a designated preceptor.

10. Participation in Department Meetings: The new clinical pharmacist attends department meetings to stay updated on pharmacy-related initiatives, quality improvement projects, and upcoming changes. This task is usually performed by the pharmacy manager or a designated preceptor.

11. Introduction to Pharmacy Policies: The new clinical pharmacist is introduced to the pharmacy department’s policies, such as medication error reporting, adverse drug reaction monitoring, and medication utilization evaluations. This task is typically performed by the pharmacy manager or a designated preceptor.

12. Training on Medication Safety: The new clinical pharmacist undergoes training on medication safety practices, including high-alert medications, look-alike/sound-alike drugs, and error prevention strategies. This task is usually performed by the pharmacy manager or a designated preceptor.

13. Review of Continuing Education Requirements: The new clinical pharmacist reviews the continuing education requirements for maintaining their licensure and stays updated on the latest advancements in pharmacy practice. This task is typically performed by the pharmacy manager or a designated preceptor.

14. Introduction to Clinical Research: The new clinical pharmacist is introduced to any ongoing clinical research projects within the organization and provided with opportunities to participate or collaborate. This task is typically performed by the pharmacy manager or a designated research coordinator.

15. Performance Evaluation and Goal Setting: The new clinical pharmacist undergoes a performance evaluation and sets goals for professional development and growth within the organization. This task is typically performed by the pharmacy manager or a designated preceptor.

16. Introduction to Quality Improvement Initiatives: The new clinical pharmacist is introduced to the organization’s quality improvement initiatives, such as medication safety audits, adverse drug event reporting, and participation in root cause analysis. This task is typically performed by the pharmacy manager or a designated quality improvement coordinator.

17. Review of Emergency Response Procedures: The new clinical pharmacist reviews the pharmacy department’s emergency response procedures, including disaster preparedness, medication shortages, and emergency drug supply management. This task is typically performed by the pharmacy manager or a designated preceptor.

18. Introduction to Clinical Decision Support Tools: The new clinical pharmacist is introduced to the clinical decision support tools used within the organization, such as drug interaction checkers, dosing calculators, and evidence-based medicine resources. This task is usually performed by the pharmacy informatics team or a designated trainer.

19. Introduction to Medication Safety Committees: The new clinical pharmacist is introduced to the medication safety committees within the organization and provided with opportunities to participate in medication safety initiatives. This task is typically performed by the pharmacy manager or a designated medication safety officer.

20. Ongoing Mentorship and Support: The new clinical pharmacist is provided with ongoing mentorship and support from experienced pharmacists or preceptors to ensure a smooth transition and continuous professional development. This task is typically performed by experienced pharmacists or a designated preceptor

Setting Up Your Employee Onboarding Process

From reading through the items in the example Clinical Pharmacist checklist above, you’ll now have an idea of how you can apply best practices to getting your new Clinical Pharmacist up to speed and working well in your Healthcare team. Scroll up to see the link to our onboarding templates & resources or get in touch to discuss getting help setting up your systems and processes in this area.