Abstract：
CONCLUSIONS: In an effort to expedite the publication of articles, AJHP is posting manuscripts online as soon as possible after acceptance. Accepted manuscripts have been peer-reviewed and copyedited, but are posted online before technical formatting and author proofing. These manuscripts are not the final version of record and will be replaced with the final article (formatted per AJHP style and proofed by the authors) at a later time.
OBJECTIVE: To identify pharmacy technician career pathways across pharmacy practice settings and opportunities to strengthen and expand these pathways.
METHODS: Interviews were conducted with 17 participants from national pharmacy organizations, community pharmacies, health systems, and academia from March to May 2023. Interview questions were designed to elicit participants\' perceptions of factors influencing entry into, recruitment and retention of, and advancement of the pharmacy technician workforce. Interview notes were analyzed using a rapid thematic analysis approach.
RESULTS: Seven themes were identified, including 3 themes related to entry: (1) healthcare interest and prior exposure facilitate pharmacy technician career discovery; (2) variation in and quantity of entry-level requirements can impede entry into pharmacy technician careers; and (3) proactive promotion of pharmacy technician careers needed. Two themes were related to recruitment and retention: (4) pharmacy technician compensation not aligned with job demands and (5) career ladders or lattices create advancement opportunities. Two themes were related to professional advancement: (6) pharmacy technician advancement limited by weak professional identity and (7) scope-of-practice policies can facilitate pharmacy technician advancement.
CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the challenges pharmacy technicians face in their careers. Key findings stress cultivating a professional identity for pharmacy technicians, establishing career ladders or lattices, and advocating for policies that facilitate pharmacy technician professional advancement. These efforts are vital for sustaining the pharmacy technician workforce and ensuring quality patient care amidst the changing landscape of the pharmacy profession.
OBJECTIVE: To identify pharmacy technician career pathways across pharmacy practice settings and opportunities to strengthen and expand these pathways.
METHODS: Interviews were conducted with 17 participants from national pharmacy organizations, community pharmacies, health systems, and academia from March to May 2023. Interview questions were designed to elicit participants\' perceptions of factors influencing entry into, recruitment and retention of, and advancement of the pharmacy technician workforce. Interview notes were analyzed using a rapid thematic analysis approach.
RESULTS: Seven themes were identified, including 3 themes related to entry: (1) healthcare interest and prior exposure facilitate pharmacy technician career discovery; (2) variation in and quantity of entry-level requirements can impede entry into pharmacy technician careers; and (3) proactive promotion of pharmacy technician careers needed. Two themes were related to recruitment and retention: (4) pharmacy technician compensation not aligned with job demands and (5) career ladders or lattices create advancement opportunities. Two themes were related to professional advancement: (6) pharmacy technician advancement limited by weak professional identity and (7) scope-of-practice policies can facilitate pharmacy technician advancement.
CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the challenges pharmacy technicians face in their careers. Key findings stress cultivating a professional identity for pharmacy technicians, establishing career ladders or lattices, and advocating for policies that facilitate pharmacy technician professional advancement. These efforts are vital for sustaining the pharmacy technician workforce and ensuring quality patient care amidst the changing landscape of the pharmacy profession.
摘要：
结论：为了加快文章的发表，AJHP在接受后尽快在线发布手稿。接受的手稿经过同行评审和复制编辑，但在技术格式化和作者打样之前在线发布。这些手稿不是记录的最终版本，将在以后替换为最终文章（按照AJHP样式格式化并由作者证明）。
目的：确定跨药房实践设置的药房技术人员职业路径以及加强和扩展这些路径的机会。
方法：对来自国家药学组织的17名参与者进行了访谈，社区药房,卫生系统,和学术界从2023年3月到5月。面试问题旨在引起参与者对影响进入的因素的看法，招募和保留，和制药技术人员队伍的进步。使用快速主题分析方法对访谈笔记进行了分析。
结果：确定了七个主题，包括与入学相关的3个主题：（1）医疗保健兴趣和先前的接触促进了药房技术人员的职业发现；（2）入门级要求的变化和数量可能会阻碍进入药房技术人员的职业；（3）积极促进需要的药房技术人员职业。与招聘和保留有关的两个主题：（4）药房技术人员的薪酬与工作要求不符；（5）职业阶梯或格子创造了晋升机会。与专业发展有关的两个主题：（6）由于专业身份薄弱而限制了药学技术人员的发展；（7）实践范围政策可以促进药学技术人员的发展。
结论：本研究强调了药学技术人员在职业生涯中面临的挑战。主要发现强调培养药学技术人员的专业身份，建立职业阶梯或格子，并倡导促进药学技术人员专业发展的政策。这些努力对于维持药学技术人员的劳动力和在药学行业不断变化的环境中确保高质量的患者护理至关重要。
目的：确定跨药房实践设置的药房技术人员职业路径以及加强和扩展这些路径的机会。
方法：对来自国家药学组织的17名参与者进行了访谈，社区药房,卫生系统,和学术界从2023年3月到5月。面试问题旨在引起参与者对影响进入的因素的看法，招募和保留，和制药技术人员队伍的进步。使用快速主题分析方法对访谈笔记进行了分析。
结果：确定了七个主题，包括与入学相关的3个主题：（1）医疗保健兴趣和先前的接触促进了药房技术人员的职业发现；（2）入门级要求的变化和数量可能会阻碍进入药房技术人员的职业；（3）积极促进需要的药房技术人员职业。与招聘和保留有关的两个主题：（4）药房技术人员的薪酬与工作要求不符；（5）职业阶梯或格子创造了晋升机会。与专业发展有关的两个主题：（6）由于专业身份薄弱而限制了药学技术人员的发展；（7）实践范围政策可以促进药学技术人员的发展。
结论：本研究强调了药学技术人员在职业生涯中面临的挑战。主要发现强调培养药学技术人员的专业身份，建立职业阶梯或格子，并倡导促进药学技术人员专业发展的政策。这些努力对于维持药学技术人员的劳动力和在药学行业不断变化的环境中确保高质量的患者护理至关重要。
