Advice for Pharmacy Technicians

[All4MyDaughter]

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Hello all. I'm putting together a manual for a pharmacy technician certification course I'm assisting with next month.

I thought I'd promote SDN a little bit by having a page in the back with advice from pharmacists, pharmacy students and other pharmacy technicians. So many of us have experience working in a pharmay, and I know there is wisdom we have to impart to technicians in training.

So share a little advice with me and I'll pass it along to the techs. You will be identified only by your SDN username or your initials, whichever you prefer. If you choose initials, please provide them.

Thanks!

 

[All4MyDaughter]

Work on one thing at a time. It's easy to get distracted and confused if you have multiple bottles open filling multiple scripts at the same time. Finishing one before moving to the next will help you keep it all straight. -SML

 

[Julianne]

Hmmm - is it just going to be a "helpful hints" kinda thing or an actual training manual? I probably have alot of advice I could share (limited to experience in one company 🙂) but dunno how specific you want to go with it...

 

[Omegadramon]

How will you structure it? There are people like me who are studying for the PTCE without ever stepping inside a pharmacy.

 

[All4MyDaughter]

This part is just going to be a page of quotes. Tidbits, if you will.

 

[Julianne]

I'll be back on later this afternoon/evening and I'll send you some then...

 

[sdn1977]

Ok - here's a few:

If you're unsure - ask!

Never give medical or pharmaceutical advice without checking with the pharmacist first.

Know what you legally cannot do and don't do it.

Learn what you can do by learning the laws in your state & reading your company's policy & procedure manual. "Not knowing" is not an excuse. It is your job to learn.

When you're being taught something, write it down if information comes fast. No one minds repeating it again, twice or perhaps a third time for an unusual procedure. However, at some point, you are expected to remember.

If you're compounding an expensive, highly toxic or a specially ordered drug - be sure to go over your compounding methods first with the pharmacist.

If you've made a mistake, admit it and accept responsibility - even if you realize it after the drug has been dispensed. Its better to intervene earlier rather than later.

If we're busy and the time is not appropriate to ask your question, write it down so you can ask later.

Don't get involved in gossip - its destructive.

Be on time, be enthusiastic, be willing and be tolerant.

You will have to take your turn at the less favorable shifts, days & tasks - everyone does, even if its early in their career.

Never disparage another health professional - physician, nurse, lab tech, pharmacist or pharmacy tech. This is profesional courtesey. If you want to complain - take it home to your SO, your dog, or your shower.

When problems do occur - interpersonal or professional, know the mechanism for resolution. Each employer has one.

Don't even be tempted to take any drug of any kind. Its not only wrong on many levels, it can be dangerous.

I can't think of any more right now, but thats a start.

 

[pharmboy30]

please know how to pronounce and spell drug names.
it annoys me when a tech who has been working in the IV room for months takes a message for "zoysin". I've had one tech ask me literally 10 times what the generic name for Levophed is.
Makes me think one is not paying attention to what they are doing if they can't spell a drug they have filled/compounded hundreds of times.

know the difference when filling orders in Unit dose area the difference between the extended release dosage forms. Don't give me a Wellbutrin if the order is for Wellbutrin XL.

Take an extra second to double check your work - don't give me a metronidazole 500mg tab when the label says metformin 500mg and you just grabbed a tab out of the "correct bin". Sometimes things get put away incorrectly or get mixed up.

If there is something you are not comfortable with, don't be afraid to speak up or ask.

Everyone makes mistakes, don't try to cover them up.

Don't take anything without asking. Not worth risking job/license.

Be familiar with policies.

Be familiar with calculations.

If you are going to leave the pharmacy, please let the pharmacist know.

 

[Julianne]

My suggestions are of a more general nature than SDN1977s (and mostly geared toward retail but could apply to any setting, I suppose)...

*If you are unsure, ASK! It only takes a minute to answer a question but fixing a mistake can be time consuming!

*If you tell a patient or a co-worker that you will do something (cover a shift, call for refills, PAs or other insurance problems, etc.), DO IT! Not following through (IMO) is unprofessional and creates larger problems down the road.

*If you have a 'one track' mind, find ways to improve on your multi-tasking abilities- I think this better prepares you for the environment you'll face as a (retail) pharmacist.

*While you are filling scripts, take a second or two to learn one thing about the medication in your hand - What is it commonly used for? Is it a brand or generic? What are the contraindications? It takes no time to glance over the patient information phamphlet or other literature that accompanies the drug (and you just might be surprised what sticks with you)! This is one of the best things about being a tech, IMO - there's always, always something new to learn!

Hope that helps...

 

[All4MyDaughter]

Ok - here's a few:

If you're unsure - ask!

Never give medical or pharmaceutical advice without checking with the pharmacist first.

Know what you legally cannot do and don't do it.

Learn what you can do by learning the laws in your state & reading your company's policy & procedure manual. "Not knowing" is not an excuse. It is your job to learn.

When you're being taught something, write it down if information comes fast. No one minds repeating it again, twice or perhaps a third time for an unusual procedure. However, at some point, you are expected to remember.

If you're compounding an expensive, highly toxic or a specially ordered drug - be sure to go over your compounding methods first with the pharmacist.

If you've made a mistake, admit it and accept responsibility - even if you realize it after the drug has been dispensed. Its better to intervene earlier rather than later.

If we're busy and the time is not appropriate to ask your question, write it down so you can ask later.

Don't get involved in gossip - its destructive.

Be on time, be enthusiastic, be willing and be tolerant.

You will have to take your turn at the less favorable shifts, days & tasks - everyone does, even if its early in their career.

Never disparage another health professional - physician, nurse, lab tech, pharmacist or pharmacy tech. This is profesional courtesey. If you want to complain - take it home to your SO, your dog, or your shower.

When problems do occur - interpersonal or professional, know the mechanism for resolution. Each employer has one.

Don't even be tempted to take any drug of any kind. Its not only wrong on many levels, it can be dangerous.

I can't think of any more right now, but thats a start.

That's exactly what I was looking for. Great start! Thanks. 🙂

 

[All4MyDaughter]

Bumping!

Thanks to Julianne and pharmboy too!

 

[uncinmyheart]

I have one. I've been working at a retail pharmacy as a tech (now I'm a CpHT) for about a year and a half and I'm definitely planning to go to pharmacy school.
One thing I suggest to other pharmacy-bound students who are working in pharmacies is to get to know the pharmacists that you work with. They are the biggest source of information, and I can say for myself, that I've learned a lot from the pharmacists that i work with just by asking them questions and speaking with them about drugs, drug interactions, even about when they were pharmacy students (a long time ago, lol), like how they got into pharmacy school, any tips/advice they can give me. Plus, they'll be your references when you get to know them well.

 

[futureRXdealer]

Dont let an impatient/mad/rude patient cause you to rush what you are doing. Take as much time as you need to make sure things are entered in/filled correctly.