Pharm Tech?

Crystle_clear · Nov 9, 2005

Hi, I was a pharmacy technician for two years in a retail setting. I recently got my QMA (qualified medication aide) certification and my expereience as a pharmacy tech helped tremendously in passing the Pharmacology portion. I already knew almost all of the durgs and their generics because our pharmacy was set up alphabetically by generic name. I think it would be a very worthwhile experience for you. Good luck!

ERNurse752, RN · Nov 9, 2005

My brother has been a pharm tech for a few years, and he seems to know a lot about meds...sounds good! Good luck. :)

Cguertler · Nov 9, 2005

Im currently enrolled as a pharamcy tech, and im "pre-nursing" i took the class originally bc i wanted to go in pharmacy, but the skills i learn, ie pharmaceutics, are crucial to all the allied health and professional health fields. Its not "easy" but its not nearly as hard as anything like nursing. Plus its an awesome job to pay for stuff during school.

Bipley · Nov 9, 2005

My work is offering a class starting this month to qualify you to take the pharmacy tech certification test. I signed up to take it since it is only 8 weeks and school does not start until Jan. Anyone taken this class? I am hoping since it will deal with a lot of medications it might be a good prep course for pharmacology? Any thoughts?
Thanks!

I worked my way through nursing school as a CPhT. Actually, when I was in nursing school there was no national certification. Even though I was an RN when the national certification became offered, I took the national exams anyway just for the heck of it.

I'm not sure most nurses realize what it takes to pass the CPhT test, it isn't easy. The techs need pharmacology, medical terminology, anatomy, math, endocrinology, the works. Techs can calculate drops per minute with any IV set and they can double check med dosing. That comes in handy!

Currently I teach CPhT classes on a PRN basis (I'm a sub) but I used to teach it full time. I would NEVER suggest taking the year long course, it's a waste of time and money (they teach the wrong things to take the test), but an 8 week class, absolutely! Besides, you learn the in's and out's of Pyxis and how to get around all the silly crap Pyxis does.

For example, I know how to get a drug out of the Pyxis without an order. In a pre-code situation, that comes in handy. You have a doc right there giving verbal orders. I don't have to wait for Pharmacy to enter the orders, I already know how to obtain the drug in a pinch. If it exists in my Pyxis I have access to it. I know which reports are sent to pharmacy when I cheat and which aren't. I know how to get out of a Pyxis problem and how to avoid the reports.

That in itself is worth it to me. :)