Is Pharmacy Tech Training Useful?

AgentBeast, BSN, RN · Mar 31, 2011

Take a pharmacology course. Not a pharm tech course. Pharm tech deals mainly with counting pills and mixing solutions confirming physician scripts dealing with insurance/payments ect. Pharmacology deals with therapeutic uses of drugs, contraindications, side effects, ect. All the stuff that is important for a nurse to know.

Bruce_Wayne, ASN, RN · Mar 31, 2011

Are you a nurse? Maybe look into a pharmacology nursing seminar.

Sarah010101 · Mar 31, 2011

I was a pharm tech prior to starting nursing school. while I did pick up a general understanding of drugs and pharmacology, it was nothing compared to taking an actual nursing pharmacology class.

As i am assuming you are posting on this site ebcause you want to be a nurse, i would say take a nursing pharm class. It teaches you not only about drugs, but how to focus your assessment skills and tailor your assessment to those patients taking specific drugs. As well, it is more in depth and you learn about not only the drug itself, but what process occurs in the body as well as lab values and other things that relate :)

simplvbl · Apr 1, 2011

Well, taking the pharm tech "training" itself will only give you a little knowledge that you can use if you want to become a nurse, but "working" as a pharm tech prior to becoming a nurse will give you an edge when you work as a nurse. I'm currently working in an LTC facility but worked as a pharm tech entering orders for a pharmacy supplying meds to LTC facilities prior to becoming an RN. I've only been working as a nurse for only 4 months but I can tell that my pharm tech work experience has helped me a lot being a new nurse. Pharmacology is a big aspect of nursing, yes...but working as a pharm tech will help you memorize most generic & brand names of the medications. Knowing what the meds are for, adverse reaction, etc. is a different story, though...but in my experience with entering prescriptions, we usually enter the diagnosis for the medication as well ((i.e. Acetaminophen 325mg 1 tab Q4hrs PRN (DX: Pain) or Plavix 75mg (DX:Afib)) & the system we used lets us look up more information about the drugs, so I didn't only memorize the drugs, I get used with their uses & other informations about them as well. But of course, the longer you work as a pharm tech, the more you'll know about drugs...and also depends on what area/type of pharmacy you work for.

DarkBluePhoenix · Apr 1, 2011

no you don't need it.

I took the certification exam after buying a prep book and memorized the conversions in 2 hours.

I tossed it aside and took the exam the next day

I passed!

I then needed to apply for the license part but I was broke (they wanted like $150 and your certificate and you get a "license")

Totally useless...no jobs for pharmacy techs unless you can pull a year of experience out of your bum!

Herbal · Apr 1, 2011

Thanks for all the tips.

As for my background I am studying to be a clinical herbalist. I am currently exploring the idea of becoming a nurse. I haven't 100% decided if that is where I want to go because the knowledge is what I want, not necessarily a job as a nurse- but I wouldn't mind the experience of working in that environment.

But it's a tough one because of philosophical reasons. Anyway, I am different like that. I've done lots of things just for the experience because I have many interests. So that's where I am coming from. I need more pharmacology training because I think it's essential to know about both natural medicine and western medicine.

bride2012 · Jul 22, 2011

I've been a CPhT (nationally certified) for 2 years and have been working as a Pharmacy Tech for almost 3. I'm currently in my 5th quarter of nursing school and have 3 more to go after this. I didn't take any formal training. I got the job with the intention of learning as much as I possibly could. Originally, I had intent to become a Pharmacist, but quickly realized that 6 figures a year doesn't make up for the crap that retail Pharmacists get. I decided on nursing school, to at least get my ASN - RN and get moving. I have found that my background as a tech has helped me tremendously. So many people in my class have trouble keeping drugs straight, names, uses, contraindications, side effects, etc. I ask questions all day long at work because I want to learn! Sure, some techs just get a job to get a pay check and they have no idea about any of the indications for the drugs or some of the really serious side effects. Like I said, I didn't take a course to get certified, my work paid for it. I wouldn't pay to take a program, even a short one. Get a job, and they will pay for the certification. I didn't need a book because I had the knowledge I needed just being in the environment for about a year. Once I have my RN, I plan to somehow stay as involved in the drug world as much as possible! Good luck!!

RAngersRN · Aug 26, 2012

bride2012,

I am also a past CPhT. I recently graduated this year and earned my RN. Please share any ideas or experiences, if any, to stay involved in pharmacy as a nurse. I remember the LTC pharmacy I worked at employed nurses, but now it seems like a job they're cutting back on. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

wish_me_luck, BSN, RN · Aug 26, 2012

I am currently in the process of licensing both my pharmacy tech cert. and getting ready to take NCLEX. I have had my cert for years and I think some of my pharmacy tech course knowledge helped me in my nursing classes learning drugs. Now, I am going to probably do half and half. Part time pharmacy tech and either part or full time nurse...probably part time. I think it's wonderful being both. I want to work as a pharmacy tech as well as a nurse because I think working as a pharmacy tech can give me an edge on someone else or when I do find a job, make it slightly easier with the drugs. Plus, you are more likely to see the lastest drugs coming out, have some dealings with insurance companies (could help for nurses branching out into case management aspect), and overall give better care to the patient due to having more knowledge in regards to what medication they are taking. Plus, the nurses give the meds, so they are responsible for pointing out something that isn't right with the medication ordered.

I hope eventually I can get a job doing both though. I want to be able to provide the best care possible.

hstats44 · Aug 26, 2012

I will add, that I was a pharmacy technician prior to becoming a nurse, and I feel that it has helped me recognize meds better. With that being said, I do not feel it is necessary to prepare to become a nurse.

rxrunner · Mar 18, 2016

I teach in a Pharm Tech program and we have many pre-nursing students get their Pharm Tech certification while they are on the wait list. They say it really helps with pharmacology and medications, but also that they have a good understanding of how the pharmacy department can help them. I also agree with another person who posted "learn pharmacology," but that's not always the easiest thing to learn on your own. That could be a $15 book. Someone put that there are no jobs for pharm techs, but they are actually in demand for many positions, especially in medication reconciliation, previously given to nurses. It's a good time to be a Pharm Tech, their roles are expanding, not really a great time to be a pharmacist job wise.