Pharmboy518

I would say you know better than anyone. You're the only one ultimately that will be doing it. I can tell you... It is possible. I'm a single father with a 6 year old and I've had to sacrifice a lot this year... not being involved in his school as much as id like to be, not getting to spend extra time with him, etc. I work my weekends too to pay the bills. It's hard but to tell you the truth I feel like a stable and decent career in nursing is worth the sacrifice. Also as I come to the end of my year - (not to sound all cheesy or whatever) the feeling I have is indescribable. You achieve something that you'll never lose. You work VERY hard for it and if you have kids and have to work another job too it gives you that much more pride when it's all over. I say go for it!

CR Drumlines - Circulatory, Respiratory. Digestive, Reproductive, Urinary, Muscular, Lymphatic, Integumentary, Nervous, Endocrine, and Skeletal. - All the major systems of the body.

I really like www.pharmacy-tech-study.com for review... very organized and divided into the different subjects. Lot's of math and some good videos too.

Remember C.R. D.R.U.M.L.I.N.E.S. is a good way to remember all the systems. It makes me think of parts for my car or something... like i need to go get the CR Drumlines replaced. lol

One more thing. Do any of you other pharm. techs out there feel like you got shafted as much as I do about the whole career? I was told 15 bucks per hour right out the door starting, easy access to full time hours, decent benefits, vacation, sick time, etc. I cant BELIEVE what it's really like. First of all the PTCB only tests about HALF the stuff I'm actually doing. I had to basically re-learn everything I studied and memorized regarding the insurance end of the business, There's basically zero hope of moving up to become a lead anytime... and the amount of ungreatful attitudes you deal with in that field is phenominal! I mean It's like all the negative enegry in the universe gets channeled into pharmacies across the US... I dig it and Pharm work is awesome and this is just a vent sessions, but c'mon. There needs to be a little more honesty and some more state by state info available for this kind of work.

Thanks a lot for all your comments. I think what I'll do is try to stick it out. It's only a year and at the end it will feel really good to have some extra money (security on an apartment. or something). If my grades start slipping and it becomes absolutly unbearable then I'll stop, but in the mean time It's probably good for me to see how much I can take. On a side note, though, this site is def. awesome. I'd really like to keep in touch w. everyone throughout the year. ...Talk stress and time management and keep up to date with what's going on with everyone else. Good luck to everyone

I wouldn't worry too much about it. First of all... It's their job to hype up the program and "weed out the weak" or whatever. They're just getting you ready - psychologically for what's to come. Have you ever noticed that any nurse you talk to tells you that their program was the worst, most brutal, program.. no matter where it was? Yes, they are responsible for lives, but unfortunately... any and i mean ANY time there is a situation or profession that involves human beings, mistakes can be made. This is because noone is perfect, no matter how hard we try or how prepared we might be. We can get pretty damn close to perfection, but we won't ever BE perfection... not in this lifetime anyway. That being said... In my estimation, YES nurses DO have a very vital and important role in regards to how the quality of someone elses life depends on how well they do their jobs., and there is probably good reason for their no-nonsense, borderline mean attitudes. But remember this - Nursing and this type of work comes and flows from an undercurrent of genuine caring and a real yearning to give quality of life. I know this sounds cheesy but if you always keep that in mind, and approach every potential hardship and obstacle with that attitude, of "i'm going to go into this always concsious of that understanding, that i am an honest person, who wants to do my best to give good quality of life" then i've always found everything works out just fine. good luck.

I just started the LPN program yesterday and needless to say - it is a bit overwhelming. I had planned on working while in the program to help support myself and my son (I'm also a single father), but most people I have talked to advise against it, especially If I want to maintain a 85%+ average like the the instructors recommend. Here is the clincher - I'm currently working as a Pharmacy Technician which took me 6 months to obtain (certification plus job hunting, etc). In my eyes, LPN is a better job all around than Pharm. tech and being an LPN would lead me to much more opporitunity... If I quit my job to focus just on school I WILL have support and approval from some of my family which is good. I also have enough money saved to for me to eek by the school year, and I really don't NEED this pharm. tech job. I just won't have the EXTRA money i'd be making while working in the pharmacy. and I would also have the feeling of giving up, because there are other people who do it all and get through. ANY ADVICE???