Pharmacy Technicians are used in a wide variety of practice settings, including chain or independent pharmacies, hospitals, home health care, long-term care, nuclear pharmacy and managed health care facilities. Currently the role of the Pharmacy Technician is expanding as the profession embraces pharmaceutical care as its primary function. Pharmaceutical care is a practice philosophy that strives for positive medication therapy outcomes. The patient’s health is actively monitored to make sure that the goals of the health care team (patient, pharmacist, physician) are met. |
|
Beginning July 1, 2009, all new applicants for Pharmacy Technician registration will have twelve months to obtain certification by taking the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board Exam approved by the Iowa Board of Pharmacy. This exam is an examination currently recognized in Iowa. Continue to check back to the IPA website for updates. This course will prepare the Pharmacy Technician to take the national exam.
Overview: Pharmacy Technician Review Course
Day 1 Why does certification matter?
- Assisting pharmacist in serving patients
- Processing prescription orders:hospital, retail
- Third party payers
- Maintaining medication & inventory control systems
- Controlled substance records
- Investigational drugs
- Inventory & turnover
- Repacking
Day 2 Pharmacology: brand/generic names of commonly prescribed medications
- Chemotherapy, hospital, retail
- Drug classification
- Primary uses of commonly prescribed medications
- Usual dosing, common side effects, notable interactions
- Restricted drugs
- Radiopharmaceuticals
Day 3 Assisting with pharmacy administration & management
- Medication error prevention
- Policies & procedures for handling of hazardous drugs
- Pharmacy abbreviations & terminology
Day 4 Aseptic technique
- Extemporaneous compounding
Day 5 Pharmacy law and ethical issues
Day 6 Measurement systems & system conversion
- Dosages & calculations
- Fractions, decimals, proportions, roman numerals
- Temperature conversions
- Business calculations
Day 7 Dosages and calculations
- Concentrations
- Percentage/ratio strength
- BSA, IV flow rates, alligation, specific gravity
Day 8 Registration for national exam
- Tips for successful test taking
- What to expect on the exam
- Recertification guidelines