I was so excited, only to be disappointed—I was deceived into thinking I was going to be working on my feet in an actual pharmacy … There are a variety of locations where a Pharmacy Technician may be able to work with varying tasks. But there has been situations where technicians have been added to Therese teams where pharmacists usually take place because of their technical knowledge of automation and EMAR system that used. But we also have the opportunity to advance through the state into different positions. I have been a tech then supervisor/pharmacy buyer for 17 years and I am really looking to move out of the hospital setting and into the business side of pharmacy. Its a very independent position in which I see my RPh rarely. You get there at 5am, pop together some piggybacks, and at 6 am your batch will print off. Another option for techs in a hospital setting that some may or may not know is the area of automation and informatics. Luckily we have a computer in the pharmacy that we can do that with for every pyxis on each unit. So here we're are now in 2018 five years later, I'm one the Lead Automation techs and Lead Technician for our site in our health system that deals directly with our EPIC Willow Analyst on our Informatics team. May measure, mix, count out, label, and record amounts and dosages of medications according to prescription orders.. She is currently the general manager so she handles a lot of the behind the scenes/business stuff. Round techs are also there for certain drugs that cannot be shaken up in the tube system, like albumin, insulins, or procrit. Close to pyxis refill, we have a round tech. If you desire to be best on your job as a pharmacy technician, you will need to develop certain skills and qualities.. The round tech can quickly run to that unit and come back. This is not to say that a tech shouldn't be able to do these things. A hospital Pharmacy Technician is quite different when compared to a retail one in regards that there is a whole lot more to be done by a Tech in this setting. So the tech pay in my state is decent, but the other benefits of the hours and ability for advancement are awesome. My job has allowed me a pretty nice life. If you know how to do these things, you'll know when to alert the pharmacist that they have to do them. It's also up to us to make sure the count is right, and if it's wrong, you need to talk to the narcotic pharmacy tech. You have to find opportunities to make them happen. Access Pharmacy Technician Certification & Provisional Certification Applications Pharmacy Technician Certification Deadline Approaching Webinar. The IV tech position is my favorite. Money is not so much an issue it’s more of which … I don't know if I've mentioned the tube system yet, but it's the same concept ares any tubes in banks or retail pharmacies, except you get more options to send a tube to. The site may not work properly if you don't, If you do not update your browser, we suggest you visit, Press J to jump to the feed. When interviewing for a pharmacy technician position, you want to do everything you can to show the interviewer your knowledge of common prescription medicine and customer service.While you should always be prepared for common job interview questions, there are technician … We also print out reports that patients need but aren't in the pyxis. A subreddit for pharmacists, pharmacy students, techs, and anyone else in the pharmaceutical industry. What sort of analytical field? When writing your resume, be sure to reference the job description and highlight any skills, awards and … Having a degree certainly helps as well so I would recommend that you have your bachelor's or at the meat an associates to make them happen more easily. I’ve been thinking of going to pharmacy school just to be able to make actual $ but from what I’ve heard, now isn’t a great time to do that. You will have to make decisions that will make you doubt whether or not they are good ones, but there are opportunities forums as technicians to grow and become much more. IVs also go into the pyxis, but they have a large space specifically for just that. The PTCE has been around for a lot longer than the ExCPT and therefore recognized by more establishments as a basis for a national certification. So if you are only beginning your healthcare career, or you’re a seasoned pharmacy technician … Are there any websites that will teach me how to pass the PTCE that I can check out? 3 years of experience in a hospital (IVs/Sterile Compounding/Chemo, Inpatient, Outpatient). Our job is to get the medication order label, grab the drug, and tube it to the correct unit. Started in retail. One deals with any problems with the pyxis machine itself, one orders all medications and checks inventory, and the other deals with anything narcotic related. Obviously being in a relationship where you both work will improve your financial picture, but I know several that are living on their own too. A Pharmacy Technicians assist pharmacists in dispensing medications and are accountable to the supervising pharmacist who is legally responsible for the care and safety of patients served by the pharmacy. Does your job have that kind of security that a hospital would offer? Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. I've tried finding other jobs but nothing seems to be a better fit for me. No hospital will consider me without - You guessed it - hospital experience. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy. Salary ranges can vary widely depending on … There are currently two ways to become a certified Pharmacy Technician out there: What's the difference between the two you may be asking? I had 10 years of retail pharmacy experience and have been certified since 2011. 2nd Day Retail Pharmacy Technician Apprentice here, advise? My current job is as a chemotherapy IV tech. October 15, 2019. The nurses can't grab a drug from the tube system and put it inside the pyxis. Wow, that's awesome. A pharmacy technician assists the pharmacist in running the operations of the pharmacy, interacting professionally with customers, and complying with regulatory laws. Went back to an independent retail pharmacy for a bit before taking the job I have now. Do you know anybody who works in hospital? Benefits of Becoming a Pharmacy Tech. This is what the round tech delivers. The pharmaceutical industry is steadily expanding, and as the number of pharmacies increases in the coming years, pharmacy … Know to alert the pharmacist. I'm a CPhT at my local hospital and I've been doing this job (either in retail or in hospital) for about 5 years now. Pharmacy tech positions in CA as far as I know are primarily filled by pre-pharmacy … As a pharmacy technician, you will rarely be bored. They are snakes. Reconstitute (mix) medications prior to dispensing. I am not part of the CIS team, but with time as all things have lead me I'm hoping to apply and get on. Pharmacy technicians can work in smaller privately-owned pharmacies, hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living centers, and even for a mail-order pharmacy. It is nice. Pyxis refill techs can't drop everything they are doing to go refill a very specific machine to refill just one medication, especially since their sheets print early in the morning, so it may not have everything missing. Any violations of HIPAA will not be tolerated and will result in a ban, Any personal attacks on other member will result in an immediate ban, Any stories about the pharmacy you would like to talk about? I am pretty much in your same position. The income is on the higher end for those without a college degree. So when you're done with an IV, you stick it in the window and go on about your day. Which isn't shabby for no nights, weekends, or holidays. I started my new job last Monday at a specialty pharmacy clinic. *These states do not require an individual to be licensed by the state, but double check your state board of Pharmacy to be sure. It's not pharmacy, but I just got offered a promotion and I'm starting next Monday at 47k/year. Lead pharmacy technician in a high-volume pharmacy. But there's one little detail that is driving me insane: pharmacy technicians, even in hospitals, just don't make that much. A majority of the states in the US will require a state issued license to be a practicing Pharmacy technicians and some may require an individual to have their national certification which will also be dependent on the company policy. You may also visit /r/TalesFromThePharmacy. After 7 years I'll be at about 57k, plus I know that the girl who was in the position I'm taking was there for about a year and then took a promotion elsewhere. Narcotics have lids on them that cannot be manually opened so nobody gets sticky fingers. You should ask this question because it shows whether or not the pharmacy technician will be a good fit for your business. After a year in retail (Walgreens) I applied for a hospital position and worked there for over 5 years. Ive had my current job for almost 17 years. My current job is as a chemotherapy IV tech. You grab the drugs needed for the entire day, and separate according to piggybacks, time sensitive, any time drugs, and premixed. I absolutely love every aspect about my job. You also have to know how to work the machine. Some facilities have dedicated automation tech that manage all the cabinets in the background. While delivering quality customer service, you’ll receive valuable knowledge … Pharmacy Technician. Hey all! As for informatics, there are facilities that have teams of clinicians that do all the background work for the pharmacy when it comes to EMAR systems like EPIC/Cerner/Meditech. Employers prefer, and many require, their pharmacy … use the following search parameters to narrow your results: This sub is to try to alleviate some of the Technician related traffic on /r/pharmacy . Working as a pharmacy tech … Looks like you're using new Reddit on an old browser. Tomorrow is my second day as a Pharmacy Technician … In many pharmacies, technicians: 1. She started as a pharmacy technician in her early twenties at an independent. When a patient needs a tablet or two, the nurse can grab it from the pyxis. I'll get to that later. WASHINGTON, DC -- As pharmacy technicians assume more expanded roles in pharmacy, the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), the nation’s leading credentialing body for pharmacy technicians, launches advanced Assessment-Based Certificate Programs in two specialty areas: Technician … Pyxis on each unit that alone opened up a whole new world to.... Best on your job have that kind of security that a hospital but it 's not pharmacy,.! So nobody gets sticky fingers, she is currently the general manager so she handles a lot the. Obtain a Certification from the pyxis holds lots of different medications, each in its own little cubicle that... Real “career” also in less than one year most used drug in our clinics without her by side... Of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy to pyxis refill, we do on... Of defense if a patient is buying a contraindicated OTC product a bachelors an... 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