Health care careers

The most familiar and visible people working in the pharmacy industry are the individuals who fill

or assist in filling prescriptions. They also educate the clients on how to use their medications safely

and correctly.

The pharmacy aide usually receives informal, on-the-job training. They assist the pharmacist with

clerical duties such as answering the phone, billing, stocking shelves, cashier, maintaining inventory,

preparing insurance claim forms, etc.

The pharmacy technician usually has a certificate or associate

degree. They must read, fill, and dispense

prescriptions under the direction of the licensed pharmacist. They may fulfill all the duties of

the pharmacy aide, and also retrieve, count,

pour, weigh, measure, and sometimes mix the

medications.

The pharmacy technician prepares prescription labels, selects the type of containers, and affixes the labels to the containers. They must be able to

communicate with doctors and clients.

The pharmacist usually starts in a pre-pharmacy

program of study, followed by application to and completion of a pharmacy school. This

takes 5-7 years, followed by an internship under a

licensed pharmacist. They must then pass

board tests, becoming a registered pharmacist…

an expert on medications.

The pharmacist advises physicians and other health practitioners on the selection, dosages,

interactions (the effect of using one substance on another), and side effects of medications.

The pharmacist counsels clients and answers questions about prescription

drugs, those that can only be dispensed via a

written order of a physician. This

includes possible adverse reactions and interactions. They give advice about medical equipment and home health care supplies.

The pharmacist provides information and recommendations for over-the-counter

(OTC)drugs… those that can be purchased without a prescription.

The pharmacist may work in an independently owned, chain, or franchise ‘drug store’ or pharmacy. They

may also work in a hospital. In a hospital setting, the

pharmacist may prepare IV medications, stock the

nursing stations, or deliver medications to hospital

rooms. They may instruct the patients in continuing drug therapies after they

leave the hospital.

A pharmaceutical

researcher works as a part

of a team in developing new medications.

They also refine or improve

existing medications.

A pharmaceutical representative combines science with business. They travel to pharmacies, clinics, and hospitals to meet with doctors, nurses, and

pharmacists. They promote the use of new drugs

and drug therapies available through the company they represent. They

may provide trial samples.

The United States Pharmacopeia (USP) and the National Formulary (NF) are both national listings of

the generic names of medications. A drug label includes

the brand name, in capital letters, and the

generic name. TYLENOL is a brand

name; ‘acetaminophen’ is the generic name. This is

a medication commonly used for

pain and fever.

Drug labels include the form of the medication. Some medications are offered in numerous forms:

such as tablets, capsules, or liquids.

A drug label indicates the total number of volume in the container,

such as the number of tablets or the amount of

liquid.

Drug labels indicate the route of administration. This tells how the medication is to be taken… by

mouth, topically, eardrops, eye drops, IV, etc.A drug label lists

appropriate warnings, such as “may be habit forming”, “stay out of sunlight”, “take with food”, “shake well”, “do not refrigerate”,

“this drug may cause drowsiness”, etc.

Drug labels give storage information when appropriate, such as “store in the refrigerator” or

“store away from light”. The label also gives manufacturer information, such as the name of the

manufacturer and expiration date of the medication.

Oral medications are often packaged in dosages. A single

dose may be contained in small

foil or plastic packages. Packages

of multiple-dose medications may

have child-resistant lids. A physician may order or a client may request a non-child resistant container.

Over-the-counter (OTC) medications can be dispensed without a prescription, but can still have

side effects or interfere with other medications taken. They may be the same as prescription

medications, only in lower doses.

Medications sometimes interfere with each other OR with other substances. This is called a drug

interaction, and can either cause a medication not to work OR cause side effects not normally found.

The consumption of alcohol, smoking

cigarettes, or consuming too much caffeine is

‘contra-indicated’ with some drugs. The client should never take ANY

type of medications during pregnancy without the advice of physician.

Some drugs can be hazardous to the drug handler. The pharmacist or pharmacy technician must guard against exposure to hazardous drugs.

Corrosive materials are substances that can damage

body tissues. Cytotoxic materials are poisonous to

cells such as anti-neoplastic drugs (those used to treat

cancer). The pharmacist must practice standard operating

procedures and wear protective equipment to

minimize risk of exposure.

Prescription medications are also called ‘legend’ drugs, and can only be dispensed with a label that reads “Caution: Federal Law Prohibits Dispensing

Without a Prescription”. The Comprehensive

Drug Abuse Prevention and

Control Act of 1970 was created to

combat and control drug abuse. It defines

5 categories of controlled

substances.

Schedule I Substances: No accepted medical use and high abuse potential (Heroin, LSD)Schedule II Substances: High abuse potential or physical dependence liability (codeine, oxycodone Percodan, Dilaudid, Ritalin) Schedule III Substances: Some narcotic effects (Tyloenol with codeine, pentobarbital and secobarbital compounds) Schedule IV Substances: Limited abuse potential (Darvon, Valilum, Xanax, Phenobarbital, Miltown, Librium).Schedule V Substances: Less abuse potential; generally antidiarrheals and analgesic meds

a.c. : before mealsad lib. : as desiredBID or b.i.d. : twice a dayh. or hr. : hourlyh.s. : hour of sleep, bedtimen. or noc. : nightp.c. : after mealsPRN or p.r.n. : as necessaryq.d. or QD: every dayq.h. : every hourQ2h or q.2h. : every 2 hoursQID or q.i.d. : four times a dayq.o.d. : every other daystat: immediatelyTID or t.i.d. : three times a day =prescription