Paradigm Publishing, Inc. 1 Chapter 14 Your Future in Pharmacy
Practice
Slide 2
Increasing Your Employability Career outlook for pharmacy
paraprofessionals is bright. Pharmacy technicians are gaining
recognition for the roles they play in a wide range of
pharmaceutical services. 2 Paradigm Publishing, Inc.
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3 Terms to Remember paraprofessional a trained person who
assists a professional person professional someone with recognized
expertise in a field who is expected to use his or her knowledge
and skills to benefit others and to operate ethically with some
autonomy
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Paradigm Publishing, Inc. 4 Increasing Your Employability
Adjusting to the work environment Professionalism and the
technician Hierarchy of technician positions Professional
organizations
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Adjusting to the Work Environment Transition to the pharmacy
work environment may require some adjustments. Tips for adjusting
to the workplace Attitude: Have a positive one and remember that
you are part of a team. Reliability: Be on time, available, and
dependable. 5 Paradigm Publishing, Inc.
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Adjusting to the Work Environment Tips for adjusting to the
workplace (continued): Accuracy and responsibility: Develop work
habits that ensure accuracy. Relating to your supervisor: Be
respectful of your supervisors experience and knowledge.
Personality: Be cooperative, self-confident, and enthusiastic.
Performance: Devote your full attention to your job throughout your
work shift. 6 Paradigm Publishing, Inc.
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Adjusting to the Work Environment Tips for adjusting to the
workplace (continued): Questioning: Do not be afraid to ask
questions. Dress: Follow the dress code of your organization.
Receptivity: Listen to advice and accept criticism gracefully.
Etiquette: Pay attention to your workplace culture and emphasize
courtesy. 7 Paradigm Publishing, Inc.
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Adjusting to the Work Environment Tips for adjusting to the
workplace (continued): Alliances: Forge alliances with your
colleagues, but do not engage in clique-ish behavior. Reputation:
Make yourself indispensable to the organization. Luck: You can
control your own luck somewhat by cultivating your alliances. 8
Paradigm Publishing, Inc.
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Adjusting to the Work Environment Tips for adjusting to the
workplace (continued): Learning: Stay current with new developments
in the practice of pharmacy. Expertise: Deepen your knowledge in
different areas of the profession. Reflectiveness: Take time to
reflect on your career path so you can plan where you would like it
to take you. 9 Paradigm Publishing, Inc.
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Professionalism and the Technician Pharmacy technicians are
increasingly asked to seek credentials. As part of the pharmacy
profession, technicians are expected to Be qualified to perform the
duties required Use their specific skills and knowledge Adhere to a
code of ethical conduct 10 Paradigm Publishing, Inc.
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Professionalism and the Technician Licensure refers to the
granting of a license by the state. Certification is the process by
which an organization recognizes individuals who have met certain
qualifications. Registration generally refers to a requirement that
individuals in a profession sign up with a state agency. 11
Paradigm Publishing, Inc.
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12 Terms to Remember credential a documented piece of evidence
of ones qualifications licensure the granting of a license by the
state, usually to work in a profession, in order to protect the
public
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Paradigm Publishing, Inc. 13 Terms to Remember certification
the process by which a professional organization grants recognition
to an individual who has met certain predetermined qualifications
registration mandatory signing up or registering with the State
Board of Pharmacy before starting to practice
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Professionalism and the Technician Certification is becoming a
requirement in many states. Other states recognize pharmacy
technicians through licensure or registration. Renewal of licensure
or registration is required in three-fourths of US states. 14
Paradigm Publishing, Inc.
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Professionalism and the Technician The Pharmacy Technician
Certification Board (PTCB) was established in 1995. Its mission is
to establish and maintain criteria for certification and
recertification of pharmacy technicians. It developed the Pharmacy
Technician Certification Examination (PTCE), which has certified
over 275,000 technicians. 15 Paradigm Publishing, Inc.
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16 Terms to Remember Pharmacy Technician Certification
Examination (PTCE) an examination developed by the Pharmacy
Technician Certification Board (PTCB) that technicians must pass to
be certified and receive the title of CPhT
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Professionalism and the Technician Anyone with a high school
diploma and without felony convictions is eligible to sit for the
PTCE. The PCTE seeks to verify the candidates knowledge and skill
base; it is comprehensive in scope. 17 Paradigm Publishing,
Inc.
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Professionalism and the Technician The PCTE consists of 90
multiple choice questions and is administered online. Scores are
based on the total number of correct answers; a passing score is
650. About 80% of candidates pass the test. 18 Paradigm Publishing,
Inc.
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Professionalism and the Technician PTCB requires
recertification every two years. Technicians must earn 20 hours of
continuing education credit. Pharmacy-related continuing education
can be provided by professional organizations, employers, Web
sites, or journals. 19 Paradigm Publishing, Inc.
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20 Terms to Remember Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) a
pharmacy technician who has passed the PTCE examination
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Hierarchy of Technician Positions Many organizations have
different levels of technician responsibilities with corresponding
job titles, such as Technician I and II, Technician Specialist, and
Senior Technician. Responsibility and pay increase as the
technician moves up the company ladder. 21 Paradigm Publishing,
Inc.
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Professional Organizations As part of the pharmacy profession,
technicians should get involved in the decisions that affect the
profession: Volunteering to serve on a committee of a pharmacy
organization Running for office in the local chapter of NPTA or
AAPT Attending a national pharmacy convention Sharing these service
experiences with colleagues helps advance the profession. 22
Paradigm Publishing, Inc.
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Job Search What characteristics do hiring managers look for in
a pharmacy technician? Good communication and interpersonal skills
Ability to perform accurate and precise work Dependability 23
Paradigm Publishing, Inc.
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24 Job Search Clarify your career goals Write a good rsum
Establish a network Identify and research potential employers Write
a strong cover letter Prepare for the interview
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Clarify Your Career Goals Determine your preferred pharmacy
setting (if uncertain, interview pharmacy personnel in these
settings). Consider what you want out of the job: Retail management
experience? Experience preparing sterile products or compounding
nonsterile products? Experience in ordering, inventory, and
billing? 25 Paradigm Publishing, Inc.
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Write a Good Rsum A rsum is the marketing tool; the product
being marketed is you. Your rsum should follow a consistent,
standard format. Be conservative when choosing stationery and
envelopes. 26 Paradigm Publishing, Inc.
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Write a Good Rsum Check carefully for Spelling Grammar Usage
Punctuation Capitalization Always have someone else proofread your
rsum. 27 Paradigm Publishing, Inc.
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Write a Good Rsum 28 Paradigm Publishing, Inc.
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Establish a Network Tell everyone you know that you are looking
for a job. Find out the needs of potential employers. Join
professional organizations, attend meetings, and network with
colleagues. 29 Paradigm Publishing, Inc.
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Write a Strong Cover Letter The cover letter is the first
communication you send to a potential employer. It should highlight
your qualifications and call attention to your rsum. Proofread the
cover letter carefully. Whenever possible, address the cover letter
to a specific person. 30 Paradigm Publishing, Inc.
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Prepare for the Interview Find out all you can about the
employer before the interview. Review your research and role-play
an interview situation. Eat well and sleep well the day before and
day of the interview. 31 Paradigm Publishing, Inc.
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Prepare for the Interview Rehearse answers to common interview
questions (see Table 14.5). Be ready to describe past situations
that illustrate your qualifications. Have your own questions ready
to ask if the opportunity arises. Always follow up with a thank-you
note. 32 Paradigm Publishing, Inc.
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33 Ethics in Pharmacy Practice Codes of behavior Dilemmas and
questions facing healthcare professionals
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Codes of Behavior Ethical codes are based on a relationship of
trust between the professional and the client (patient). The
professional service is not standardized; it is unique and
personal. The patient does not have the skills and knowledge to go
it alone; he or she must rely on the professional. 34 Paradigm
Publishing, Inc.
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Codes of Behavior A professional must meet certain criteria:
Holds a specialized body of knowledge Has an altruistic set of
attitudes that influence his or her professional behavior Is
subject to social sanction the trust between the society and the
professional, and the rewards it entails 35 Paradigm Publishing,
Inc.
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Dilemmas and Questions When faced with an ethical dilemma in
the pharmacy, the technician should ask these questions: What is
the dilemma? What pharmaceutical alternatives apply? What is the
best alternative, and can it be justified on moral grounds?
Pharmacy technicians must recognize, accept, and apply the ethical
standards of pharmacy practice. 36 Paradigm Publishing, Inc.
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37 Trends in Pharmacy Practice Workforce issues New medicines
and new drug development technologies Increased healthcare and drug
costs
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Workforce Issues The need for pharmacy technicians will
continue to grow. The volume of prescriptions is estimated to
double in the next 5 to 15 years. The number of pharmacists is
expected to grow only 30% in that time. 38 Paradigm Publishing,
Inc.
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Workforce Issues Pharmacy technicians will be needed to fill
the gap. 39 Paradigm Publishing, Inc.
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Workforce Issues Increased emphasis on mail-order pharmacies
Mail-order is the fastest growing distribution channel. Mail-order
pharmacies are basically highly automated warehouse operations.
Pharmacists and technicians will be needed to oversee operations.
40 Paradigm Publishing, Inc.
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Workforce Issues Increased emphasis on managed care Pharmacy
will be called upon to provide the best drug therapy at the lowest
cost. Technicians will find new opportunities in support roles.
Communication, writing, and computer application skills will be
needed. 41 Paradigm Publishing, Inc.
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Workforce Issues Increased geriatric applications Importance
and volume of medication will increase with an aging population.
Medicare Part D will provide drug insurance to a greater number of
older patients. 42 Paradigm Publishing, Inc.
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Workforce Issues Increased emphasis on home healthcare Home
healthcare is growing rapidly because of reduced cost and
preference of patients to be treated at home. More pharmacy
technicians will be needed to service this industry. 43 Paradigm
Publishing, Inc.
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Workforce Issues Growth in clinical applications Educational
and counseling functions will become more important. There will be
more pharmacy specialization (cholesterol control, TPN,
pharmacokinetics, etc.). This growth will require increasing
support from pharmacy technicians. 44 Paradigm Publishing,
Inc.
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Workforce Issues Increases in technician responsibility and
specialization Technicians will be given more responsibility.
Technicians will follow pharmacists into increasing specialization.
Technicians may be asked to work more with patients to assist with
medical devices. 45 Paradigm Publishing, Inc.
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New Medicines and New Drug Development Technologies The pace of
innovation is increasing rapidly for new dosage forms and drug
delivery mechanisms: Transdermal patches Ocular inserts Wearable IV
infusion pumps 46 Paradigm Publishing, Inc.
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New Medicines and New Drug Development Technologies Robotics
and technology will play a larger role: Automated compounding,
filling, labeling, and recordkeeping devices Increased emphasis on
e-prescribing and eMAR 47 Paradigm Publishing, Inc.
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Increased Healthcare and Drug Costs The US spends the highest
percentage of GNP on health care. The US is not among the leaders
in average life span: Risky health behavior 47 million citizens
without health insurance 48 Paradigm Publishing, Inc.
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Increased Healthcare and Drug Costs The costs for patient care
are expected to outpace inflation over the next decade. Patients
are becoming more sensitive to the costs of health care and
prescriptions. Pharmacy staff will have to work with patients to
find the most cost-effective options. Paradigm Publishing, Inc.
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