Chapter 1

Question 1

Practice settings

Pharmacy tech may work in:

Answer 1

• Outpatient pharmacies (retail, community)
• Inpatient pharmacy (hospital)
• Long- term care (nursing homes, assisted living facility)
• Mail order pharmacy
• Correctional facility
• Military facility
• Nuclear facility

Question 2

Duties allowed to perform

Answer 2

• Practice in direct patient care
• Answer the phone and screen calls for the pharmacist
• Gather general health information about the patient
• Enter patient information and prescription into the pharmacy computer
• Prepare prescription or medication orders
• Assist with compounding medication
• Order medications and devices from wholesaler
• Stock pharmacy shelves
• Check for and remove expired medications
• Assist the pharmacist during inventory
• Maintain written and computerized pharmacy records
• Prevent and detect medication errors

Question 3

Definition of a pharmacy technician

Answer 3

An individual working in a pharmacy who, under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist, assists in pharmacy activities that do not require the professional judgement of a pharmacist.

Question 4

Community Pharmacy Technician Duties

Answer 4

• Prepare medications for outpatients
• Assist patients dropping off prescriptions
• Take patient refill requests
• Assist patients picking up prescriptions

Question 5

Hospital Pharmacy Technician Duties

Answer 5

• Prepare medications for inpatients
• Prepare injectable medications
• Prepare individual packages of medications for patients
• Prepare bulk orders for commonly used medications, e.g. unit doses
• Maintain crash carts
• Dispense and maintain floor stock
• Deliver medication orders throughout the hospital
• Not a few states allow “tech-check-tech” programs

Question 6

Long-Term Care Pharmacy Technician Duties

Answer 6

• Prepare medications for patients residing in institutional setting such as nursing homes or assisted living facilities
• Prepare prepackaged cycle kits
• Maintain emergency fill kits
• Collect data for reports
• Prepare and maintain paperwork

Question 7

Mail Order Pharmacy Technician Duties

Answer 7

• Prepare medications for patients receiving prescriptions through the mail
• Commonly dispense 90-days supply of medications
• Communicate with patients over the phone, email, or fax; no fact-to-face communication

Question 8

Nuclear Pharmacy Technician Duties

Answer 8

• Prepare radioactive materials used for diagnosing or treating certain conditions
• Follow special procedures for handling radioactive material
• Perform quality control checks
• Maintain equipment

Question 9

Duties Pharmacy Technicians are not allowed to preform

Answer 9

• Work in a pharmacy when a pharmacist is not present
• Take new prescriptions for medications orders over the phone from a prescriber
• Counsel patients on their medications or health concerns
• Clarify prescription or medications orders with a prescriber over the phone
• Administer immunizations
• Perform medication use reviews
• Check the final drug order before dispensing to the patients (* exception for states that allow tech-check-tech programs)

Question 10

Code of Ethics

Pharmacy Technician Obligations

Answer 10

• Ensure the health and safety of the patient
• Be honest
• Maintain high standards of integrity and conduct
• Assist pharmacist in safe distribution of medications and health care resources
• Respect the patient
• Improve workplace performance
• Expand knowledge

Question 11

Pharmacy Technician Qualities and Skills

Answer 11

• Good verbal and non-verbal communications skills
• Ability to minimize stress and balance out duties
• Adapt to change quickly
• Have working knowledge of computers, email, internet, and other electronic devices or programs
• Maintain professionalism

Question 12

Registration Requirements

Answer 12

• “Making a list”
• Is usually done to keep track of pharmacy technicians
• May not address educational and training background
• May need to meet additional requirements to maintain registration

Question 13

Certification Requirements

Answer 13

• The process by which a non-government organization recognizes an individual who meets predetermined qualifications specified by that organization
• Can become certified by taking national certification exam through PTCB or NHA, or by meeting state certification requirements (on the job training, associate’s degree, etc…)

Question 14

Licensure Requirements

Answer 14

• The process by which permission is granted to an individual to practice their occupation after it is determined that the individual had the minimum level of competency to practice safely
• May require registration plus certification and/or education and training to become licensed