NPTA Blog
Emergency Management and Disaster Preparedness in Pharmacy
Written by HeatherLyn Gray, MPH, CEM, CPhT
During last year’s CPhT Live 2021, the National Pharmacy Technician Association provided me with an opportunity that I had been waiting years for, bridging the gap between emergency management and pharmacy, as well as (hopefully) instilling in the participants the desire to advocate for pharmacy technicians to participate in disaster preparedness and emergency management for their pharmacies.
To read more, click here.
Why Medication Therapy Management is Important in the Pharmacy
Written by Kimberly Gabriel, CPhT
Have you ever tried to fill a patient’s prescription only to find out it wasn’t covered by their insurance? Has your patient suddenly become a Karen with devil horns and a forked tongue? That’s a headache you can easily avoid with medication therapy management!
To read more, click here.
The Most Common Pharmacy Abbreviations and How to Remember Them
Written by Kimberly Minor, CPhT
When you accepted your pharmacy tech position, did you ever think that you were also being hired as a translator and handwriting specialist? At least with the growing conversion to electronic prescriptions, you may not have to analyze a doctor’s handwriting as much, but the translation never stops.
To read more, click here.
The Importance of Stress Management in the Office
Written by Bryan Wilson, CPhT
When thinking about stress and the importance of managing it in a pharmacy setting, let’s dissect the words and define stress management. According to the Cambridge dictionary, stress management is a method of limiting stress and its effects by learning ways of behaving and thinking that reduce it.
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Dealing with Controlled Substance Diversion
Written by Nichole Barnes, BHI, CPhT
According to the ASHP, “Drug diversion can be defined as any criminal act or deviation that removes a prescription drug from its intended path from the manufacturer to the intended patient.” Drug diversion can happen to many people in different locations and pharmacies, and sometimes it happens with people you are close to or would never suspect.
To read more, click here.
How to Increase Medication Adherence
Written by Jim Mizner, MBA, BS, RPh
As a pharmacist working in a clinic in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, there is hardly a day that goes by where I don’t encounter numerous refill requests whereby the patient appears not to be taking their medication as prescribed by their physician or healthcare provider. Do you experience this in your pharmacy?
To read more, click here.
What to Do When There are Medication Errors in the Pharmacy
Written by Cassi Prosper, CPhT
Medication safety should be a priority for all of us!
Every time we fill an order or a prescription correctly, we are helping our patients get better. However, if we make an error, we could potentially harm or even kill someone’s loved one!!!! Something that we would never want to experience. As pharmacy technicians, we are responsible for keeping our patients safe!!!
To read more, click here.
Drug Interactions Pharmacy Technicians Should Know About
Written by Wesley Usyak, CPhT, M.Ed
Pharmacy technicians have a key role in the prescription process. In a retail environment, they are usually the first thing a customer will see. In a hospital environment, their role is vital to prepare an IV/injection prescription order within minutes.
To read more, click here.
The Top Online Pharmacy Technician Schools
Written by Holly Beal, RCPhT
As humans, one of the greatest gifts we can give to ourselves is an education.
The investment in an education can lead to many different and unique opportunities in life. Some of us know exactly what we want to do and where we want to go to make those educational dreams come true, such as the college we attend, but it may not be that simple for others.
To read more, click here.
Pharmacy Technicians and the #PizzaIsNotWorking Movement
Written by Savannah Nazarek, CPhT
The #PizzaIsNotWorking movement is a catchphrase to show that pharmacy staff is not motivated by an occasional pizza. This movement was started by Bled Tanoe, PharmD, and has since caught fire across social media, highlighting the more significant issue. In the pharmacy profession, we are healthcare providers that many patients see on a regular basis, some as often as weekly. Keeping up with our workflow, corporate metrics, and the needs of our patients, there are times that it can get very overwhelming.
To read more, click here.
Six Ways to Increase Your Accuracy as a Pharmacy Technician
Written by Marisa Doan, CPhT
What is accuracy? Freedom from mistake or error.
There are various ways to increase your accuracy as a pharmacy technician and various websites to help you in the long run. Being a certified pharmacy technician for over 11 years, I have had to learn different ways to help through the day.
To read more, click here.
How to Win Over an Angry Patient
Written by Christine Cline-Dahlman, BFA, CPhT
How did you encounter angry patients over the past two years?
- • Is it through face-to-face conversations?
- • Could it be phone calls to your pharmacy?
- • What about through pharmacy emails?
- • How about through pharmacy website messaging systems?
- • Or maybe family members of a patient in a hospital?
To read more, click here.
The Top Three Things to Remember as a Pharmacy Technician
Written by Tiana McGee, MHAPI, CPhT
Working as a pharmacy technician requires a lot to remember for the job. There’s memorizing brand and generic names, accurately processing prescriptions from start to finish, reconstituting or compounding formulas, and computing basic math calculations.
With all that’s required, becoming a well-rounded technician comes with time and experience. Therefore, you must remember the things that will help increase your effectiveness to yield rewarding outcomes!
To read more, click here.
Finding Opportunities as a Pharmacy Technician during The Great Resignation
Written by Nichole Barnes, BHI, CPhT
The Great Resignation of 2021 was a wild ride, with people quitting their jobs because they were burnt out from being overworked and underappreciated.
What does this mean for pharmacy technicians?
Did you find yourself as one of those who quit, or are you barely holding on because you are so burnt out with no relief?
To read more, click here.
What To Study for the CPhT Certification Exam
Written by Hannah McSweeney, CPhT
Are you trying to advance your career as a pharmacy technician by becoming a CPhT?
There are two ways to go about it… taking the ExCPT or the PTCE. The ExCPT and the PTCE both require lots of training and studying. Here are the basic requirements for both exams as well as the topics covered and some great resources for studying available.
To read more, click here.
How to Survive a 12-Hour Shift
Written by Holly Beal, RCPhT
During your career, you will more than likely endure a 12-hour shift.
Are you already asking yourself, “How will I survive a 12-hour shift?”
Well, there may be a time you may want the extra hours, or you may be asked on the spot to stay and help the team out. Either way, surviving a 12-hour shift is not as bad as it may seem. I will share a few helpful tips on surviving a 12- hour shift no matter the circumstances!
To read more, click here.
How to Improve Your Workflow in the Pharmacy
Written by Kimberly Gabriel, CPhT
Everyone alive has some flow, or ritual, for how they do everything. Everyone knows that the easiest, most straightforward way is the most efficient way to do it.
No, that’s not true. Not everyone knows this, though; it is innate knowledge to me. I am always looking for new ways to do things. It all starts with a goal.
To read more, click here.
How to Cope with Being Short-Staffed in the Pharmacy
Written by Julie Melmoth, RPhT
Pharmacy staff worldwide feel overwhelmed, overworked, burnt out, and understaffed in every type of pharmacy environment. Increased responsibilities or additional tasks can be quite stressful in an already overloaded workplace. These concerns are very common these days due to the pandemic and can also be common on a regular basis, depending on. Thus, an individual and a team must cope with these issues to keep workflow efficient and decrease chances of errors.
To read more, click here.
The Top 5 Mistakes Made in Pharmacies and Tips for Preventing Them
Written by Wesley Usyak, CPhT, M.Ed
Both retail and institutional pharmacy environments have multiple tasks going on simultaneously. For example, phones can be ringing, while a patient is awaiting an influenza or a Covid-19 test in the pharmacy drive-thru, and a stat order is received from the hospital floor.
To read more, click here.
Why Do Pharmacy Technicians Need to Be Registered?
Written by Brook Beard, CPhT
Originally pharmacy technicians were simply assistants to pharmacists. Over many years we have evolved to do more and more complex activities. Often, pharmacists used to own their small shops and could complete all the required duties on their own.
To read more, click here.
Career Opportunities for Traveling Pharmacy Technicians
Written by Nichole Barnes, BHI, CPhT
Did you know that you can become a traveling pharmacy technician?
If you had told me when I started my career almost 15 years ago that a career traveling as a pharmacy technician would be a prevalent thing, I would have laughed in your face. Nevertheless, today, you can make a great career out of traveling as a pharmacy technician.
To read more, click here.
The Challenges of Working in Retail Pharmacy
Written by Whitney Jo Hummel, CPhT-Adv, CSPT, LPN
A typical day in retail pharmacy sometimes feels like you require eight arms like an octopus to keep up with the workload. Technicians constantly have to multitask and transition from one assignment to the next while having to remember the tasks that need to be completed for each patient. They are expected to do their jobs correctly while attending to multiple patients with different personality types.
To read more, click here.
What are Pharmacy Technicians Required to Wear?
Written by Savannah Nazarek, CPhT
Working in a pharmacy setting can have you doing a lot of activity. While working, you want to be comfortable while sticking to the required dress code. Within the multiple branches of pharmacy, there are numerous types of clothing options that can be worn to work. The main types of clothing that pharmacy technicians wear are business casual and scrubs.
To read more, click here.
What is the Best State for Pharmacy Technicians?
Written by Cassi Prosper, CPhT
One of the primary things to consider when selecting the best state to work in must be the ability to be gainfully employed as a pharmacy technician. First, consider the median salary of a pharmacy technician in each state and the cost of living and jobs available for pharmacy technicians.
To read more, click here.
How Pharmacy Technicians Do More Than Count Pills
Written by HeatherLyn Gray, MPH, SCCEM, CHEC, CPhT
I’ll bet that when you tell people you’re a pharmacy technician (or interested in becoming one), the discussion most likely turns to counting pills. Maybe “back in the day,” that’s all technicians allowed to do – which is probably why we’re experts at it, no one denies that – but times have changed, and pharmacy technicians can do so much more than count pills.
To read more, click here.
What Certificates Can a Pharmacy Technician Gain to Further Their Career?
Written by Chloe Black, CPhT-Adv
Are you looking to improve certain skills, learn something new, or maybe land a great job? The new Board of Pharmacy Technician Specialties (BPTS), an initiative brought to us by the National Pharmacy Technician Association, is here to help. While the choices for gaining additional certifications or specialty designations were extremely limited and could get very pricey previously, the BPTS is changing that by offering a cheaper and wider range of specialty certificates.
To read more, click here.
Can Pharmacy Technicians Become Pharmacists?
Written by Christine A. Cline-Dahlman, BFA, CPhT
Just as Pharmacy Technicians are seeing their professional roles greatly expand, some technicians still have that tugging thought, “I would like to be a Pharmacist.” What is the one major reason to be a Pharmacist? – Provider Status! This is the future for the pharmacist.
To read more, click here.
How to Curb Drama in the Pharmacy
Written by Brook Beard, CPhT
We are all professionals from the medication transport team to the highest level of management. Still, occasionally, your differences with another employee will cause drama in the pharmacy.
To read more, click here.
Why are Pharmacy Technicians Restricted from Counseling Patients?
Written by Kizzi Perry, CPhT
Why are pharmacy technicians restricted from counseling patients? Why aren’t Pharmacy Technicians allowed to counsel? The simple answer would be because pharmacy technicians do not have the required schooling or credentials to offer counsel to a patient, but let’s dive in a little deeper into why pharmacy technicians are not allowed to counsel patients.
To read more, click here.
Which Pharmacies Pay the Most for Pharmacy Technicians?
Written by Holly Beal, RCPhT
As entry-level pharmacy technicians, we always wonder which pharmacies pay the most for pharmacy technicians? Well, for all the newbies, you will have to find a pharmacy to work for to gain a little pharmacy knowledge and get some experience under your belt.
To read more, click here.
What is the Difference Between Licensure, Registration, and Certification?
Written by Kortney Mims, BS, CPhT and Keona Owens, BA, CPhT
We probably have seen the terms licensure, registration, and certification before discovering our career pathways. If you’re unfamiliar with these terms, let’s use this opportunity to discover NEW words and their meanings. Let’s drive down the Word Bank Lane and discover the answers to these questions!
To read more, click here.
Ethical Decision Making in the Pharmacy
Written by Robin Luke, CPhT
We hear about pharmacists’ dilemmas regarding ethical decisions that touch their passion and make it challenging to complete a task because it feels wrong. But pharmacy technicians deal with this as well.
To read more, click here.
What Are the Best Shoes for Pharmacy Technicians?
Written by Edgar Galvan
Being on your feet all day at work has to be tough… Being on your feet all day at work with uncomfortable shoes has to be even worse…
To read more, click here.
Tips on How to Avoid Interruptions and Distractions in the Pharmacy
Written by Robin Luke, CPhT
Pharmacy technicians are multitaskers. But when did multitasking become “more on my plate that I am concerned about completing without interruptions and distractions”?
To read more, click here.
The Most Loved and Most Hated Medication to Work With in the Pharmacy
Written by Savannah Nazarek, CPhT
Over the years, pharmaceutical companies have been growing, and more drugs are being developed to help patients with numerous health conditions and diseases. Even with the Covid-19 pandemic, we have seen countless new drug therapies on the market.
To read more, click here.
Why Don’t Technicians Get Paid More?
Written by Keona Owens, BA, CPhT and Kortney Mims, BS, CPhT
Have you ever wondered what the determining factors to pharmacy technician’s (PhT) wages are? There are always formulas in the pharmacy world, and in the Human Resource Division (labor market), there are compensation factors. What are those dynamics, and who determines them?
To read more, click here.
Can You Work at More Than One Pharmacy?
Written by Cassi Prosper, CPhT
In today’s economy, it can be tough to make ends meet. With gas, food, and housing costs on the rise, many are looking for supplemental income in the way of a second job. As a pharmacy technician, you may be asking yourself, “am I able to work at more than one pharmacy?”.
To read more, click here.
Can I Work in a Hospital Setting Without Experience?
Written by Whitney Jo Hummel, CPhT-Adv, CSPT, RYT, AAS
Here are a few tips for pharmacy technicians who have no experience being employed in a hospital pharmacy. Someone who has no experience in this setting can show ambition and express their interest and willingness to learn a new pharmacy area.
To read more, click here.
The Role Of The Pharmacy Technician in Medication Management
Written by Kizzi Perry, CPhT
The pharmacy technician plays many roles when it comes to managing a patient medication. The technician must first know and understand what medication management is, why it is important, the benefits to the patient, the pharmacy, and the third parties (also known as insurance companies), and what information is needed for the process
To read more, click here.
Do Pharmacy Technicians Get Pay Raises?
Written by Nichole Barnes, BHI, CPhT
Are you just starting as a pharmacy technician or looking at a pharmacy technician career path? Maybe you are wondering if this career will cover your cost of living or if you will ever get a pay raise.
To read more, click here.
How to Deal with Difficult Patients
Written by Holly Beal, RCPhT
Have you ever felt as if you were at your breaking point? Ever felt like you were about to explode due to dealing with difficult patients? Surprise, you are not alone. We have all felt that way.
To read more, click here.
The Cons of Drug Discount Cards
Written by Michelle Hill, MPH, CPhT
These days, everyone is looking to save a little extra cash, and drug discount cards may be helpful. Drug discount cards are known to potentially lower a patient’s out-of-pocket cost while usually being free.
To read more, click here.
Ways to Celebrate Pharmacy Technician Day
Written by Kimberly Gabriel, CPhT
Ah, Pharmacy Technician Day… The Day Techs everywhere are praised and recognized for the extra mile we always go for our patients. In light of COVID 19, many old normal greeting cards and cakes are blah, meh, aaarrrgghhhh… So I came up with what I would love for the RxTech Fairy to bring me this year!
To read more, click here.
The History of Pharmacy Technician Day
Written by Marisa Doan, CPhT
This year pharmacies across the globe will recognize the contributions that pharmacy technicians make to enhancing patient care on October 19, 2021, which is the third Tuesday of October. National Pharmacy Technician Day was first celebrated in 1991 when a flyer was published by the AAPT as part of national pharmacy week which, is celebrated the third full week of October.
To read more, click here.
How to Avoid Burnout
Written by Hannah McSweeney, CPhT
With any job, burnout is inevitable if you do not take time and listen to your body. Burnout is no joke and may lead to depression or medical problems once the stress catches up to you. Once you start to feel this way, it is essential to correct it before it gets worse. Here are some tips on how to avoid burnout and minimize the stress levels that contribute to it.
To read more, click here.
Where Can I Find CE for My CPhT Renewal?
Written by Chloe Black, CPhT
One of the best and most overwhelming parts of being a pharmacy technician is that you must keep learning new things to stay on top of your field. For technicians to maintain their certification with the PTCB, they have to complete 20 hours of continuing education (CE) credits. This can be a challenging thing to tackle.
To read more, click here.
The Benefits of Drug Discount Cards
Written by Michelle Hill, CPhT
If you’re a pharmacy technician, you have seen the sticker-shocked face of a patient at your pharmacy counter when you shared the cost of their prescribed medication. I remember feeling like the patient was gazing into the depths of my soul, attempting to discern if I was truthful about the exorbitant cost of a medication they needed. I can recount countless times the price of a medication was much higher than the patient expected.
To read more, click here.
Can Pharmacy Technicians Go to Jail for Medication Errors?
Written by Hannah McSweeney, CPhT
Can a pharmacy technician go to jail for something that would fall onto the supervising pharmacist for responsibility in most states? This is an entirely gray area. It is case by case and depends upon many factors such as state-by-state laws and qualifications/oversight of the acting pharmacy technician. This could be a question that has passed through your mind if you have ever made a mistake at the pharmacy, no matter the setting or the severity of the act.
To read more, click here.
Where is Best Place to Work as a Pharmacy Technician?
Written by Lacey Crawford, CPhT
You studied hard and finally got that long-awaited CPhT behind your name… now what? Where is the best place to work as a pharmacy technician, you may ask?
Well, NPTA has you covered with a variety of places to potentially choose from to continue your journey in your career as a pharmacy technician.
To read more, click here.
The Future of POC Testing
Written by Kimberly Gabriel, CPhT
With the onset of COVID-19, many changes have come to the world of healthcare. The past is just that: in the past. Healthcare will never be the same after this pandemic, which means many exciting changes are taking place. People want more streamlined options, less contact with others, and more secure health records. One of the ways to do this is with POC testing or point of care testing.
To read more, click here.
How to Deal with a Rude or Disrespectful Boss
Written by Kimberly Gabriel, CPhT
Dealing with a difficult boss is something that seems inevitable in life. As sure as thunder after lightning, most of us have had to deal with a toxic superior at one time or another. Navigating such hostile territory can be done successfully, and there are several things one can try before things escalate and jobs are lost or goals are unattainable.
To read more on tips to deal with a boss like this, click here.
Interview Questions and How to Respond
Written by Robin Luke, CPhT
Have you ever experienced difficultly responding to certain questions during an interview? Is there a “perfect” way to respond to questions asked in an interview to ensure you get the job?
Click here to see the best ways to ensure you make a good impression in the interview and improve your social skills to boost your chances of landing that dream job!
Resource: Ultimate Career Navigator for Pharmacy Technicians
Are There Any Work-From-Home Jobs for Pharmacy Technicians?
Written by Edgar Galvan
The world came to a halt in 2020, sending everyone in different directions while trying to find out what to do for their own personal financial endeavors. Many people lost their jobs, many went on furlough, and those that were fortunate to maintain their jobs were given the opportunity to work from home until it was safe to return to their respective offices.
With life somewhat returning to normal now in 2021, there are some remnants of 2020 lingering, with one example being work-from-home options.
So, is it possible to work from home as a pharmacy technician?
To read this article, click here.
Related: NPTA Job Board
Do Pharmacy Technicians Need Professional Liability Insurance?
Written by Robin Luke, CPhT
An over-worked, over-stressed, top speed type of workplace where, due to the duties of the staff (sometimes not enough) and the volume of prescriptions processed, the risk of errors can be heightened. Nobody wants to make a mistake, but as humans, mistakes happen Think about this: what if you provide COVID-19 testing or vaccinations or you consistently process prescriptions especially in a high-volume environment?
To read this article, click here.
Related Story: Jury Sides with CVS, Accused of Overcharging Insurance Customers
Can My Employer Require Me to Get the COVID-19 Vaccine?
Written by Edgar Galvan
As the world continues to adjust to the cards that COVID-19 has dealt, important questions continue to arise. One question in particular that has continued to trend is that of whether or not employers can require you to get the COVID-19 vaccine. This is a touchy subject and continues to be as more and more employers open their doors and restrictions become lax. So… can an employer require you to get the COVID-19 vaccine?
To read this article, click here.
To check out the entire blog library, click here.
Job Outlook for Certified Pharmacy Technicians
Written by Edgar Galvan
The times are changing…and there has never been more (or better) opportunities for Certified Pharmacy Technicians. Recently, Kevin Mero, CEO of JobRx.com provided a presentation on this topic for the Pharmacy Technician Student Summit sponsored by NPTA.
Read here to learn more.
How to Renew Your CPhT Certification
Written by Edgar Galvan
Is your CPhT Certification close to expiring? Are you wondering what steps you need to take to renew it? We’re sure many have had those questions before… But do not worry, the process is actually pretty easy!
To read more, click here.
Hidden Job Opportunities for Pharmacy Technicians
Written by Edgar Galvan
There are many hidden opportunities for pharmacy technicians that you may have never knew existed and in order to find the perfect job, you must be willing to do one thing… To find out, click here to access our new blog.
