Standard

Rev 02/15/05

PHR 105 - Pharmacy Technology Practicum

Course Description

Orients students to the clinical environment and provides experiences with the basic skills necessary for the pharmacy technician. Topics include: aseptic and sterile techniques, storage and control, documentation, inventory, filing, compounding, parenteral admixtures, filtering, disinfection, medication delivery, and hospital pharmacy techniques.

Competency Areas		Hours
Aseptic and Sterile Techniques		Class	0
Storage and Control		D. Lab	0
Documentation		P. Lab/O.B.I.	21
Inventory		Credit	7
Filing
Compounding
Parenteral Admixtures
Filtering
Disinfection
Medication Delivery
Hospital Pharmacy Techniques
Prerequisite:	PHR 101, PHR 102
Corequisite:	PHR 103

Course Guide

Competency	After completing this section, the student will:	Hours
		Class	D.Lab	P.Lab/ O.B.I.
ASEPTIC AND STERILE TECHNIQUES		0	0	(210)
Product preparation	Use a syringe and needle for aseptic withdrawal of the contents of a rubber-capped vial and a glass ampoule.
	Demonstrate aseptic reconstitution of an antibiotic injection.
	Demonstrate aseptic hand washing.
	Prepare parenteral admixtures, including label preparation and control records completion.
	Use aseptic compounding techniques.
	Visually inspect parenteral solutions.
Equipment	Use equipment and systems for parenteral administration.
	Use equipment to prepare parenteral admixtures.
STORAGE AND CONTROL		0	0
Storage requirements	Follow storage requirements for all classification of drugs.
	Follow storage requirements of floor stock and controlled drugs in the pharmacy and on nursing units through a floor check.
	Prepare a controlled drug record.
	Store caustic, poisonous, and flammable substances.
	List references used to guide decisions on drug storage and control.
Medication control	Demonstrate the control of emergency medications through an emergency, medication cart/kit inventory/check.
	Demonstrate quantity control of inpatient medications through use of profile.
DOCUMENTATION		0	0
Documentation	Explain the disposition of various drug classifications from receipt to use (e.g., controlled drug, etc.).
	Prepare required dispensing documentation for controlled drugs, investigational drugs, and nonprescription drugs.
	Identify those items a technologist cannot document.
INVENTORY		0	0
Inventory and purchasing procedures	Employ inventory and purchasing procedures.
	Record inventory and purchases.
	Maintain controlled substances records.
	Inspect nursing-unit drug supplies.
	Use a computer for inventory and purchases.
FILING		0	0
Filing systems	Perform manual records filing (e.g., prescriptions, controlled drugs, etc.).
	Use a computer filing system for information.
COMPOUNDING		0	0
Compounding equipment	Repackage and label doses from a bulk supply of drugs.
	Select equipment used in compounding.
	Assemble equipment used in compounding.
	Use compounding equipment.
	Clean equipment used in compounding.
	Store equipment used in compounding.
Product preparation	Select ingredients.
	Calculate amount of ingredients.
	Measure amount of ingredients.
	Complete worksheet including record of weights and volumes, and manufacturer's lot numbers.
	Mix product.
	Prepare product.
Packaging and labeling	Demonstrate selection and preparation of packages/containers and closures.
	Use proper packaging technique.
	Demonstrate correct selection and preparation of labels.
	Use quarantine procedure.
Recordkeeping	Complete necessary records for repackaged drugs.
PARENTERAL ADMIXTURES		0	0
Syringes and needles	Demonstrate the proper use of syringes and needles to withdraw contents of rubber-capped vials and glass ampoules.
	Distinguish types and sizes of needles and syringes.
Parenteral admixture preparation	Use laminar-flow hoods, filters, pumps and vacuum sets, drug additive systems and packages, and other equipment related to parenteral admixture preparation.
	Demonstrate the appropriate technique for aseptic preparations of an antibiotic injection.
	Demonstrate the correct techniques and procedures for preparing complete parenteral admixtures, including proper label preparation and records completion.
	Prepare a TPN admixture with and without the use of an automatic compounder.
	Visually inspect completed parenteral admixtures.
	Assemble intravenous admixtures, fluid containers, filters, and extensions with various intravenous admixture sets.
	Fill cassettes used for epidural and other parenteral admixture administration via pump.
	Use the pump set.
	Demonstrate the proper use of chemotherapy product preparation devices.
	Demonstrate the appropriate assembly of products and devices used for preparing parenteral admixtures under a laminar-flow hood.
	Demonstrate the correct programming and application of an automatic filling device used to prepare admixture or dilute drug products.
FILTERING		0	0
Filtering techniques	Use various types of filter straws, filter needles, and other filters that are used in-line for intravenous drug product preparation.
	Demonstrate proper filtering techniques in product preparation other than intravenous.
Filter types	Demonstrate situations for use of various filter types.
	Choose appropriate filter.
DISINFECTION		0	0
Infection	Demonstrate proper handwashing technique.
	Describe microbial growth and transmission.
Disinfection techniques	Use attire and accessories that contribute to disinfection.
	Demonstrate proper cleaning techniques on work surface areas.
	Demonstrate work practices that inhibit possibilities of infection transmission.
	Clean equipment used in drug product preparation.
	Perform tasks that demonstrate sterility, heat sterilization, and "cold" sterilization.
	Demonstrate touch contamination and avoidance of touch contamination.
MEDICATION DELIVERY		0	0
Cart exchanges	Complete cart exchanges using appropriate approach to personnel and interaction with same.
Delivery	Deliver medications to the Pyxis or other automated system.
	Deliver controlled substances with emphasis on security and control.
	Deliver stock medications to various departments.
	Deliver chemotherapy medications.
Discontinued medications	Retrieve discontinued medications from nursing units.
HOSPITAL PHARMACY TECHNIQUES		0	0
Organization	Illustrate and interpret the institution's organizational chart considering the responsibilities of the pharmacy director and the Pharmacy Department personnel.
	Recite the general responsibilities and job status of personnel in other institutional departments with whom the technologist will have contact when carrying out assigned duties and activities.
	Locate major hospital departments and service units.
	Escort another person to any department or unit.
Policies	State at least five reasons for initiation of a disciplinary action in the institution (e.g., absenteeism, tardiness, incompetency, dishonesty, etc.).
	State institutional and departmental policies applicable to each of the pharmacy job responsibilities.
	Describe the procedure for each pharmacy job responsibility.
	Cite at least 10 examples of "a decision requiring a pharmacist's judgment."
	State legal aspects of technologist functions, such as accountability, pharmacy regulations, and use and storage of controlled substances.
Communication	Demonstrate verbal face-to-face communication as well as correct telephone communication techniques to be used when receiving and initiating calls.
	Prepare a written communication conveying a change in procedure.
	List transcription techniques, abbreviations, and symbols used to affect order transcription.
Weights and measures	Use various weighing and measuring techniques.
Inventory	List inventory control techniques.
	Demonstrate techniques of audits/inspection.
Pricing	List pricing techniques.
Packaging	Demonstrate packaging techniques.
Recordkeeping	State at least three reasons for patient information confidentiality.
	Demonstrate recordkeeping techniques for various medication types (e.g., controlled substances and investigational drugs).

Suggested Resources

Books

Q&A review for the Pharmacy Technician by Marvin Stoogenke & Peter Le; 2^nd edition; Pearson Prentice Hall Publishing Co.;

The Pharmacy Practice for Technician, Don Ballington, 2^nd edition; EMC Paradigm Publishing

Mosby’s Pharmacy Technician Principles & Practice,  Teresa Hopper, Elsevier, Inc Publishing