Re: People who saved this site!

March 29, 2004

OK, I may have no business speaking here, but I have monitored this

group for over a year because my wife is a CPHT in a top 100 hospital.

She ran the narc vault and maintained the pyxis machines until she was

run into the ground. Finally she got a break and her normal routine was

distributed between six people. I saved many a posting here for her that

she found helpful and informative. No she didn't just study to pass the

test she went to school and got her degree but STILL enjoys and looks

forward to the material posted here. Jeanetta has no shame or damage to

her reputation that I can see. From what I see here is she provides HELP

that people can use to develop the skills needed to perform there jobs

safely. Maintaining this site as well as her career is quite a chore

perhaps others could help. I myself, even though I am not a tech would

be happy to assist. My wife takes many CE's of which I study with her

because A, I enjoy it and B, I support her effort and am very proud of

her. I have read references to 125 questions... well the job takes a

lot more but those 125 questions evaluate weather or not these people

have the skill to perhaps prepare meds for my wife or mother or

children. I personally am thankfull someone like Jeanetta as well as

others that contribute care enough to devote the time it takes after a

hard days work to help others and FREE of CHARGE really shows character

of these people. You are not helping people cheat you are helping them

understand what it is they need to know. It is up to them to aquire jobs

and become successful. BUT THE FOUNDATION of those skills can be helped

from this forum. You can't succeed from what you find here alone, it's

your understanding of the education and how you apply it and go from

here that counts. Jeanetta doesn't produce half trained robots she helps

produce people who actually understand the material and that is what

counts. Think of this, if they care enough to come and ask questions or

help others then that is encouraging that they will become professionals

I can trust with my family. Like I said, it may not be my business but I

see no shame here only Praise. Please continue you work, from what I see

it is truly a selfless gift that surely one day you will be rewarded

for.

Thank you for all your help, it's refreshing to know people like you are

still out there.

Leroy Howell

Fort , Arkansas

People who saved this site!

Dear All,

Every day that I keep this site open, will kill me to know that I am

contributing to LESS education in California and More errors in

California. It will be the hardest thing to do, that I ever have

done in my life and ever will do, to go against my principles and it

will destroy my integrity, not to mention the return of ulcers.

Other educators in California will become angry with me for

educating others to pass the PTCB exam, instead of taking a formal

pharmacy technician course (I won't blame them). So my reputation

may be shot as well.

But I have decided even if all the above happens to ME personally, I

must think about the public! I must put the safety of the American

public first and I have an obligation to help teach the newer

technicians and if by chance this site contributes to the knowledge

of seasoned technicians, well then that is just gravy (er... icing

on the cake)!

I suppose I got down off of my high horse, kicked my self in the ass

and took a hard look at the COMMON GREATER GOOD! There are MORE

technicians and a GREATER public across the states, (and in any

other country too) who will directly benefit from this site compared

to the number of potential technician PTCB candidates and

the public of California that I may harm by keeping this site open.

What helped to kick me in the ass? Or should I say who kicked me in

the ass? YOU DID! And I truly appreciate your help in helping me

sort out this mess.

The following people helped me to see what needed to be done, their

words are for ever imprinted in my heart and my brain. Here are some

excerpts that did the trick:

" But if you give up the site where are the new techs going to learn

how to do things right. Hang in there we all need you. Us seasoned

techs and the newbies. " Bernard <leslieiowan@...> from

Texas

" Jeanetta -I am one of those tech's that studied out of a book and

had very little training from my employer in the pharmacy. I have

struggled since day one on my job. Your site has helped me

tremendously since I discovered it last summer. If not for this site

I would probably not passed the PTCB exam and not had a job at all.

I would hate to loose this site, as I continually refer back to it

frequently and search for answers to my questions on the drugs I am

dispensing daily. To say that my knowledge is equal to those that

have gone to school would be a joke in itself. I am not by no means

that knowledgeable. Had it been a state requirement when I was hired

to attend a school I would have gladly gone. Now this state is

requiring that all tech's attend a certified school and pass the

PTCB before they can work in a pharmacy. " " mistieyed59@... State

unknown to me

" " The thing is...I don't think you are contributing to uneducated

people passing the test. I think by coming here people will see how

serious other techs/techs-in-training are about educating themselves

before and after the exam. They will see that it's not just about

passing an exam. They will see that someone's life could be at

stake if they make an error. I keep thinking to myself, " Just one

decimal in the wrong place....and someone could die " This group,

from what I've read so far, does not have a " just pass the exam and

you're home free " attitude. It has more of a " pass the test and

continue to learn everything you can " attitude.. In conclusion, I do

not think you are contributing to the problem. Through leading by

example, this group can be part of the solution. " " " entity@...

state unknown

" With California taking two steps backwards, we need to consider

other states that have yet to even implement requirements of the PTCB

national exam. For them, a requirement would be a step forward.

Although I believe the passing of the national exam is not enough, I

do believe that it is a good start....Keep the forum, continue doing

what you do best and do not think closing this forum as the best for

our profession. By keeping your forum going you are providing a

place that will go beyond the scope of helping one pass the national

exam, but educate as well. " " " Joe Medina "

<techlectures@...>from Colorado

" " I have no real answers for you but I do have a question you may

want to consider: If you close this site, those " uneducated techs "

will still be out there, allowed to take and pass the PTCB exam.

When they do have questions, which they inevitably will, wouldn't

you feel better if they had a place like this where they can get the

right answers? What kind of people would we be if we didn't offer to

help our peers? Thinking of you, " " cphtgenius@c... New Jersey

" I just read the mails that you are thinking of closing this site.I

am blessful to come across this site. I didn' join it just was for

passing the pharm tech exam, but I will continue using this forum.

This site is not just for exam, but solving all problems you come

across in your professional area. After passing the exam also I will

need help. And this site is right place where I can ask for help.

All the experts in here, including you, are great help to everyone

and you all have taken great efforts for this site. So plz do

continue maintaining this site and plz never think of closing this

site. Thanks Hemali " " hems26 " <hemu_l@...> State unknown

to me

" " I started working in a pharmacy in 1990, with no education what so

ever. I had a very hard time even getting my pharmacist to help me

to learn anything. Then I started to get very serious about learning

everything I could about becoming the best technician I could

become. Then it was time for me to take the National test. I never

fully understood a lot of the information even in my books, that was

until I came here and found you in Delphi. I have gained so much

from this site... I'm sorry to say, but retail.. didn't teach me

anything about the knowledge of medications, nor had I any clue that

you had to be careful around certain medications, no one ever

explained any of that to me. Won't even try to explain how much I

visited your site before I started at the hospital. Even now, even

now since my crossover from retail to hospital. I still need help, I

still come here and look into the site, just to see what new

information has been posted that I can use in my hospital

environment today " " . ladycpht01@a... Tracie Smullen Virginia

" " Then there was my dream last night. I usually don't dream..er

remember my dreams. I tossed and turned all night. I awoke and

thought it was real. Actually it was a nightmare. I dreamt that I

parked my car at a Ralphs (a grocery store in Ca that just got off

a 4 month strike), I think that is symbolic of something; but have

not figured it out yet. I went into the store, it was at dusk. I

shopped. When I got out the lights were out, and it was dark. I

could not find my car. I had the distinct feeling someone was

watching me. I found my car finally, just where I had left it. But

it was different! It was as flat as a pancake, and sort of lumpy,

not smooth. I could still see the Kleenex box in the rear window,

but it too was flat. I returned to the store angry and scared. I

asked to call the cops, my cell phone was dead. I thought about

which friend could help me rent a car to get to work the next day, I

could not let my students down with out a teacher. The male manager

and a female bagger walked me to my car, where he agreed to call

the cops. He noted that the motor was removed, and it appeared that

some one hammered it flat. I woke up, in fear and feeling a

tremendous loss..Then I opened up my email and my site and read the

posts and interpreted my dream/nightmare (at least some parts of it)

and made a decision that would affect me for ever. Whether it is

going to be good for me is irrelevant. It appears it is good for

you, and new techs coming. I will do what I can, for as long as I

can. " Jeanetta Mastron, California, rxjm2002@...

Special " thank you's " to those who sent private emails: Dora, Karin,

Mistieyed, Deb , Janet McGregor Liles, , Carmelita Soares The

last three are educators. I am so grateful!

Thank you all who posted and sent private emails to me. I thank you

for not only your direction, words of advice and wisdom and kind

words, but also your support of me and the site and concern for my

own personal dilemma. You have demonstrated true friendship in every

aspect. I am in aw and in wonder of you all. Your kindness and your

understanding was/are remarkable. I expected you all to throw

tomatoes at me. Life dealt me some lemons here, and you all taught

me how to make lemonade (to steal a coined phrase, just from who I

do not know).

I have been imagining if all of you who responded were current

prospective PTCB candidates, and did not have a place to go to study

and ask questions, who would teach you and would it be good

teaching. I am so proud to have the TEXPERTS on this site. I hope

and pray that they will continue to be here for you, and for me.

The site remains open and FREE.

With Love and Respect

But most of all appreciation for kicking me in the butt,

I wont' say keeping the site open will be easy for me once other

Californian's learn of the option, or California teachers learn of

my disloyalty, but I will do my best to help the " techs to be "

across the nation and the seasoned techs of all states for as long

as I can.

Thanks for being there for me,

Respectfully,

Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS Chemistry

Founder of this site.

March 29, 2004

Dear Leroy,

In regards to all that you wrote I will send a personal email.

In regards to a portion of what you wrote about perhapsothers can

help me. I just want to say that I do have help. I have TEXPERTS who

have led the way and have helped to answer questions especiallly

when I was not available taking care of sick parent. I do appreciate

your concern and care that I get help. But honestly I have it. I used

to feel guilty if I did not get on line. I do not feel that wasy

eversince I got TEXPERTS, because they are the best in their field

and on any given day one of them will be here to helpout.

So just to let you know I appreciate your kind words and your concern

for me. I am ecstatic that after one year you have posted! Hey if

this is what it took... just kidding! Hee!

Any way your wife is very lucky to have a husband who cares so much.

Wishing you peace,

Jeanetta Mastron CPhT

PS the shame? well that may not happen until the Ca teachers see what

is going on. So far I have one in my court from this site. But that

does not mean that all will feel the same! Thank you for posting to

potential, future Ca teachers that this site helps prepare the techs.

I don;'t think too many educators know about the new law. The one I

talked to via email did not! So as soon as the 'crap' hits the fan

we'll see....

Truly I am ready to get on with business at hand.

--- In , " Leroy "

March 30, 2004

Jeanetta...

I just read the news. Im very happy that you decided to keep this site

opened. I know that it wasnt easy to sort through. I look forward to seeing you

very soon. If you need anything just let me know.

Til then take care and will be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.

Love yas

ladycpht

April 7, 2004

Extremely well said!

Thank you for this post.

n

RE: People who saved this site!