Guest guest Posted July 22, 2006 Report Share Posted July 22, 2006 What state is that in? We had a Steak and Stein here in California. But I have not seen it around for a long time. GREAT! Glad you got out and celebrated! Jeanetta > > Ok, I went to Steak N Shake after the exam and had a few beers. > > Overall I felt I knew more than I didn't. > > You absolutely need to know: > > quantity desired/quantity on hand x volume > > I swear half the test was based on that. > > So now I'm going to impatiently wait my result and check out which > associations I'd benefit from joining. > > Also, I'd really like to hear from anyone who has been through an > interview for a pharmacy tech job. Do they ask you questions similar > to the exam? I'm starting a career change here and have no experience > in pharmacy. How do I spin myself as qualified? > > > Thanks, > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 22, 2006 Report Share Posted July 22, 2006 > Dear All, A ratio of the stock = order (Rx) will yield the following equations: QOH------QD ----- = ---- VOH------'X " VD QD x QOH -------- = 'X'VD VOH Quantity Desired (QD)/Quantity on Hand (QOH) x Volume (on hand VOH) = Volume desired ('X' VD) which is the SAME as what mentioned: quantity desired/quantity on hand x volume This is what is known as Medication on Hand vs Desired Medication Respectfully, Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS Founder/Owner of this site =================================== > Ok, I went to Steak N Shake after the exam and had a few beers. > > Overall I felt I knew more than I didn't. > > You absolutely need to know: > > quantity desired/quantity on hand x volume > > I swear half the test was based on that. > > So now I'm going to impatiently wait my result and check out which > associations I'd benefit from joining. > > Also, I'd really like to hear from anyone who has been through an > interview for a pharmacy tech job. Do they ask you questions similar > to the exam? I'm starting a career change here and have no experience > in pharmacy. How do I spin myself as qualified? > > > Thanks, > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 22, 2006 Report Share Posted July 22, 2006 I agree, there were more math questions that I thought, but that is good for me since math is a strong strength of mine. I did felt like I knew more and knew how to answer most of the questions on the exam. Still, I feel like I got 70% to 80% correct, so it's a question of passing or failing ... we'll see in August! Not to be a telltale but I thought it was interesting that the woman who sat next to me, her calculator didn't work (I assume dead battery or malfunctioned). And instead of " too bad, you're on your own " , the protocor went around and asked people (including me) during the middle of the test whether we have a backup calculator that we could borrow to the woman ..... I thought PTCB's green sheet (examination admission ticket) clearly stated, " no calculator sharing allowed, before, during, or after exam. " While the three people who brought scientific calculators weren't able to get the simple/regular calculator ... they were completely on their own with their brains to do the math. (Exam taken at Washington DC). Sadly, I wasn't able to " go out and celebrate " after my PTCE. Had to head off to CVS at 4pm and worked all the way until 12am ... it was a long day, since I got up at 5:30am to get to the testing site. But on the bright side, no more mom's endless nagging about " Tingting, you need to study more for PTCE! " Tingting P.S. I hope Natural Saline (NS) is 0.9%! =P PTCB exam 7/22 Ok, I went to Steak N Shake after the exam and had a few beers. Overall I felt I knew more than I didn't. You absolutely need to know: quantity desired/quantity on hand x volume I swear half the test was based on that. So now I'm going to impatiently wait my result and check out which associations I'd benefit from joining. Also, I'd really like to hear from anyone who has been through an interview for a pharmacy tech job. Do they ask you questions similar to the exam? I'm starting a career change here and have no experience in pharmacy. How do I spin myself as qualified? Thanks, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 23, 2006 Report Share Posted July 23, 2006 Thank you Tingting Gao! Can you tell us where you took the exam? City and State please. I will pass on the calculator info to them. It is VERY important. NOT fair to the others at all. Personally I think PTCB should have calculators there for everyone and NO one should be allowed to bring in one. But then that is my personal pet peeve. I teach my students that they may not have a scientific or a programmable calc on campus only a plain one so that they can get used to it before the exam. Of course cheating with programmable is the main reason those are not allowed! Rest assured NS = normal saline = 0.9% = 0.9 grams of NaCl / 100ml in a 1L Bag of NS = 9 grams or 9grams NaCl/1000ml Likewise: 1/2 Normal Saline = 0.45% NS = 0.45 grams of NaCl / 100ml in a 1L Bag of NS = 4.5 grams or 4.5grams NaCl/1000ml 1/4 Normal Saline = 0.2% NS = 0.2 grams of NaCl / 100ml in a 1L Bag of NS = 2 grams or 2 grams NaCl/1000ml Just remember this: NO ONE will ever love you more than your mom! Jeanetta Tingting Gao <starice8@...> wrote: I agree, there were more math questions that I thought, but that is good for me since math is a strong strength of mine. I did felt like I knew more and knew how to answer most of the questions on the exam. Still, I feel like I got 70% to 80% correct, so it's a question of passing or failing ... we'll see in August! Not to be a telltale but I thought it was interesting that the woman who sat next to me, her calculator didn't work (I assume dead battery or malfunctioned). And instead of " too bad, you're on your own " , the protocor went around and asked people (including me) during the middle of the test whether we have a backup calculator that we could borrow to the woman ..... I thought PTCB's green sheet (examination admission ticket) clearly stated, " no calculator sharing allowed, before, during, or after exam. " While the three people who brought scientific calculators weren't able to get the simple/regular calculator ... they were completely on their own with their brains to do the math. (Exam taken at Washington DC). Sadly, I wasn't able to " go out and celebrate " after my PTCE. Had to head off to CVS at 4pm and worked all the way until 12am ... it was a long day, since I got up at 5:30am to get to the testing site. But on the bright side, no more mom's endless nagging about " Tingting, you need to study more for PTCE! " Tingting P.S. I hope Natural Saline (NS) is 0.9%! =P PTCB exam 7/22 Ok, I went to Steak N Shake after the exam and had a few beers. Overall I felt I knew more than I didn't. You absolutely need to know: quantity desired/quantity on hand x volume I swear half the test was based on that. So now I'm going to impatiently wait my result and check out which associations I'd benefit from joining. Also, I'd really like to hear from anyone who has been through an interview for a pharmacy tech job. Do they ask you questions similar to the exam? I'm starting a career change here and have no experience in pharmacy. How do I spin myself as qualified? Thanks, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 23, 2006 Report Share Posted July 23, 2006 I wish my exam was mostly D/H(V)!!!! I swear I had about 30 compounding questions! I had a bunch of questions checking the RX strength for infants and children, and flow rates. I will be shocked and thrilled if in Aug I recieve a passing grade. My only hope is if half of the compounding questions were the 15 non graded questions. (in VA) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 23, 2006 Report Share Posted July 23, 2006 I took the exam at Marriott Hotel in Washington DC in District of Columbia (Test Center Site code: 0070). Having calculators for everyone is reasonable but having PTCB providing them ... there must be thousands of people taking it all on one day ... Yay! I'm glad normal saline (sorry, I dont know why I was thinking natural saline) is 0.9%! Definitely got that question right! Haha, that's true about mom. =) Tingting Nothern Virginia Re: PTCB exam 7/22 Thank you Tingting Gao! Can you tell us where you took the exam? City and State please. I will pass on the calculator info to them. It is VERY important. NOT fair to the others at all. Personally I think PTCB should have calculators there for everyone and NO one should be allowed to bring in one. But then that is my personal pet peeve. I teach my students that they may not have a scientific or a programmable calc on campus only a plain one so that they can get used to it before the exam. Of course cheating with programmable is the main reason those are not allowed! Rest assured NS = normal saline = 0.9% = 0.9 grams of NaCl / 100ml in a 1L Bag of NS = 9 grams or 9grams NaCl/1000ml Likewise: 1/2 Normal Saline = 0.45% NS = 0.45 grams of NaCl / 100ml in a 1L Bag of NS = 4.5 grams or 4.5grams NaCl/1000ml 1/4 Normal Saline = 0.2% NS = 0.2 grams of NaCl / 100ml in a 1L Bag of NS = 2 grams or 2 grams NaCl/1000ml Just remember this: NO ONE will ever love you more than your mom! Jeanetta Tingting Gao <starice8 (DOT) com> wrote: I agree, there were more math questions that I thought, but that is good for me since math is a strong strength of mine. I did felt like I knew more and knew how to answer most of the questions on the exam. Still, I feel like I got 70% to 80% correct, so it's a question of passing or failing ... we'll see in August! Not to be a telltale but I thought it was interesting that the woman who sat next to me, her calculator didn't work (I assume dead battery or malfunctioned) .. And instead of " too bad, you're on your own " , the protocor went around and asked people (including me) during the middle of the test whether we have a backup calculator that we could borrow to the woman ..... I thought PTCB's green sheet (examination admission ticket) clearly stated, " no calculator sharing allowed, before, during, or after exam. " While the three people who brought scientific calculators weren't able to get the simple/regular calculator ... they were completely on their own with their brains to do the math. (Exam taken at Washington DC). Sadly, I wasn't able to " go out and celebrate " after my PTCE. Had to head off to CVS at 4pm and worked all the way until 12am ... it was a long day, since I got up at 5:30am to get to the testing site. But on the bright side, no more mom's endless nagging about " Tingting, you need to study more for PTCE! " Tingting P.S. I hope Natural Saline (NS) is 0.9%! =P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 23, 2006 Report Share Posted July 23, 2006 Thank you for your input ! Does 'checking Rx strength for infants' mean calculating and finding the correct or 'knowing' the information from scratch as an experienced tech? don't forget we can not discuss specific questions, onl.y the topics. Thanks Jeanetta Maxwell <heathermax@...> wrote: I wish my exam was mostly D/H(V)!!!! I swear I had about 30 compounding questions! I had a bunch of questions checking the RX strength for infants and children, and flow rates. I will be shocked and thrilled if in Aug I recieve a passing grade. My only hope is if half of the compounding questions were the 15 non graded questions. (in VA) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 23, 2006 Report Share Posted July 23, 2006 Dear Tingting Gao, Calculators cost 0nly 99 cents at the 99cents store. I am sure that this can be done. Plus they are reuseable. It would cut out at least 1/2 to 1 hour of check in time, when you consider all the people that need to have their caclulators checked. Or it will cut out one person's salary to do the checking if it is done by assembly line! I say it would pay for itself and solve problems. Good going on the NS problem. Jeanetta Tingting Gao <starice8@...> wrote: I took the exam at Marriott Hotel in Washington DC in District of Columbia (Test Center Site code: 0070). Having calculators for everyone is reasonable but having PTCB providing them .... there must be thousands of people taking it all on one day ... Yay! I'm glad normal saline (sorry, I dont know why I was thinking natural saline) is 0.9%! Definitely got that question right! Haha, that's true about mom. =) Tingting Nothern Virginia Re: PTCB exam 7/22 Thank you Tingting Gao! Can you tell us where you took the exam? City and State please. I will pass on the calculator info to them. It is VERY important. NOT fair to the others at all. Personally I think PTCB should have calculators there for everyone and NO one should be allowed to bring in one. But then that is my personal pet peeve. I teach my students that they may not have a scientific or a programmable calc on campus only a plain one so that they can get used to it before the exam. Of course cheating with programmable is the main reason those are not allowed! Rest assured NS = normal saline = 0.9% = 0.9 grams of NaCl / 100ml in a 1L Bag of NS = 9 grams or 9grams NaCl/1000ml Likewise: 1/2 Normal Saline = 0.45% NS = 0.45 grams of NaCl / 100ml in a 1L Bag of NS = 4.5 grams or 4.5grams NaCl/1000ml 1/4 Normal Saline = 0.2% NS = 0.2 grams of NaCl / 100ml in a 1L Bag of NS = 2 grams or 2 grams NaCl/1000ml Just remember this: NO ONE will ever love you more than your mom! Jeanetta Tingting Gao <starice8 (DOT) com> wrote: I agree, there were more math questions that I thought, but that is good for me since math is a strong strength of mine. I did felt like I knew more and knew how to answer most of the questions on the exam. Still, I feel like I got 70% to 80% correct, so it's a question of passing or failing ... we'll see in August! Not to be a telltale but I thought it was interesting that the woman who sat next to me, her calculator didn't work (I assume dead battery or malfunctioned) .. And instead of " too bad, you're on your own " , the protocor went around and asked people (including me) during the middle of the test whether we have a backup calculator that we could borrow to the woman ..... I thought PTCB's green sheet (examination admission ticket) clearly stated, " no calculator sharing allowed, before, during, or after exam. " While the three people who brought scientific calculators weren't able to get the simple/regular calculator ... they were completely on their own with their brains to do the math. (Exam taken at Washington DC). Sadly, I wasn't able to " go out and celebrate " after my PTCE. Had to head off to CVS at 4pm and worked all the way until 12am ... it was a long day, since I got up at 5:30am to get to the testing site. But on the bright side, no more mom's endless nagging about " Tingting, you need to study more for PTCE! " Tingting P.S. I hope Natural Saline (NS) is 0.9%! =P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 23, 2006 Report Share Posted July 23, 2006 when interview a new tech, and they seem hire-able we give them a math test of basic stuff they should know to work in our pharmacy. i work in a hospital. our last 3 hires were straight out of tech school. if you are looking now tell them you just took the test. if you wait for the results tell them you have passed the test, maybe even bring the certificate with you. mention all you had to learn to prepare for the test, and that you can't wait to put it into practice. --- kid_erin <erina@...> wrote: Ok, I went to Steak N Shake after the exam and had a few beers. Overall I felt I knew more than I didn't. You absolutely need to know: quantity desired/quantity on hand x volume I swear half the test was based on that. > > So now I'm going to impatiently wait my result and > check out which > associations I'd benefit from joining. > > Also, I'd really like to hear from anyone who has > been through an > interview for a pharmacy tech job. Do they ask you > questions similar > to the exam? I'm starting a career change here and > have no experience > in pharmacy. How do I spin myself as qualified? > > > Thanks, > > > > > > " If the world were perfect, it wouldn't be. " - Yogi Berra ONLY AFTER YOU'VE LOST EVERYTHING ARE YOU FREE TO DO ANYTHING if you have the time to click on an e-mail link like this one: http://www.sendmoreinfo.com/ID/2425657 you really can earn some extra cash! __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 25, 2006 Report Share Posted July 25, 2006 Hi I actually interviewed for a part-time tech position with cvs. The interview went well, but I had already been offered a job with Norman Regional Hospital (as a Surgical Instruments tech, which was to get a foot-in-the-door)...however, the Pharmacist interviewing at cvs seemed to be more concerned with dependability and punctuality....as with any position, that is really important...so sell yourself as dependable, punctual and eager to learn the position....also, just as with any interview...it doesn't hurt to use the lingo of the profession, just to show that you know your stuff. good luck with your career, Bonnie (from Oklahoma City) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 26, 2006 Report Share Posted July 26, 2006 Thank you Bonnie! I think that the fact that the RPh was interested in punctuality and dependability reflects the fact that states that do not require education and training find a lot of 'flakes' at their doors trying to get hired. In addition, it reflects that that particular pharmacist has had previous problems with former techs who he/she mayhave fired or who have quit. Why? Because it is natural for any person doing an interview to focus on things that have been a problem or weak area of the person that they are replacing, or who they currently have and to NOT repeat the same behavor in the new employee. It also reflects the difference in what the techs will be allowed to do and not do on the job. Techs in a hospital work more directly with the meds and compounding and using different and more math skills. Techs in retail will be communicating more with the doctor's office nurses and patients. and using more buisness skills. Getting to work on time equates to dependability, which most of the employers in California stress in inteviews with my students. But the emphaisis shows that the retail techs are given less lattitude in pharmacy practice then the hospital techs. Please let us know how you like your new job and how it goes for a newly certified tech. Respectfully, Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS Founder/Owner of this site Bonniekerr@... wrote: Hi I actually interviewed for a part-time tech position with cvs. The interview went well, but I had already been offered a job with Norman Regional Hospital (as a Surgical Instruments tech, which was to get a foot-in-the-door)...however, the Pharmacist interviewing at cvs seemed to be more concerned with dependability and punctuality....as with any position, that is really important...so sell yourself as dependable, punctual and eager to learn the position....also, just as with any interview...it doesn't hurt to use the lingo of the profession, just to show that you know your stuff. good luck with your career, Bonnie (from Oklahoma City) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 27, 2006 Report Share Posted July 27, 2006 Hi , They didn't ask me too many pharmacy-type questions when I interviewed. Basically, I flashed my PTCB certificate in front of them and was hired right away because of it. They also liked the idea that I didn't want to go back to school at all. Retail pharmacies like mine really get whacked every year when their employees quit to go back to school. So - if you're going for retail - they'll probably want some evidence that you expect to stick it out for the long haul. Also, it's smart to have a telephone reference available so the manager can call them and hire you on the spot if they want. Finally, be willing to accept flexible hours and work weekends; most Saturdays will probably be a must, at least at the retail level, unless you're lucky and they're already covered. I don't know about institutional tech hiring. Good luck. ------------------------------------------ > > > Also, I'd really like to hear from anyone who has been through an > interview for a pharmacy tech job. Do they ask you questions similar > to the exam? I'm starting a career change here and have no experience > in pharmacy. How do I spin myself as qualified? > > > Thanks, > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 28, 2006 Report Share Posted July 28, 2006 Thank you Mabber for your input! I am going to take this a bit further! You are correct retail does get hit with techs who leave to go back to school. But they also 'give back' by hiring college students on purpose who are going to become pharmacists. So it is a catch 22. This is what was meant by a previous poster who said that now that the employees/students are going back to school there are some openings. So some will be hired BECAUSE they are in school, while others are hired because they are able to be perm employees and not in school. A selling point for a retail tech is that he/she is in it for the long haul which relates to the words: loyalty, dependability and integrity. But still it must be 'spelled out' , as a benefit to the employer to who is doing the interviewing. Now on the other hand!!! Institutional setting! Well this is a horse of a different color! At the time of hire some will be looking for pure tech material, who is in it for the long haul as above. But some will be looking for 'college students' who have had or are in classes for biology, anatomy and physiology, chemistry, microbiology etc. Perhaps the hospital employer beleives that these students are more capable of performing the lab work or taking detailed direction etc. While tech programs have PROVEN across the US that hospital techs do not need to be hard science college majors, but rather ( preferably) educated and trained in pharmacy and pharmacology along with on the job training....some hospitals, individual pharmacists and some states still prefer the science major or pre- pharmacy major as a hospital tech trainee, EVEN though each school year or semester they may need to replace them. This has to do with the amount of math and the laboratory cross-over of applications science lab equipment, accuracy technque etc. Personally I would rather see a tech EDUCATED and trained in mock labs then on the job training (externship) who has a high school diploma than a science major trained on the job. There is NO comparison!!! The educated tech from a tech program will have more skill going into the job than the science major and therefore be equipt to catch less and contribute to less medication errors.This will only be the opposite if the individual is not detail oreinted or cut out for hospital tech work in the first place. NOW if you take a hard science major and place them in a pharm tech program to give them pharm education and mock labs and on the job training in an externship program you have a DYNAMITE tech, once again unless they are not cut out for hospital work. Again this is WHY the states need to be uniform and there needs to be a minimum national standard of education and other requirements for techs. An on the job trained only tech takes longer to train than a program grad tech as long as we are comparing all other things being equal. Individual characteristics come into play to see who makes the BEST employee such as attendance, work ethic etc. Respectfully, Jeanetta Mastron F/O mabbermabber <mabber999@...> wrote: Hi , They didn't ask me too many pharmacy-type questions when I interviewed. Basically, I flashed my PTCB certificate in front of them and was hired right away because of it. They also liked the idea that I didn't want to go back to school at all. Retail pharmacies like mine really get whacked every year when their employees quit to go back to school. So - if you're going for retail - they'll probably want some evidence that you expect to stick it out for the long haul. Also, it's smart to have a telephone reference available so the manager can call them and hire you on the spot if they want. Finally, be willing to accept flexible hours and work weekends; most Saturdays will probably be a must, at least at the retail level, unless you're lucky and they're already covered. I don't know about institutional tech hiring. Good luck. ------------------------------------------ > > > Also, I'd really like to hear from anyone who has been through an > interview for a pharmacy tech job. Do they ask you questions similar > to the exam? I'm starting a career change here and have no experience > in pharmacy. How do I spin myself as qualified? > > > Thanks, > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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