Re: Hallelujah!! (and books I loved and hated + other annoyances)

July 26, 2003

I know what you mean about delays! On every instruction I was given

it said to be at the test site BY 8:00 am or tough nuggies (I'm

paraphrasing a little bit). At my test site, they didn't start

checking people in until after 8. There were at least 200 people

there and by the time they went over everything and finally started

the test, it was 9:40. It wasn't so much the delay that bothered me,

it was the anxiety of having to wait that much longer to get started

(and get it over!). Someone must like the smell of fear, because I

never saw so many nervous people in my life. Now all I have to do is

survive the next 2 months. At least I have company since the other

two techs in my pharmacy took the exam today, too. I'll hope for you

if you hope for me!!

Tamra

July 27, 2003

Dear Tamra,

I am concerned! If you all did not start until 9:40 am does this mean

that the test was still over at 12noon? And if so this is less than 3

hours. Was any one kicked out for not being done by 12 noon? Or did

you all have until 12:40 pm which would giv you 3 hours?

This site is a place to vent your anxiety while waiting for your

results. We are here for you no matter what!

Respectfully,

Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS Chemistry

Founder/Owner

> I know what you mean about delays! On every instruction I was given

> it said to be at the test site BY 8:00 am or tough nuggies (I'm

> paraphrasing a little bit). At my test site, they didn't start

> checking people in until after 8. There were at least 200 people

> there and by the time they went over everything and finally started

> the test, it was 9:40. It wasn't so much the delay that bothered

me,

> it was the anxiety of having to wait that much longer to get

started

> (and get it over!). Someone must like the smell of fear, because I

> never saw so many nervous people in my life. Now all I have to do

is

> survive the next 2 months. At least I have company since the other

> two techs in my pharmacy took the exam today, too. I'll hope for

you

> if you hope for me!!

> Tamra

July 27, 2003

Dear Mimnguyen,

I am going to respond the best I can to your question regarding the

extra 15 questions.

This is what you wrote:

> What takes them so long? And what is up with them integrating the

15 questions that are " not scored " ? Do PTCB decide which questions

to take out after they find out which ones everyone answered

correctly? That would be very unfair. Oh and another thing. I

find that there could be discrepancies in other testing facilities

from the experience that I had today when the proctor was checking

the calculators. Not that I care about calculators doing fractions,

but just about the rules and people following them.

> Well, first the proctor (he) went around just simply putting

> red stickers on the calculators, not checking them or even taking a

> glimpse at them. Someone had to speak up to tell him that

> scientific calculators are not allowed. Then he goes over to his

> testing manual and reads the calculator section! All proctors

> should know this and know what to look for when checking. If this

> occured while I took it, who knows how many other times proctors

> just by chance put red stickers on the calcs and no student spoke

> up. But it's not the proctor's fault. The test takers should know

> because the directions are printed on the test ticket and in the

> booklet. It was just bothersome b/c time was ticking away since

the proctor left to find calculators for the students who didn't

follow directions.

I am very upset about this calculator thing!! I feel that PTCB needs

to be notified ASAP!!!

PTCB as an Item Writing Conference each year. When new questions are

agreed upon they will go into future exams to update and upgrade

them. However some questions willl be placed on future exams

to 'test' the questions. These may be be used to see if the question

is formatted or presented in an understandable way, to see the

responses in order to 'weigh' them correctly, to see if anyone

challlenges them etc.

The feedback that PTCB gets will help PTCB to change or improve the

question(s) or available possible answers. These questions will NOT

count against you, nor for you. Your score is based upon the 125 set

questions that every score will be based upon.

I hope that this helps you a bit,

Respectfully,

Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BSChem

F/O

July 27, 2003

As " Mimnyguyen " said: " Nothing seems to work, unless you become

familiar w/ them, love them, have dinner w/ them. "

Working in a retail pharmacy, I had no clue on the hospital pharmacy

questions. I am a very hands on learner.....touch, see, taste, hear, do.... my

daughter is the same way. ((My pharmacist has FINALLY learned that about me.

I typed a sig the other day and not that it was wrong, he got the product,

showed me the dispenser and the way it should have been typed. (you have to

assume the patients don't know anything and put it in the most simple terms)).

Anyway....not knowing what a laminar flow hood looks like, let alone how it

works.....baffled me (and still does!). I studied the best I could from my

book and if I don't make it, I'm definately going to shadow at a hospital

pharmacy a few days before the next test so I have an idea!! The math, well,

it was just algebra. You had to figure out your problem and solve for X.

**understanding the drugs and how to administer them helps too!!

There were questions about some drugs on the test that I know where related to

hospital areas.....and I did my best reasoning when it came to those. One

question made me laugh out loud (the proctor gave me a dirty look!). I'd tell

you which one, but I don't want to break any rules!

ok.....59 more days....he he

Therese

July 27, 2003

Dear Therese,

Glad thqt you got back to us with your 'report'. Laminar Flow hood is

the hood or location that Intravenous drugs are made under sterile

or Aseptic technique, to avoid micro-organism pathogen or particle

contamination.

There are horizontal LFHoods and Vertical or biological cabinet Flow

Hoods. The latter are used for making Chemotherapy drugs. Another

word for that is Anti-cancer, Anti-Neoplastic or Cytotoxic drugs.

One must work 6 inches into the hood and in a vertical hood 3 inches

up off of the work bench or work space.

Basically the outside room air comes in throught the bottom of the

flow hood, through the first filter, where up to 90 % or so of the

contaminents are filtered, then up the back to a plenum Then the air

is distributed evenly in front of the HEPA filter(High Effiencey

Particulate Air Filter) and then it is pushed through it evenly

in 'sheets' of air into the hood.

I hope at least one of your questions is answered here.

Laughter, well this may signal the proctor to think you are talking

and therefore cheating. You were very lucky!

Hope this helps you feel better.

Respectfully,

Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS Chem

> As " Mimnyguyen " said: " Nothing seems to work, unless you become

> familiar w/ them, love them, have dinner w/ them. "

>

> Working in a retail pharmacy, I had no clue on the hospital

pharmacy

> questions. I am a very hands on learner.....touch, see, taste,

hear, do.... my

> daughter is the same way. ((My pharmacist has FINALLY learned that

about me.

> I typed a sig the other day and not that it was wrong, he got the

product,

> showed me the dispenser and the way it should have been typed. (you

have to

> assume the patients don't know anything and put it in the most

simple terms)).

>

> Anyway....not knowing what a laminar flow hood looks like, let

alone how it

> works.....baffled me (and still does!). I studied the best I could

from my

> book and if I don't make it, I'm definately going to shadow at a

hospital

> pharmacy a few days before the next test so I have an idea!! The

math, well,

> it was just algebra. You had to figure out your problem and solve

for X.

> **understanding the drugs and how to administer them helps too!!

>

> There were questions about some drugs on the test that I know where

related to

> hospital areas.....and I did my best reasoning when it came to

those. One

> question made me laugh out loud (the proctor gave me a dirty

look!). I'd tell

> you which one, but I don't want to break any rules!

>

> ok.....59 more days....he he

>

> Therese

July 27, 2003

Jeanetta,

This happened in the room I was taking the exam yesterday. It seemed as if the

PCE staff didn't know what they were doing. They started us on a " survey "

portion of the exam (10 minutes), not graded but for statistical purposes

only. During that time, the " proctor " started to answer questions regarding

the test (putting in name, id number, site number, etc.) It got to be

confusing. She (proctor) even apologized for the confusion. There was also

the issue of the calculators too. About 15 minutes before the exam is to

begin, they (proctor and helpers) are walking around the room asking people if

they had scientific calculators. They also walked around picking up books and

notes that they had allowed into the room! It appeared to me that they hadn't

read the " rules " and didn't know this. There were actually a few people that

raised their hands and turned them in. But I feel the PCE staff should have

been more on the ball and not " willy nilly " . Our clock read 9:30 when we were

finished filling in the survey and information on the front of exam. They took

the clocks (two in room) and set them back to 9:00AM. We were still allowed

the 3 hours to complete the exam. For that, I was thankful!

Therese

July 27, 2003

Hi Everyone,

We need to realize that the individuals who proctor the individual

exams are not actually PCE or PTCB staff members. In most cases they

are individuals who work in the area where the exam is given in some

capacity and volunteered or was paid by PCE to proctor the exam.

This does not excuse them for poor performance and not knowing what

they are suppose to be doing, but it does give some insight as to

why.

For those taking the national exam in the future. You need to be at

the testing site around 8AM and the test should begin around 9AM and

last until 12PM. This obviously did not happen for some.

For those who took the exam, job well done as I am sure you all did

well with the excellent tutoring offered in this excellent forum.

Respectfully,

Joe Medina, CPhT

www.techlectures.com

July 27, 2003

Dear Joe,

Your opinion is respected and appreciated. I do agree with all that

you wrote about the proctoring. However I can not agree with your

direction to show up at 8 am. I find this not acceptable because

there must be time to check-in or register the candidates, check

personalitems and calculators AND to give instructions. When I took

the exam we were told to show up at 7:30am that was in l996!

Obviously the time changes as times change! I think the ONLY

direction should come from PTCB itself on this. escpecially during

the winter months.

In l996, from 7:30amto 8 am the check in process occured. Then at 8

am we were let into our testing room(s). Then from 8 am to 9 am

there were instructions! So I am sure you now see why I think we

should leave specific instructions to PTCB.

Again thank you for your input,

Respectfully,

Jeanetta Mastron CPhT

Founder/Owner

> Hi Everyone,

>

> We need to realize that the individuals who proctor the individual

> exams are not actually PCE or PTCB staff members. In most cases

they

> are individuals who work in the area where the exam is given in

some

> capacity and volunteered or was paid by PCE to proctor the exam.

> This does not excuse them for poor performance and not knowing what

> they are suppose to be doing, but it does give some insight as to

> why.

>

> For those taking the national exam in the future. You need to be

at

> the testing site around 8AM and the test should begin around 9AM

and

> last until 12PM. This obviously did not happen for some.

>

> For those who took the exam, job well done as I am sure you all did

> well with the excellent tutoring offered in this excellent forum.

>

> Respectfully,

>

> Joe Medina, CPhT

> www.techlectures.com

July 27, 2003

Hi Jeanetta,

Maybe we should camp outside the doors the night before like when we

were young to get tickets to a concert. Although no extra credit for

being the first one in line, we will be sure to not miss taking the

exam. I'll bring the snacks. You bring the drinks! Hey we could

pop questions back and forth all night long.

Respectfully,

Joe Medina, CPhT

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