Guest guest Posted March 27, 2008 Report Share Posted March 27, 2008 Nidhi, I work in home infusion and it's a " quieter " setting than a hospital. Contact some of the home infusion providers where you live and see if they would be willing to either hire you outright (or per-diem) and train you. Because the setting is less hectic, it's likely they have more time to bring on a trainee. Also, if you attended a formal education program, your college might be able to arrange a part-time externship for you in IVs. I LOVE IVs and while my position has changed to be more management oriented in the office, I still compound from time to time and really love it. good luck! Lori in Las Vegas On Thu, Mar 27, 2008 at 8:47 AM, Nidhi Aggarwal <contactnidhi@...> wrote: > > Dear Jeanetta, I like this group so much. Everytime in need,I get all help > by you.I am a certified pharmacy tech and worked in retail pharmacies but > like to work in hospital. Problem is I don't have IV experience. I am very > good in calculations and also have knowledge of aseptic tecniques .I tried > working as volunteer in hospital but they don't allow any volunteer to work > in IV section.How can I get that and every hospital job they ask for IV > experience. I will be very thankful to you if you could help me in this. > Yours truly,Nidhi. > __________________________________________________________ > Windows Live Hotmail is giving away Zunes. > > http://www.windowslive-hotmail.com/ZuneADay/?locale=en-US & ocid=TXT_TAGLM_Mobile_\ Zune_V3 > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 27, 2008 Report Share Posted March 27, 2008 Deares5 Nidhi, I need to know what state you are in.... this sometimes dictates what may either be the problem or may help you. I first suggestion would be to volunteer. Since this is not working some only other ways may be: 1. go to a school to see if they can place you in an externship Do not get too hopeful, many schools will not send anyone out if they haven to first taken THEIR courses to ensure that they are good at the subject matter and because you would be 'representing' their teachings and skills. The school I teach at would not allow this. But one out there may! 2. Take a job as a retail technician to get SOME experience then it will be easier to sell yourself as a hospital trainee WHEN such an opportunity arises. If you already have experience as a retail technician keep reading! 3. Being a compounding pharmacy technician is very rewarding and may or may not require being a retail or hospital technician, but can be a gateway to hospital tech work. So FIND a compounding pharmacy, go to the site bring your resume and apply. Be prepared to ask for an appointment. But drop off your paper work. Going in person DRESSED for success will help you make 'contact' and rapport with a live human being. It is easier to end a conversation with we are not hiring than it is to say NO to someone in person. In addition if they are looking for someone you are a LIVE WARM body right there and you may have caught them just before they placed an add or asked an employee for a reference! 4. Call back the hospital staff person that you spoke with who said you needed experience and ask him or her if he can tell you HOW to do this. The worse that can happen is he/she says I don't know or I too busy. He/she wasn't going to hire you anyway so you have lost nothing, but you may gain some information that may just help you IF this person decided to give you a trainnee position because you were determined. 5. ALWAYS ALWAYS write a thank you follow up letter AND email (BOTH) for their time and understanding. Explain again that ou are seeking a trainee position and outline briefly your best skills (math trade/generic aseptic technique etc) and any experience you have that is cross over. Include a resume (again even ifyou dropped one off) and ask that he/she keep it on file in the event that a trainee position would open up. 6.Be willing to accept PART TIME as a trainee (state so in that letter above). 7. Use the above # 5 as a lead in in a cover letter and also if you go to a site for the first time with out an appointment to see if they are hiring. Also drop off your resume and letter in the personnel office. 8. Consider calling a temp agency or a placement agency also known as a staffing agency. rxjeanne is a tech who opened up he own agency. She posts here from time to time. She will tell you that you must be prepared to take any test on math and pharmacology or pharmacy. 9. Consider joining a professional organization and networking. I got two different jobs (teaching) by my association with CSHP and AAPT members. I know others who got jobs attending the trade shows at ASHP, CSHP, AAPT, NPTA. Become VERY active! Become an officer! Attend seminars and meetings. 10. Get into pharmacy no matter what. Stay in there until you find a DOOR to hospital! Keep looking. sometimes you have to make your own doors. Visit the hospital Pharmacy director. DO not speak to the techs! Why? because some will feel threatened that you may be their and take their job or hours away from them. Sorry to techs reading this but it does happen. Talk only to the director of pharmacy, pharmacist in charge or personnel. 11. In some states if you go to a site to ask if they are hiring, they must offer you a job application or accept your resume. Of course that does not meant that they have to review it or hire you. 12. UPDATE your resume and make sure it is neat! Go to my files section on career path, net working or resume building and the like. Scour all that I have written. Look at the resume examples. Compare them to yours. Use the action words. Give some one reason to hire you if all they had in front of them was your resume! Your resume is your ingredients label, your cover letter or phone call or showing up is your sales pitch. Go sell yourself! 13.Write to the state board of pharmacy and ASK your state board members HOW does one 'break into' this field of pharmacy without experience f your state is one that does not require on the job training or education. (that would be ab out 7/8 of all US states). But you never know! Someone on the board of pharmacy may be so impressed with your determination that he/she hires you or calls a friend. Once again include a coy of your resume, cover letter etc. 14. Since pharm techs will have to verbally communicate with nurses, doctors and patients as well as co-workers/RPh and CPhT's, they will need the BEST English oral and written communication skills. IF you have English as a second language, and IF Americans with English as a First language are asking you often to repeat what you have said then you may need to improve your command of English before someone will hire you. Medication errors can be made when one can not understand another person very well. And mere everyday tasks can become cumbersome if the workforce finds it difficult to communicate with a particular employee. Consider going to night school for English classes to learn to speak with a larger vocabulary, less accent and slow down or speed up as necessary. While you may know math and aseptic technique, if you can not answer phones or if you are not efficient on the phone or in verbal communication you will not be hired or keep a job. PLEASE Let me/us know if you have tried any of this advice and what works and what does not work. I wish I had a magic answer for you, but there is not 'one'. Good luck and please keep me/us posted with your progress. Also please let me know which state you are in, What city you are in, if you are currently working as a tech and doing what? Thanks Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS Pharm Tech Educator Founder/Owner of this site > > > Dear Jeanetta, I like this group so much. Everytime in need,I get all help by you.I am a certified pharmacy tech and worked in retail pharmacies but like to work in hospital. Problem is I don't have IV experience. I am very good in calculations and also have knowledge of aseptic tecniques .I tried working as volunteer in hospital but they don't allow any volunteer to work in IV section.How can I get that and every hospital job they ask for IV experience. I will be very thankful to you if you could help me in this. Yours truly,Nidhi. > _________________________________________________________________ > Windows Live Hotmail is giving away Zunes. > http://www.windowslive-hotmail.com/ZuneADay/?locale=en-US & ocid=TXT_TAGLM_Mobile_\ Zune_V3 > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 27, 2008 Report Share Posted March 27, 2008 Dear Nidhi, One more thing: Consider taking an IV course or Certificate program, unless you have graduated from a school that taught such. NPTA has one. Techlectures has one. Does any one else know of other IV Certification programs? Some states require an IV certificate. I think Texas does. Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS Founder/Owner > > > Dear Jeanetta, I like this group so much. Everytime in need,I get all help by you.I am a certified pharmacy tech and worked in retail pharmacies but like to work in hospital. Problem is I don't have IV experience. I am very good in calculations and also have knowledge of aseptic tecniques .I tried working as volunteer in hospital but they don't allow any volunteer to work in IV section.How can I get that and every hospital job they ask for IV experience. I will be very thankful to you if you could help me in this. Yours truly,Nidhi. > _________________________________________________________________ > Windows Live Hotmail is giving away Zunes. > http://www.windowslive-hotmail.com/ZuneADay/?locale=en-US & ocid=TXT_TAGLM_Mobile_\ Zune_V3 > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 27, 2008 Report Share Posted March 27, 2008 Hi Lori! Long time no hear from you! Great advice! I should have thought of that too! On another note: Less need for tech to speak to nurses, doctors and patients in home infusion even though great communication skills are still needed. So tell us about your management work! Love ya Jeanetta Lori Linek <squeezle68@...> wrote: Nidhi, I work in home infusion and it's a " quieter " setting than a hospital. Contact some of the home infusion providers where you live and see if they would be willing to either hire you outright (or per-diem) and train you. Because the setting is less hectic, it's likely they have more time to bring on a trainee. Also, if you attended a formal education program, your college might be able to arrange a part-time externship for you in IVs. I LOVE IVs and while my position has changed to be more management oriented in the office, I still compound from time to time and really love it. good luck! Lori in Las Vegas On Thu, Mar 27, 2008 at 8:47 AM, Nidhi Aggarwal <contactnidhi@...> wrote: > > Dear Jeanetta, I like this group so much. Everytime in need,I get all help > by you.I am a certified pharmacy tech and worked in retail pharmacies but > like to work in hospital. Problem is I don't have IV experience. I am very > good in calculations and also have knowledge of aseptic tecniques .I tried > working as volunteer in hospital but they don't allow any volunteer to work > in IV section.How can I get that and every hospital job they ask for IV > experience. I will be very thankful to you if you could help me in this. > Yours truly,Nidhi. > __________________________________________________________ > Windows Live Hotmail is giving away Zunes. > > http://www.windowslive-hotmail.com/ZuneADay/?locale=en-US & ocid=TXT_TAGLM_Mobile_\ Zune_V3 > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 27, 2008 Report Share Posted March 27, 2008 Jeanetta, I'm working for a national pharmacy chain that does specialty retail and also home infusion. I am the " guinea pig " here in Las Vegas where they are combining the retail and infusion in the same building (because the site fit that kind of model). Up until now, they have been separate entities. Here, the retail is in the front and I am in the back. I'm the only one here for the infusion side so I'm new referral intake, inventory management, office management, insurance adjudictor, IV tech and delivery person!! I'm sure I have more roles - as you can imagine being the only one in the office I'm doing it all. I'm " supervised " by the pharmacists in California in the main infusion center and the retail pharmacist here checks my work for the infusion products. Once this model is proven to work, they will do the same in other locations around the country so all eyes are on me at the moment but it's been very rewarding. When we grow I will hire an additional intake person and tech and then I'm hoping I will be able to go set up other locations around the country. ~Lori in LV On Thu, Mar 27, 2008 at 1:09 PM, Jeanetta Mastron <rxjm2002@...> wrote: > Hi Lori! > > Long time no hear from you! > Great advice! I should have thought of that too! > > On another note: Less need for tech to speak to nurses, doctors and > patients in home infusion even though great communication skills are still > needed. > > So tell us about your management work! > > Love ya > Jeanetta > > Lori Linek <squeezle68@... <squeezle68%40gmail.com>> wrote: Nidhi, > I work in home infusion and it's a " quieter " setting than a hospital. > Contact some of the home infusion providers where you live and see if they > would be willing to either hire you outright (or per-diem) and train you. > Because the setting is less hectic, it's likely they have more time to > bring > on a trainee. Also, if you attended a formal education program, your > college > might be able to arrange a part-time externship for you in IVs. > > I LOVE IVs and while my position has changed to be more management > oriented > in the office, I still compound from time to time and really love it. > > good luck! > > Lori in Las Vegas > > On Thu, Mar 27, 2008 at 8:47 AM, Nidhi Aggarwal <contactnidhi@...<contactnidhi%40hotmail.com> > > > wrote: > > > > > Dear Jeanetta, I like this group so much. Everytime in need,I get all > help > > by you.I am a certified pharmacy tech and worked in retail pharmacies > but > > like to work in hospital. Problem is I don't have IV experience. I am > very > > good in calculations and also have knowledge of aseptic tecniques .I > tried > > working as volunteer in hospital but they don't allow any volunteer to > work > > in IV section.How can I get that and every hospital job they ask for IV > > experience. I will be very thankful to you if you could help me in this. > > Yours truly,Nidhi. > > __________________________________________________________ > > Windows Live Hotmail is giving away Zunes. > > > > > http://www.windowslive-hotmail.com/ZuneADay/?locale=en-US & ocid=TXT_TAGLM_Mobile_\ Zune_V3 > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 27, 2008 Report Share Posted March 27, 2008 Dear Lori, Please keep me/us posted. Sounds like a unique and wonderful position! Also please keepme in mind when setting up in Southern CA, I have grads who would love this type of work and are great with IV's, as well as some former long time grads who would be intereested in changing form hospital to infusion! Thanks for sharing! Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS Pharm Tech Educator Owner of site > > > > > > > > Dear Jeanetta, I like this group so much. Everytime in need,I get all > > help > > > by you.I am a certified pharmacy tech and worked in retail pharmacies > > but > > > like to work in hospital. Problem is I don't have IV experience. I am > > very > > > good in calculations and also have knowledge of aseptic tecniques .I > > tried > > > working as volunteer in hospital but they don't allow any volunteer to > > work > > > in IV section.How can I get that and every hospital job they ask for IV > > > experience. I will be very thankful to you if you could help me in this. > > > Yours truly,Nidhi. > > > __________________________________________________________ > > > Windows Live Hotmail is giving away Zunes. > > > > > > > > http://www.windowslive-hotmail.com/ZuneADay/?locale=en-US & ocid=TXT_TAGLM_Mobile_\ Zune_V3 > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 28, 2008 Report Share Posted March 28, 2008 Hi Lori, Thankyou so much for your suggestion.I hope it will help me.I will look for it today and see if able to find something.It will be really helpful to me if you could tell that what exactly practically you learn and do during IV's work and how long does it take to grasp all skills if you already know calculation part. Thanks once again. Nidhi From: squeezle68@... Date: Thu, 27 Mar 2008 09:03:01 -0700 Subject: Re: about IV Experience Nidhi, I work in home infusion and it's a " quieter " setting than a hospital. Contact some of the home infusion providers where you live and see if they would be willing to either hire you outright (or per-diem) and train you. Because the setting is less hectic, it's likely they have more time to bring on a trainee. Also, if you attended a formal education program, your college might be able to arrange a part-time externship for you in IVs. I LOVE IVs and while my position has changed to be more management oriented in the office, I still compound from time to time and really love it. good luck! Lori in Las Vegas On Thu, Mar 27, 2008 at 8:47 AM, Nidhi Aggarwal <contactnidhi@...> wrote: > > Dear Jeanetta, I like this group so much. Everytime in need,I get all help > by you.I am a certified pharmacy tech and worked in retail pharmacies but > like to work in hospital. Problem is I don't have IV experience. I am very > good in calculations and also have knowledge of aseptic tecniques .I tried > working as volunteer in hospital but they don't allow any volunteer to work > in IV section.How can I get that and every hospital job they ask for IV > experience. I will be very thankful to you if you could help me in this. > Yours truly,Nidhi. > __________________________________________________________ > Windows Live Hotmail is giving away Zunes. > > http://www.windowslive-hotmail.com/ZuneADay/?locale=en-US & ocid=TXT_TAGLM_Mobile_\ Zune_V3 > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 28, 2008 Report Share Posted March 28, 2008 Hi again Nidhi, The calculations are actually very easy. They are just the beginning and really, they are only used to double check what the pharmacist's instructions are. (And yes, they are human and do make mistakes occasionally, too!) From a practical standpoint of mixing IVs, there are some basic steps. Many drugs are lyophilized (freeze dried) and are dry powder in a vial. You must reconstitute the medication with the appropriate diluent - usually normal saline or sterile water. That's step one. Then, once the drug is reconstituted, you must withdraw the proper amount and put it into whatever container is required. Sometimes that container is just a bag of saline solution. Sometimes it's a syringe which the patient injects directly into the central line. Sometimes you prepare syringes for subcutaneous administration. Sometimes it's a cassette for a pump. Some drugs you leave in the powder form and attach a diluent bag with a " snap " device that allows reconstitution in the home. There are many different ways to get IV medications into the patient! Of course, all of this has to be done with proper aseptic technique. One thing during my training that was funny - while I was in the " observation " phase, my instructor put blue dye on my gloves. After an hour or so, he asked me to look in the mirror. I had blue dye all over myself!! It proved to me how unaware I was of touching things. Touch contamination is the main source of contamination. From then on, I was very aware of what I was touching after I had sterilized my hands. I use a lot of alcohol! In the case of TPN, usually you use a machine called an AutoMixer and there's an entire procedure required to mix TPNs properly. My IV externship was 2 months full-time with an excellent instructor and after that time I was very comfortable with the basics. Then, I just continued to learn from there. It all depends how quick you are to get comfortable with the supplies and handling the needles, getting air out of cassettes and bags, etc. In home infusion, you learn all about the various supplies (and there are a lot of them) because part of that job also includes packaging the meds and all the patient's supplies for delivery to their home. I have found in talking to many other techs, you tend to either love IVs or you hate it. It's not for everyone, but everyone is different, too. I wish you good luck in your job search! ~Lori in Las Vegas On Fri, Mar 28, 2008 at 7:28 AM, Nidhi Aggarwal <contactnidhi@...> wrote: > > Hi Lori, > Thankyou so much for your suggestion.I hope it will help me.I will look > for it today and see if able to find something.It will be really helpful > to me if you could tell that what exactly practically you learn and do > during IV's work and how long does it take to grasp all skills if you > already know calculation part. > Thanks once again. > Nidhi > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 29, 2008 Report Share Posted March 29, 2008 Dear Lori, You gave a GREAT description of Home Infusion! I would like to have your permission to put it in the Files Tutorials Section WITH your name on it. May I place it there so that IF we have this question about making IV's or Home Infusion arise again we can go to this answer immediately AND for those utilizing the Tutorials can have such a great description. I am most positive that many educators using this site would agree you wrote what we teach every day very well. Respectfully and with appreciation, Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS Pharm Tech Educator Founder/Owner Lori Linek <squeezle68@...> wrote: Hi again Nidhi, The calculations are actually very easy. They are just the beginning and really, they are only used to double check what the pharmacist's instructions are. (And yes, they are human and do make mistakes occasionally, too!) From a practical standpoint of mixing IVs, there are some basic steps. Many drugs are lyophilized (freeze dried) and are dry powder in a vial. You must reconstitute the medication with the appropriate diluent - usually normal saline or sterile water. That's step one. Then, once the drug is reconstituted, you must withdraw the proper amount and put it into whatever container is required. Sometimes that container is just a bag of saline solution. Sometimes it's a syringe which the patient injects directly into the central line. Sometimes you prepare syringes for subcutaneous administration. Sometimes it's a cassette for a pump. Some drugs you leave in the powder form and attach a diluent bag with a " snap " device that allows reconstitution in the home. There are many different ways to get IV medications into the patient! Of course, all of this has to be done with proper aseptic technique. One thing during my training that was funny - while I was in the " observation " phase, my instructor put blue dye on my gloves. After an hour or so, he asked me to look in the mirror. I had blue dye all over myself!! It proved to me how unaware I was of touching things. Touch contamination is the main source of contamination. From then on, I was very aware of what I was touching after I had sterilized my hands. I use a lot of alcohol! In the case of TPN, usually you use a machine called an AutoMixer and there's an entire procedure required to mix TPNs properly. My IV externship was 2 months full-time with an excellent instructor and after that time I was very comfortable with the basics. Then, I just continued to learn from there. It all depends how quick you are to get comfortable with the supplies and handling the needles, getting air out of cassettes and bags, etc. In home infusion, you learn all about the various supplies (and there are a lot of them) because part of that job also includes packaging the meds and all the patient's supplies for delivery to their home. I have found in talking to many other techs, you tend to either love IVs or you hate it. It's not for everyone, but everyone is different, too. I wish you good luck in your job search! ~Lori in Las Vegas On Fri, Mar 28, 2008 at 7:28 AM, Nidhi Aggarwal <contactnidhi@...> wrote: > > Hi Lori, > Thankyou so much for your suggestion.I hope it will help me.I will look > for it today and see if able to find something.It will be really helpful > to me if you could tell that what exactly practically you learn and do > during IV's work and how long does it take to grasp all skills if you > already know calculation part. > Thanks once again. > Nidhi > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 30, 2008 Report Share Posted March 30, 2008 Of course you may use it, Jeanetta!! I am a former teacher myself, so I appreciate what you do every day. :-) ~Lori On Sat, Mar 29, 2008 at 1:40 PM, Jeanetta Mastron <rxjm2002@...> wrote: > Dear Lori, > > You gave a GREAT description of Home Infusion! I would like to have your > permission to put it in the Files Tutorials Section WITH your name on it. > May I place it there so that IF we have this question about making IV's or > Home Infusion arise again we can go to this answer immediately AND for those > utilizing the Tutorials can have such a great description. I am most > positive that many educators using this site would agree you wrote what we > teach every day very well. > > Respectfully and with appreciation, > > > Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS > Pharm Tech Educator > Founder/Owner > > Lori Linek <squeezle68@... <squeezle68%40gmail.com>> wrote: Hi again > Nidhi, > > > The calculations are actually very easy. They are just the beginning and > really, they are only used to double check what the pharmacist's > instructions are. (And yes, they are human and do make mistakes > occasionally, too!) > From a practical standpoint of mixing IVs, there are some basic steps. > Many > drugs are lyophilized (freeze dried) and are dry powder in a vial. You > must > reconstitute the medication with the appropriate diluent - usually normal > saline or sterile water. That's step one. Then, once the drug is > reconstituted, you must withdraw the proper amount and put it into > whatever > container is required. Sometimes that container is just a bag of saline > solution. Sometimes it's a syringe which the patient injects directly into > the central line. Sometimes you prepare syringes for subcutaneous > administration. Sometimes it's a cassette for a pump. Some drugs you leave > in the powder form and attach a diluent bag with a " snap " device that > allows > reconstitution in the home. There are many different ways to get IV > medications into the patient! > > Of course, all of this has to be done with proper aseptic technique. One > thing during my training that was funny - while I was in the " observation " > phase, my instructor put blue dye on my gloves. After an hour or so, he > asked me to look in the mirror. I had blue dye all over myself!! It proved > to me how unaware I was of touching things. Touch contamination is the > main > source of contamination. From then on, I was very aware of what I was > touching after I had sterilized my hands. I use a lot of alcohol! > > In the case of TPN, usually you use a machine called an AutoMixer and > there's an entire procedure required to mix TPNs properly. > > My IV externship was 2 months full-time with an excellent instructor and > after that time I was very comfortable with the basics. Then, I just > continued to learn from there. It all depends how quick you are to get > comfortable with the supplies and handling the needles, getting air out of > cassettes and bags, etc. In home infusion, you learn all about the various > supplies (and there are a lot of them) because part of that job also > includes packaging the meds and all the patient's supplies for delivery to > their home. > > I have found in talking to many other techs, you tend to either love IVs > or > you hate it. It's not for everyone, but everyone is different, too. > > I wish you good luck in your job search! > > ~Lori in Las Vegas > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 30, 2008 Report Share Posted March 30, 2008 Dear Lori, Thank you! What did you teach? Man I could really spot the teacher in you@ I never knew, I don't think you ever told us! Think about teaching pharm tech if you not! Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS Pharm Tech Educator Founder/Owner Lori Linek <squeezle68@...> wrote: Of course you may use it, Jeanetta!! I am a former teacher myself, so I appreciate what you do every day. :-) ~Lori On Sat, Mar 29, 2008 at 1:40 PM, Jeanetta Mastron <rxjm2002@...> wrote: > Dear Lori, > > You gave a GREAT description of Home Infusion! I would like to have your > permission to put it in the Files Tutorials Section WITH your name on it. > May I place it there so that IF we have this question about making IV's or > Home Infusion arise again we can go to this answer immediately AND for those > utilizing the Tutorials can have such a great description. I am most > positive that many educators using this site would agree you wrote what we > teach every day very well. > > Respectfully and with appreciation, > > > Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS > Pharm Tech Educator > Founder/Owner > > Lori Linek <squeezle68@... <squeezle68%40gmail.com>> wrote: Hi again > Nidhi, > > > The calculations are actually very easy. They are just the beginning and > really, they are only used to double check what the pharmacist's > instructions are. (And yes, they are human and do make mistakes > occasionally, too!) > From a practical standpoint of mixing IVs, there are some basic steps. > Many > drugs are lyophilized (freeze dried) and are dry powder in a vial. You > must > reconstitute the medication with the appropriate diluent - usually normal > saline or sterile water. That's step one. Then, once the drug is > reconstituted, you must withdraw the proper amount and put it into > whatever > container is required. Sometimes that container is just a bag of saline > solution. Sometimes it's a syringe which the patient injects directly into > the central line. Sometimes you prepare syringes for subcutaneous > administration. Sometimes it's a cassette for a pump. Some drugs you leave > in the powder form and attach a diluent bag with a " snap " device that > allows > reconstitution in the home. There are many different ways to get IV > medications into the patient! > > Of course, all of this has to be done with proper aseptic technique. One > thing during my training that was funny - while I was in the " observation " > phase, my instructor put blue dye on my gloves. After an hour or so, he > asked me to look in the mirror. I had blue dye all over myself!! It proved > to me how unaware I was of touching things. Touch contamination is the > main > source of contamination. From then on, I was very aware of what I was > touching after I had sterilized my hands. I use a lot of alcohol! > > In the case of TPN, usually you use a machine called an AutoMixer and > there's an entire procedure required to mix TPNs properly. > > My IV externship was 2 months full-time with an excellent instructor and > after that time I was very comfortable with the basics. Then, I just > continued to learn from there. It all depends how quick you are to get > comfortable with the supplies and handling the needles, getting air out of > cassettes and bags, etc. In home infusion, you learn all about the various > supplies (and there are a lot of them) because part of that job also > includes packaging the meds and all the patient's supplies for delivery to > their home. > > I have found in talking to many other techs, you tend to either love IVs > or > you hate it. It's not for everyone, but everyone is different, too. > > I wish you good luck in your job search! > > ~Lori in Las Vegas > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 31, 2008 Report Share Posted March 31, 2008 Hi dear Lori, Your explanation is excellent! all the things you told me sounds great. I think their can't be better discription of IV's then this.I tried home infusions but right now there is no vacancy.I am going to keep this in mind for future definitely.I used to ask so many people what actually IV work is but never got such satisfactory answer. Thanks. Nidhi From: squeezle68@... Date: Sun, 30 Mar 2008 06:30:46 -0700 Subject: Re: about IV Experience Of course you may use it, Jeanetta!! I am a former teacher myself, so I appreciate what you do every day. :-) ~Lori On Sat, Mar 29, 2008 at 1:40 PM, Jeanetta Mastron <rxjm2002@...> wrote: > Dear Lori, > > You gave a GREAT description of Home Infusion! I would like to have your > permission to put it in the Files Tutorials Section WITH your name on it. > May I place it there so that IF we have this question about making IV's or > Home Infusion arise again we can go to this answer immediately AND for those > utilizing the Tutorials can have such a great description. I am most > positive that many educators using this site would agree you wrote what we > teach every day very well. > > Respectfully and with appreciation, > > > Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS > Pharm Tech Educator > Founder/Owner > > Lori Linek <squeezle68@... <squeezle68%40gmail.com>> wrote: Hi again > Nidhi, > > > The calculations are actually very easy. They are just the beginning and > really, they are only used to double check what the pharmacist's > instructions are. (And yes, they are human and do make mistakes > occasionally, too!) > From a practical standpoint of mixing IVs, there are some basic steps. > Many > drugs are lyophilized (freeze dried) and are dry powder in a vial. You > must > reconstitute the medication with the appropriate diluent - usually normal > saline or sterile water. That's step one. Then, once the drug is > reconstituted, you must withdraw the proper amount and put it into > whatever > container is required. Sometimes that container is just a bag of saline > solution. Sometimes it's a syringe which the patient injects directly into > the central line. Sometimes you prepare syringes for subcutaneous > administration. Sometimes it's a cassette for a pump. Some drugs you leave > in the powder form and attach a diluent bag with a " snap " device that > allows > reconstitution in the home. There are many different ways to get IV > medications into the patient! > > Of course, all of this has to be done with proper aseptic technique. One > thing during my training that was funny - while I was in the " observation " > phase, my instructor put blue dye on my gloves. After an hour or so, he > asked me to look in the mirror. I had blue dye all over myself!! It proved > to me how unaware I was of touching things. Touch contamination is the > main > source of contamination. From then on, I was very aware of what I was > touching after I had sterilized my hands. I use a lot of alcohol! > > In the case of TPN, usually you use a machine called an AutoMixer and > there's an entire procedure required to mix TPNs properly. > > My IV externship was 2 months full-time with an excellent instructor and > after that time I was very comfortable with the basics. Then, I just > continued to learn from there. It all depends how quick you are to get > comfortable with the supplies and handling the needles, getting air out of > cassettes and bags, etc. In home infusion, you learn all about the various > supplies (and there are a lot of them) because part of that job also > includes packaging the meds and all the patient's supplies for delivery to > their home. > > I have found in talking to many other techs, you tend to either love IVs > or > you hate it. It's not for everyone, but everyone is different, too. > > I wish you good luck in your job search! > > ~Lori in Las Vegas > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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