Re: Pharmacology Review Questions

February 2, 2006

Thank you. I will try to answer them with the book that I have, if I

get stuck I will let you know.

studentstudy2

>

> Dear All,

>

> Name 5 drugs that must be kept in the refrigerator.

> Name 5 drugs that are Class II

> Name 5 different classifications of drugs and their mechanisms of

> action and give examples of the trade/generics

> Name 5 side effects that are the most common

> What is agranulcytosis?

> What is leukopenia?

> What is dysmenorrhea?

> What are the main organs associated with the circulatory system?

> What is a capilliary?

> What is the internal exchange?

> Name 5 drugs that are inhaled orally.

> Name 5 drugs that are applied topcially

> Name 5 drugs that are infused as a piggy back

> Name 5 additives for a TPN

> Discuss the importance of, indication of, MOA , TE and window of

> opportunity of thrombolytics. Give 5 examples of them.

> Discuss CHF, drugs used to Tx

> Discuss HTN drugs used to Tx

> Discuss CAD drugs used to Tx

>

> Here are some questions, of which knowing the answers may help you to

> solve ptcb test questions.

>

> Study and answer them. If you get stuck post your question, concern or

> confusion???

>

> Respectfully,

> Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS

> Founder/Owner

>

February 2, 2006

Hi Jeanetta,

One of your forum members forwarded this posting to me and wanted a

comment as to whether this is what was needed to know in the taking of

the national exam? I replied that any information that pertains to

pharmacy is good to know but in all honesty,the questions posted by

you was in most cases, not required to understand in the taking of the

national exam.

Now first of all I know that you will defend yourself and state that

all Techs should have a basic understanding of Pharmacology of which I

will agree. But for national exam purposes you present material that

is more than needed. In a way I think this may cause some of those

taking the national exam unnecessary anxiety and frustration.

Joe Medina, CPhT

--------------

Dear All,

Name 5 drugs that must be kept in the refrigerator.

Name 5 drugs that are Class II

Name 5 different classifications of drugs and their mechanisms of

action and give examples of the trade/generics

Name 5 side effects that are the most common

What is agranulcytosis?

What is leukopenia?

What is dysmenorrhea?

What are the main organs associated with the circulatory system?

What is a capilliary?

What is the internal exchange?

Name 5 drugs that are inhaled orally.

Name 5 drugs that are applied topcially

Name 5 drugs that are infused as a piggy back

Name 5 additives for a TPN

Discuss the importance of, indication of, MOA , TE and window of

opportunity of thrombolytics. Give 5 examples of them.

Discuss CHF, drugs used to Tx

Discuss HTN drugs used to Tx

Discuss CAD drugs used to Tx

Here are some questions, of which knowing the answers may help you to

solve ptcb test questions.

Study and answer them. If you get stuck post your question, concern or

confusion???

Respectfully,

Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS

Founder/Owner

February 3, 2006

Dear Joe,

Yes it is true that I believe that techs should know more pharmacology

than what is taught in schools and of course what ` little may' be

taught on the job.

In addition, I will be the first to defend the questions, which I will

take apart one by one later. But please note WHAT I wrote:

" Here are some questions, of which knowing the answers may help you to

solve PTCB test questions. "

I did NOT say that these exact questions would be on the exam for a

very specific reason. What I am trying to get across is that the

knowledge that one has regarding these questions/answers MAY HELP in

answering the questions that ARE on the exam. In other words a

foundation of basic understanding.

You or the person who is asking about the questions, are/is quite

right in that it may be frustrating to the viewer or test candidate.

However I argue this point:

The LAST TWO PTCB exams have been passed by a national average of ONLY

75%.

In the past the national average has been 78-82%.

Considering one must pass with a 72%, and more people are going to

MORE pharm tech schools and distance learning pharm tech programs, I

am JUDGING that the questions just got HARDER!! I have NO PROOF, but

GUT instinct and a little bit of hearsay from returning students!

In addition my own students pass consistently at a 95% passing rate

with the first year in 2001 at 98%.

I am a lucky instructor in that I have a program set up to do all of

my stats, but I have to enter the numbers! L

I would like to point out that I do NOT believe that the current study

guide books have caught up to the NEWEST exams out there! Call me

nuts, but it is an opinion that I have had for a long time. I have had

a couple of item writers contact me BEFORE they did the actual item

writing, to ask me about how to write a question, what makes a good

question, and about hot topics. Their instructions are quit specific.

I believe that item writers are asking more intense questions.

IF my belief is true then I am PREPARING this site membership the BEST

that I can. In addition, if my belief is not true, then the additional

information cannot hurt.

In the NEXT post I will attempt to give my reasons.

Thank you and the person who wrote to you for your solid observation,

of which I respect greatly.

Respectfully,

Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS

>

> Hi Jeanetta,

>

> One of your forum members forwarded this posting to me and wanted a

> comment as to whether this is what was needed to know in the taking of

> the national exam? I replied that any information that pertains to

> pharmacy is good to know but in all honesty,the questions posted by

> you was in most cases, not required to understand in the taking of the

> national exam.

>

> Now first of all I know that you will defend yourself and state that

> all Techs should have a basic understanding of Pharmacology of which I

> will agree. But for national exam purposes you present material that

> is more than needed. In a way I think this may cause some of those

> taking the national exam unnecessary anxiety and frustration.

>

> Joe Medina, CPhT

>

> --------------

> Dear All,

>

> Name 5 drugs that must be kept in the refrigerator.

> Name 5 drugs that are Class II

> Name 5 different classifications of drugs and their mechanisms of

> action and give examples of the trade/generics

> Name 5 side effects that are the most common

> What is agranulcytosis?

> What is leukopenia?

> What is dysmenorrhea?

> What are the main organs associated with the circulatory system?

> What is a capilliary?

> What is the internal exchange?

> Name 5 drugs that are inhaled orally.

> Name 5 drugs that are applied topcially

> Name 5 drugs that are infused as a piggy back

> Name 5 additives for a TPN

> Discuss the importance of, indication of, MOA , TE and window of

> opportunity of thrombolytics. Give 5 examples of them.

> Discuss CHF, drugs used to Tx

> Discuss HTN drugs used to Tx

> Discuss CAD drugs used to Tx

>

> Here are some questions, of which knowing the answers may help you to

> solve ptcb test questions.

>

> Study and answer them. If you get stuck post your question, concern or

> confusion???

>

> Respectfully,

> Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS

> Founder/Owner

>

February 3, 2006

Dear All,

A couple of people have asked about why I have placed `detailed or

difficult or non-applicable' questions on my site for study. I do not

believe that all fo the questions that I pose are difficult

ornon-applicable. Here are my `REASONS' for asking you to KNOW the

following:

" Name 5 drugs that must be kept in the refrigerator. "

We have consistently heard for the last 5 years returned students on

this site, at conventions and from my classroom say

`they ask about where to keep specific drugs, like in the

refrigerator, that I don't even know about, because I have no

experience, or because I am retail and they were hospital drugs'. See

Archives of this site. I shall remind you all about one such practice

exam question that PTCB always had in its prep materials about `mannitol'.

" Name 5 drugs that are Class II "

Not only do common questions on the exam involve the drugs from Class

II, but the other classes CI –CV, what is Class II vs Class V? etc and

knowledge of handling, storage, legal dispensing etc. Controlled

substances WILL be on the exam one way or another.

Some exam questions start out with a trade or generic drug name OR the

actual classification OR include it in the exam question. Therefore

the following question is justified:

" Name 5 different classifications of drugs and their mechanisms of

action and give examples of the trade/generics. "

The test taker MUST know the drug, how it is given, UAD's , WHY it is

given, what auxiliary label to affix.

IF a tech/test taker has to know this (AND WE KNOW THAT THEY DO), THEN

it follows that the tech MUST know the side effects and toxic effects

that the auxiliary label may refer to AND to send the pt to the RPh

for counsel! This takes care of the following questions:

" Name 5 side effects that are the most common "

" What is agranulcytosis? "

" What is leukopenia? "

" What is dysmenorrhea " ? "

YES I could have asked about some of the easier ones, or perhaps the

ones YOU want to hear and HAVE been on the exam in the past:

Nausea, emesis/vomiting, diarrhea, but I chose the ones above! Why?

Because techs need to know which drugs can cause blood and cellular

changes. MANY of the psychotropic drugs will do this. I HAPPEN to

believe that more about psychotropic drugs will be on the exam. Not

psychic, but again we do not know what will be on the exam.

While I KNOW the mechanism of action is HOW the drug works, most techs

would know and most exam questions will most likely ask for the END

result of the drug instead. So an example of this is: the drug works

by `blocking the acid secretion'. This is an end result and NOT a

mechanism of action. But it is one 'like' those I `expect' to be on

the exam OR other types of mechanisms or end results `like it'.

How can one discuss the mechanism or end result of a drug if one can

not discuss the parts of the body that it will affect? Therefore one

must know the various components of the most basic body systems. This

would defend the following questions:

" What are the main organs associated with the circulatory system? "

" What is a capillary? "

" What is the internal exchange? "

The asking of the purpose of a drugs is not knew to the ptcb exam

question pool. Therefore knowledge of what diseases that specific

drugs treat is important and justifies the following questions:

" Discuss CHF, drugs used to Tx "

" Discuss HTN drugs used to Tx "

" Discuss CAD drugs used to Tx "

Of course every one would like the questions to be so very easy:

" discuss headache and drugs used to treat it " , but the reality is we

do not know which drugs or classifications will be on the exam. I

chose disease states that are treated with some of the most common

drugs that techs dispense. Techs will deal with more antibiotics and

cardiovascular (and related disease states) drugs than any other two

classifications.

If the tech has no clue how the drug is given then how can he or she

begin to do a math problem when the drug is mentioned in it? We have

seen over and over some mention of drugs that are given in the wrong

route, such as eye and ear drops of the SAME active ingredient.

KNOWLEDGE of this information prevents many medication errors. And it

may be within the confines of the question that the test taker may

have to decipher or know to answer some other type of question. In

addition to prepare the drug or to answer questions regarding the

preparation of a suspension, oral liquid, ointment or cream, IV the

information becomes in valuable. Therefore the following questions are

also justified:

" Name 5 drugs that are inhaled orally. "

" Name 5 drugs that are applied topically "

" Name 5 drugs that are infused as a piggy back "

" Name 5 additives for a TPN "

While I do not expect intrinsic questions or responses on the exam, I

will concede that the following is beyond what the exam will have, but

not beyond the scope of practice for a technician to know and

definitely should be taught in all pharm tech schools.

" Discuss the importance of, indication of, MOA , TE and window of

opportunity of thrombolytics. Give 5 examples of them. "

When and if this country does go toward tech programs this type of

information/question will be in them all. My students can answer this

question and must on their exams. On this site, something that study

books lack, I am trying to instill the seriousness of being a

technician and that it is not a frivolous job to be taken lightly just

because one can study from a $40 study guidebook and pass easily. The

product that I put out there means a lot to me. Decreasing medication

error is my goal and has been from day one. So while this test

question (above) may not be on the exam, I would not be so quick to

say that asking the test taker about preparation of " T-PA or Ativase

(alteplase) " will not be on the exam. I would expect it to be a basic

question; one about the `end results' or that it is an emergency drug.

So once again we cannot know exactly what questions will be on the

exam. Since only 75% passing rate, we can say that either the students

taking the last two exams are not of the same caliber of the past

students or we can say that perhaps, just perhaps, the test got a bit

harder with some unexpected questions on the exam. I am betting on the

latter, since there are more schools springing up around the country.

By the way I am now adding the following NEW questions to that study list:

Name 10 drug interactions: the exact drugs involved and the resultant

interaction. Know what type of interaction it is.

Name as many reasons why patients do not take their mediation properly

or at all and what this is called.

Name the five rights of the pharmacy and try to find as many questions

that I have written above that is justified by the five rights in

asking it on the PTCB exam.

Okay I do not expect everyone to agree with me. The exam is not going

to be full of pharmacology type questions, but we just do not know

which ones will be on the exam.

I am purposely NOT asking the specific question or supplying the

answers to my questions, because I STILL want the members who are

studying to answer the questions and then post what they have not found.

Good luck everyone,

Respectfully,

Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS

Pharm Tech Educator

>

> Dear All,

>

> Name 5 drugs that must be kept in the refrigerator.

> Name 5 drugs that are Class II

> Name 5 different classifications of drugs and their mechanisms of

> action and give examples of the trade/generics

> Name 5 side effects that are the most common

> What is agranulcytosis?

> What is leukopenia?

> What is dysmenorrhea?

> What are the main organs associated with the circulatory system?

> What is a capilliary?

> What is the internal exchange?

> Name 5 drugs that are inhaled orally.

> Name 5 drugs that are applied topcially

> Name 5 drugs that are infused as a piggy back

> Name 5 additives for a TPN

> Discuss the importance of, indication of, MOA , TE and window of

> opportunity of thrombolytics. Give 5 examples of them.

> Discuss CHF, drugs used to Tx

> Discuss HTN drugs used to Tx

> Discuss CAD drugs used to Tx

>

> Here are some questions, of which knowing the answers may help you to

> solve ptcb test questions.

>

> Study and answer them. If you get stuck post your question, concern or

> confusion???

>

> Respectfully,

> Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS

> Founder/Owner

>

February 3, 2006

Hi Jeanetta,

I respect your desire to instruct and teach as much as possible. But

still we will find those studying and believe your questions to be

similar to those on the national exam which would be an incorrect

assumption. And for some of these individuals, they will get easily

anxious and frustrated as I mentioned before in my previous posting.

You know I have the greatest of respect for you and what you have and

continue to do for the Pharmacy Technician profession. Considering

that you do this selflessly without the benefit of making money off of

those you serve, I can also say that you do this because you care.

So in saying this, I believe that part of helping those in the taking

of the national exam is to not only inform, but also ease the amount

of anxiety that comes in the preparation of a national exam.

Now..if you would indicate that your questions are for those who wish

to better themselves in both personal and professional growth and

beyond the scope of the national exam as it currently is, then I would

consider your questions to be valid and a wonderful tool to learn.

Joe Medina, CPhT

February 7, 2006

Here are my answers, thanks this was helpful! I'm not sure what you

mean by Tx on the last. Please let me know your thoughts and any help

would be appreciated.

> Name 5 drugs that must be kept in the refrigerator.

humalin, humalog, xalatin, vaccines, epogen,

> Name 5 drugs that are Class II

endocet, morphine, methadone, hydromorphone, methylphenidate

> Name 5 different classifications of drugs and their mechanisms of

> action and give examples of the trade/generics

SSRI- selective seratonin reuptake inhibitor (fluoxetine/Prozac)

PPI- proton pump inhibitor (ranitidine

analgesic agents- inhibit the sensation of pain. ex; NSAIDs,

salicylates, opioids (maxalt-mlt)

antibiotics- limits the growth of microorganisms (amoxicillin)

antidiabetics- controls body's ability to absorb glucose from blood

(insulin)

> Name 5 side effects that are the most common

nausea, vomiting, dizziness, blurred vision, nervousness

> What is agranulcytosis?

Do you mean agranulocytosis?

an acute febrile condition marked by severe decrease in blood

granulocytes and often associated with the use of certain drugs

> What is leukopenia?

a reduced number of neutraphils

> What is dysmenorrhea?

painful menstrual cramps

> What are the main organs associated with the circulatory system?

heart, lungs, integument system (blood)

> What is a capilliary?

an extremely small vessles where blood travels, as narrow as one cell

thick

> What is the internal exchange?

?

> Name 5 drugs that are inhaled orally.

albuterol, nebulizers, nasonex, flonase, flovent

> Name 5 drugs that are applied topcially

rentin-a-micro, benzaclin, hydrocortisone,

> Name 5 drugs that are infused as a piggy back

?

> Name 5 additives for a TPN

?

> Discuss the importance of, indication of, MOA , TE and window of

> opportunity of thrombolytics. Give 5 examples of them.

?

> Discuss CHF, drugs used to Tx

> Discuss HTN drugs used to Tx

> Discuss CAD drugs used to Tx

February 7, 2006

Dear Jenelephantgirl,

I am GLAD to know that this was VERY HELPFUL to you. You did very well. I will

WAIT a bit longer to answer the questions that you do not know the answer to. I

hope other members will try on their own to answer the questions instead of

memorizing your answers.

In the mean time per your request: I will comment of a few of your answers or

give some further direction: “Please let me know your thoughts and any help

would be appreciated. “

YOU: “I'm not sure what you mean by Tx on the last.”

ME: “Tx” stands for treatment or therapy. So what is the pharmaceutical Tx for

CHF, HTN or CAD?

My Questions: “What is agranulcytosis?”

YOU: “Do you mean agranulocytosis?”

ME: “You are correct I left out the combining vowel in agranulocytosis: the

abnormal condition of a lack of granulocytes.

My suggestion: Further study: This can be caused by WHAT type of DRUGS as a

TOXIC effect? (give the Trade/generic and classification examples).”

My Questions: Name 5 drugs that must be kept in the refrigerator.

YOU: humalin, humalog, xalatin, vaccines, epogen,

ME: Excellent! Any more that are NOT insulin or vaccines? Any Suppositories?

My Question: Name 5 drugs that are Class II

YOU: “endocet, morphine, methadone, hydromorphone, methylphenidate”

Me: excellent. NOW try the SAME questions with Class III, Class IV, Class V ,

But this time TRY NOT to give examples of drugs in the SAME family.

My Questions: Name 5 different classifications of drugs and their mechanisms of

action and give examples of the trade/generics

YOU:

”SSRI- selective seratonin reuptake inhibitor (fluoxetine/Prozac)

”PPI- proton pump inhibitor (ranitidine

”analgesic agents- inhibit the sensation of pain. ex; NSAIDs,

”salicylates, opioids (maxalt-mlt)

”antibiotics- limits the growth of microorganisms (amoxicillin)

”antidiabetics- controls body's ability to absorb glucose from blood

(insulin)”

ME: “FAIR job. For the most part you gave the ‘end result’, or purpose of the

drug, which is what the average tech across the country knows or will learn. But

many schools will teach the exact mechanism of action for the drugs. MOA helps

one to know duplication of therapy, toxicity, drug interactions etc.

CORRECTIONS: PPI is NOT ranitidine. Zantac is an H2 Antagonist and is

ranitidine. Also Axid, Tagamet, and Pepcid are in this classification of drugs.

Now what do they do or how do they work?

PPI example is Prilosec or Prevacid. And what do these drugs do? Or how do

they work?

Amoxicillin is a PCN and it KILLS the microorganism or bacteria, it is a

bacteriocidal drug, it does not limit growth that would be TCN or tetracycline.

TCN is bacteriostatic.

Clarifications: NSAIDS will only reduce the type of pain that is caused by

inflammation and therefore are anti-inflammatories.

On antidiabetics, some: the newer ones, do work the way that you described.

But mainly the older sulfonamides help the Beta cells to make pump out more

insulin. In addition some antidiabetics, help the muscles, fat and liver to use

or take up the sugar that the insulin has removed from the blood system.

My Questions: Name 5 side effects that are the most common

YOU: “nausea, vomiting, dizziness, blurred vision, nervousness”

ME: Excellent! Now in reveres can you name some drugs that cause such SE?

My Question: What is leukopenia?

YOU: “reduced number of neutraphils “

Me/Fursther study: So what is a neutraphil and what drugs and disease states

can cause leukopeniia?

My Question: What is dysmenorrhea?

YOU: “painful menstrual cramps”

ME: Close! Painful menstrual flow. See the ending “-rrhea”? thnk of diarrhea;

a flow. Now of course this translates to cramping during the period. But I am

asking about TRUE medical terminology as taught in school for nursing or

pharmacy tech and asked on a test. ‘Dys-‘, by the way, also can mean

‘difficulet’ or a difficult menstrual flow. Also: (from the ancient Greek word

äéáññïÞ = leakage; lit. " to run through " ).

My Question: What are the main organs associated with the circulatory system?

YOU: ‘heart, lungs, integument system (blood)”

ME: Your answer incorrectly includes the ‘integument’ system which is NOT in

the circulatory system. It is the SKIN.

CORRECTION: Further Study: The correct answer would include the blood vessels.

So what are they? Name them?

My Question: What is a capillary?

YOU: “an extremely small vessles where blood travels, as narrow as one cell

thick”.

Me:You are correct!

Further Study: So what is so important about the capillary?

By the way I originally misspelled it with two “i’s”.

My question: What is the internal exchange?

YOU: “?”

ME: HINT for further study: IF you can answer the question BEFORE this one,

you will probably be able to answer this question!

My question: Name 5 drugs that are inhaled orally.

YOU: “albuterol, nebulizers, nasonex, flonase, flovent”

ME: Your answer of “albuterol, nasonex, flonase, flovent” is correct!

BUT your answer of :” nebulizers” is ‘technically’ incorrect because it is NOT

a drug. A nebulizer is a “DEVICE” to deliver an inhaled drug.

A nebulizer is used to turn liquid into a fine spray; it can deliver

bronchodilator (airway-opening) medications such as albuterol and Atrovent, as

well as anti-inflammatory medicines (Pulmicort Respules). A nebulizer may be

used instead of a metered dose inhaler (MDI).

My Question: Name 5 drugs that are applied topcially

YOU: “rentin-a-micro, benzaclin, hydrocortisone, “

ME: Further study: What are these drugs used for? Storage of them, SE and TE

auxiliary labels a tech applies? Name and discuss two more!

Correction: Why did you only mention 3 instead of 5?

My Question: Name 5 drugs that are infused as a piggy back

YOU: “?”

ME: Further Study: Check out the following sites:

FREE Color PHOTOS and discussion of administration and dosage routes for

IVPBs, PO, Supp, eye, ear drops, nitrogen oint

Published by same publisher of: The Pharmacy Technician: the Series:

http://myphlip.pearsoncmg.com/altproducts/drugguide/ab2page.cfm?vbcid=6645 & vid=1\

106

Actual EXAMPLES IVPB orders with drugs and Disease States

http://www.globalrph.com/antibiotic/osteo.htm

http://www.globalrph.com/antibiotic/meningitis.htm

My Question: Name 5 additives for a TPN

YOU: “?”

ME: Further study: See above sites AND the following ones:

MORE SPECIFIC pharmacy photos of tech preparation of LVP’s and IVPB’s

http://www.ucsf.edu/dpsl/iv.html

My Question: Discuss the importance of, indication of, MOA , TE and window of

opportunity of thrombolytics. Give 5 examples of them.

YOU: “?”

ME: Further Study: use google.com and ASK exactly what you are looking for!

Don’t be afraid to ask! Try: key words: “What are thromolytics? “ or just

‘thrombolytics” or “examples of thrombolytics”.. Also use the google search

window: type the word ‘define:” YES with the colon and then a space then the

word you want to define. Like this:

‘define: thrombolytics’. Use this same method for any other medical or

pharmaceutical or scientific word that you would like to define!

A VERY nice and quick and FREE dictionary at your disposal!

OKAY so try ‘researching the following:

My Questions:

“ Discuss CHF, drugs used to Tx”

“Discuss HTN drugs used to Tx”

“Discuss CAD drugs used to Tx”

I hope that you got a lot out of this! Feel free to post what yoru research and

further study has exposed you to and what you have learned! Keep up the GREAT

work and EFFORT! ]

Respectfully with love,

Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS Chemistry

Pharm Tech Educator

Pharm Tech Program Director

Site Owner

jenelephantgirl <jenelephantgirl@...> wrote: Here are my answers, thanks

this was helpful! I'm not sure what you

mean by Tx on the last. Please let me know your thoughts and any help

would be appreciated.

message trunkated by Jeanetta

February 8, 2006

Dear Joe and All,

I am not assuming that PTCB will have the exact questions, but I am

not assuming that the PTCB exam has stayed stagnant either.

I do believe that there is MORE pharmacology on the exam than in the

past. I also know that less test takers have passed in the recent

tests. I also believe that thereare more 'experiential type' questions.

I beileve that PTCB is moving away from a more simplified test to one

of more diversity. There fore I try to cover the bases that most study

guides do not. Go where most have not tread the waters before.

Apparently by the last few posts people are using my questions to

study. I do not wish for them to learn only pharmacology as they will

not pass the exam. But I do feel that they will be better prepared for

the exam IF they can answer the basic questions that I have posted.

KNOWING about drugs is the basis for the auxiliary label which the

technician does apply! Therefore knowledge of

Side effects

Toxic effects

Administration precautions

Drug Interactions

Drug Herb ,

Drug Disease state etc etc etc

is very very important and WILL be asked on the exam as sure as math

and law! To tell the people who ae studying to ignore these topics

would do a disservice. However I do believe that the test taker must

master math and operations and law in order to pass the exam.

Do you have a specific question that you would like to discuss. I have

conceded to about 3 questions I believe. Other than that the rest are

topics that one should know but again we have no idea which drugs the

exam will ask about. And since there are only 125 questions + 15

'trial questions ' and since the bulk of the exam is math I doubt that

one must study pharmacology to death. However in the 6 years that I

have been doing a study group we rarely have touched on pharmacology,

but we are hearing more and more about it in the 'after exam' posts.

I would be doing a disservice to my public members if I continued to

hide in the trenches by not mentioning some pharmacology.

I hope this again explains my rationale and stance.

Thank you again for your opinions.

Respectfully,

Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS

Founder/Owner

>

> Hi Jeanetta,

>

> I respect your desire to instruct and teach as much as possible. But

> still we will find those studying and believe your questions to be

> similar to those on the national exam which would be an incorrect

> assumption. And for some of these individuals, they will get easily

> anxious and frustrated as I mentioned before in my previous posting.

>

> You know I have the greatest of respect for you and what you have and

> continue to do for the Pharmacy Technician profession. Considering

> that you do this selflessly without the benefit of making money off of

> those you serve, I can also say that you do this because you care.

> So in saying this, I believe that part of helping those in the taking

> of the national exam is to not only inform, but also ease the amount

> of anxiety that comes in the preparation of a national exam.

>

> Now..if you would indicate that your questions are for those who wish

> to better themselves in both personal and professional growth and

> beyond the scope of the national exam as it currently is, then I would

> consider your questions to be valid and a wonderful tool to learn.

>

> Joe Medina, CPhT

>

February 8, 2006

Bravo Jeanetta,

I expected no less than from you in defending yourself and your

beliefs. In a way I am very hopeful that PTCB is progressing itself

in the offering of a more stringent national exam. I say this as we

need an exam that truly shows didactic proficiency in subject

material. Of course, it would be nice if we also had the practical

aspect involved and if there was some sort of criteria other than

anyone can take the exam...that is a different topic in itself.

For now though I will continue with how I present my material to the

students I instruct. I do not believe in over-burdening students with

Pharmacology other than simple basics. My national exam pass rates

and scores tell me that whatever I am doing is working and there is no

reason to fix something if it is not broken.

Joe Medina, CPhT

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