(Part 2) Best products from r/pharmacy

For a super concentrated review of code situations I'd suggest Pharmacy Joe's book
It is a real 101 for emergencies. The other thing I'd suggest is getting the AHA CPR app and practice with it a bit. It makes keeping track of codes SO much easier if you end up recording.

Otherwise just try to free up nurse hands. Mix drips, grab meds, hand syringes/flushes. Whatever you do speak it when you do it. If doc says I need X if no one speaks up say "I'm grabbing X!" If you prepare an epi syringe hand it to the nurse and say "epinephrine ready" It makes recorder's job much easier and identifies who is doing what rather than a doc having to watch what every person in the room is doing.

I started off at Walgreens 6 years ago, and when I initially became interested, I thought you had to go to school to become a pharmacy tech. But after doing my research I discovered that anybody can sign up for the PTCE (Pharm tech certification exam), pass, and become certified. ANYONE.

For the love of God, don't take any classes with PIMA or Carrington College or any of those types of schools. It's like 15 grand, and all it does is prep you for the PTCE, which at the time costed $129 to sign up for.

I was going to college for Business Administration at the time I decided I hated it and wanted to switch over to the sciences. Long story short, I chose Pharmacy. I want to be a pharmacy tech while I finished up undergrad so that I knew what I was getting into. I had purchased this book off amazon, along with the workbook that comes with it that includes practice PTCE tests.. I had started reading / studying in February and signed up for the PTCE in July so that I had a deadline to meet. Studied for maybe an hour a day on average, bought some flash cards for learning the top 200 dispensed brand/generic meds, and come July, I took the test, and passed.

I think the demand for pharmacy techs back in 2009 was a lot higher, because I had at least four job interviews lined up. The only place that could hire me part time was Walgreens, even though I wanted to avoid retail.

One thing is for sure though man, you need to be ready for some high stress situations. I had my ideas about what pharmacy was like when I had no experience and holy SHIT was I wrong. Customers so ungrateful and rude, and so many things to do at once that I cried a couple times after some shifts when I first started. I worked at a very high volume store though, however those are the ones where you'll get hired because the employees don't stay long. Long story short, it got better, and I gained a lot of opportunities through Walgreens. 5 years later, I graduated with a bio degree and got accepted into pharmacy school.

Being a tech is a huge responsibility and very rewarding, and I really hope you do it. Just make sure it's what you REALLY want to do, as it's a huge commitment.

(Also, sorry for any grammatical errors, I typed this on my phone during a bumpy car ride)

Yeah agree with most people here. I was gifted these staedtler pens and loved them: Staedtler Triplus Fineliner Pens, .3mm, Metal Clad Tip, 20-Pack, Assorted (334SB20BK) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007OEE7E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_jpOFDbNTXVM7W

Gift card for shoes for places like Clark's (need comfy shoes because we're on our feet all day). Or food- Starbucks, Trader Joe's, etc. Nice headphones.

Honestly though, during those stressful breakdowns just moral support is what's helpful. And.. it sounds like she's doing a lot. Not sure that it's all necessary, she could probably drop some stuff if it's affecting her mental health.

Well what role do they have exactly. If they are retail, they could probably use a few things:

Pens: http://www.amazon.com/Zebra-Ballpoint-Pen-Retractable-29212/dp/B004WOAJP6/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1426819458&sr=8-3

Stapler to save their wrists: http://www.amazon.com/Stanley-Bostitch-Electric-Capacity-02210/dp/B00006JNU2/ref=pd_sim_sbs_op_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=1P36SKYQNHS5S45VQPFG

Mat to save their feet: http://www.amazon.com/Smart-Step-Anti-Fatigue-Polyurethane-Length/dp/B00OFVJQRS/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1426819677&sr=8-3&keywords=smart+step+mat

Kind of a range of prices as well, depending on how much you want to spend.

If they are a CPP or do a lot of clinical stuff then Epocrates Essentials is SOOOO useful, albeit a bit expensive (still less expensive then the alternatives and a lot better IMO).

I graduated in May 2015, so also fairly recently. Lexicomp and Uptodate are definitely my most used resources; you can find almost everything you need in those two places, and I open them immediately every night when I'm preparing for my shift.

I also LOVE the Sanford Guide to Antimicrobial Therapy; its pretty cheap, easy to use, and super handy as a quick resource. You can get a copy on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Sanford-Guide-Antimicrobial-Therapy/dp/1930808917/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1473957928&sr=8-1&keywords=antimicrobial+therapy

Looks like it's out of stock right now but this was a good resource for the state portion of MA MPJE. A huge portion of any MPJE is federal law, specifically DEA regulations. Treat the DEA Pharmacist's Manual as a textbook. Read everything in that document and be sure you know it. Also, I'd suggest buying the MA Exammaster test bank. I found it to be very helpful with the detailed rationale for each question.

I've worked with two pharmacist for over 2 years now and they have over 20+ years of experience. I'm always in awe of them being able to immediately answer questions given from patients. So when floaters come by that are always new grads. I wouldn't expect them to know the same information as a pharmacist that has 20+ years of experience. Things get replace by other information all the time it's pretty normal, but you should always be studying as new drugs, laws, regulations keep coming out as the world of medicine keeps changing.

Something I always recommended floaters take with them is this book that has all the drugs in it. My pharmacy manager has an older copy that's half the pages of this one and he told me he used it diligently before all the options of technology rised. It's neat thing it fit in my coats pocket perfectly as I got one myself cause why not.

Tarascon Pocket Pharmacopoeia 2017 Classic Shirt-Pocket Edition https://www.amazon.com/dp/1284118991/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_kI2szbCAYQVM3

My biggest suggestion is to know the infections first. You have endocarditis? Ok. Well what drugs do we use for that and what bugs are the cause? Then put the pieces together. It's much easier for me to work the antimicrobials in terms of infection site first then what we treat with and why. I also recommend the book Antibiotics Simplified. It's got some pretty good info in it including some clinical pearls.
Antibiotics Simplified

I'm honestly all for the Keurig idea. I think most people would be just fine buying their own coffee for it. Depending on what you are looking to spend, you could also do customized coffee tumblers (or even alone or some cute mugs to go with it.

Fun office things could also include stuff like these Post Its, fresh set of nice colored pens, small bluetooth radio, office desktop/cubicle games, conference call Bingo sheets.

I used to feel that way too. Depending on your preceptor, it might feel like a fun discussion or like they're just tearing you apart. I think what changed for me was when I actually started to understand statistics on a deeper level and also when I started precepting myself and had to lead journal clubs.

It can be an exercise in misery if your article is well done or you're not into the subject matter. But when you realize how flimsy a lot of "Bible truths" in medicine are - studies choose their methods and statistical tests poorly, conflicts of interest, and especially intentionally-withheld negative studies - it gets more interesting. There's just something satisfying about ripping apart a bad piece of primary lit.

Here's an exercise: pick your favorite pharmacotherapy dogma from school or rotations, then dig into it and see what the evidence base really is. You may be surprised how little it takes to become accepted as a cornerstone of medicine.

It's still early in your year, so likely you have more journal clubs ahead of you. Do yourself a favor and drop $7.50 on How to Lie with Statistics. For less than a meal out, you'll at least be more prepared to approach the literature.

There are two items in life you never go cheap on: footwear and a mattress.

Most professionals that stand on their feet that long everyday invest in a solid pair of professional shoes (ie: dansko) as a way to prevent varicose veins, spider veins, foot, ankle, and lower back problems. I cannot overstate the importance of getting good fitting, comfortable shoes. See if there are any custom fit shoe places in your area (ie: Good Feet Store or The Footworks Store) and get properly fitted.

A second recommendation I would have is to get yourself a nice pair of gentle compression stockings. Even as a man I wear them (who lifts up your pants during work and would ever notice them?) and they are a god-send. Dat feeling of taking them off at home never gets old. http://www.amazon.com/Fytto-Style-Travel-Compression-15-20mmHg/dp/B005Z5WDDW/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1405912950&sr=8-3&keywords=support+stockings

Finally, since you'll be on your feet more and in professional shoes the uncomfortable idea of foot sweat and foot fungus needs to be discussed. When you get out of the shower in the morning, thoroughly dry your feet and in between your toes. I'd recommend spraying some gold-bond foot spray between your toes prior to putting on your socks.
http://www.amazon.com/Gold-Bond-Spray-Powder-Fresh/dp/B00B4CYRHA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1405913099&sr=8-2&keywords=gold+bond+foot+spray

Looks like you won't need them, but if you're in need in the future these are cost efficient and dependable. I've used them in the past. These tests detect at 50 ng/mL (which to my understanding is the detection level of most urine screens). There are also tests available for purchase that go down to 20 ng/mL.

Good luck!

A couple of med students wrote a great book. It is a pretty easy read and makes healthcare delivery understandable. I think everyone should have to read it. Not just healthcare workers, everyone.

Anyway, it's pretty cheap [check it out] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0615650937/ref=redir_mdp_mobile/187-3851700-0854829)

This should be your best friend. It's not as dry as reading the actual law book the state issues. Good luck.

Nuclear pharmacy is pretty cool. I did two electives (from the guy who literally wrote the book - this one - on nuclear pharmacy), a rotation and an internship. I'd be happy to tell what I know about it. Any interest? Any specific questions?

I have this book and I love it. It goes through specific scenarios that a person would encounter all through the medical system and what would be said in every encounter.

I also have This book in an older edition It is a pocket size and easy to have at work. It is more general but also has some Spanish phrases that you wouldn't encounter outside of the medical field.

Hope that helps.

Ben Goldacre is great. Although it's written for a layman audience, I loved and highly recommend his book Bad Science.

There is only one pharmacy book my friend:

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https://www.amazon.com/Your-Prescription-Takes-Damn-Long/dp/1453887695/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=drugmonkey&qid=1570233392&sr=8-1

Why Your Prescription Takes So Damn Long To Fill by Drugmonkey.