CCTP-Pharmacy Technician Professional Program

Pharmacy Technician

At the completion of this course you should be able to:

• Recognize the role of a pharmacy technician
• Identify the steps to perform pharmacy calculations
• Recall pharmacy prescription abbreviations, information, and the fill process
• Identify proper drug management and safety techniques
• Define conditions that effect the human body

Pharmacology

After completing this course, you should be able to:

• Identify the core elements of drugs and their effects on the body
• Recognize commonly dispensed dosage forms and routes drug administration
• Recall drug classifications based on the systems of the body they affect
• List the ways drugs are processed by the body
• Define the various drug abbreviations and systems of measurement

Pharmacy Calculations

After completing this course, you should be able to:

• Identify ratios, proportions, percentages, fractions, and decimals
• Recall the basics of the metric system and apothecary system as units of measurement
• Recognize the steps to interpret a physician’s orders and read a drug label
• Define the essential guidelines for medication administration
• List the steps to calculate for various dosages and for differing ages

Better Interpersonal Communication

After completion of this course you should be able to:

• Recognize the basics and importance of verbal and nonverbal communication
• Identify steps associated with the learning process and how to improve your listening skills
• Recall types of personality styles and the perception process
• List styles of conflict and what contributes to it

Pharmacy Technician

Pharmacy Technician Module 1
History, Laws, & Ethics

• History Medicine
• Pharmacy Law
• Ethics
• Regulatory Agencies
• Competencies
• Associations
• Settings for Technicians
• Professionalism in the Workplace

Pharmacy Technician Module 2
Communication, Dosage, Administration, and Conversions

• Role of the Technician with the Customer/Patient
• Terms and Abbreviations
• Where Did Pharmacy Abbreviations Originate?
• Dosing Instructions
• Classification of Medications
• Classifications of Drug Sales
• History of Pharmacy Calculations
• Measurement Systems
• Business Calculations

Pharmacy Technician Module 3
Community and Institutional Pharmacy Practice 

• Researching a Drug
• Electronic Referencing
• Role of the Pharmacy Technician
• Prescription Preparation
• Pharmacy Layout
• Types of Hospitals
• Hospital Pharmacy Standards and Procedures
• Specialized and Advanced Pharmacy Technician Opportunities

Pharmacy Technician Module 4
Non-Sterile, Sterile Compounding, and Pharmacy Billing

• Bulk Repackaging
• Non-Sterile Compounding
• Compounding Professionalism
• Regulatory and Quality Control
• Terminology Used in Pharmacy
• Routes of Administration
• Medication Delivery Systems
• Aseptic Technique
• Third-Party Billing
• Inventory Management

Pharmacy Technician Module 5
Medication Safety and Pharmacy Operations Management 

• Five Rights of Medication Safety
• Types of Medication Errors
• Errors in the Pharmacy
• Age-Related Errors
• Community and Institutional Pharmacy
• Improving Efficiency Techniques
• Classifying Drugs
• Generic Vs. Brand Names
• Drug Classifications

Pharmacy Technician Module 6
Therapeutic Agents for Nervous, Endocrine, Musculoskeletal, Cardiovascular Systems 

• Conditions of the Nervous System and Their Treatments
• Peripheral Nervous System
• Descriptions of Hormones and Glands
• Conditions of the Endocrine System and Their Treatments
• Anatomy and Physiology of Skeletal Muscle
• Common Conditions Affecting the Musculoskeletal System
• Anatomy of the Heart and Vasculature System

Pharmacy Technician Module 7
Therapeutic Agents for Respiratory, Gastrointestinal, Renal Systems 

• Structure and Function of the Respiratory System
• Disorders and Conditions of the Respiratory System
• Form and Role of the Gastrointestinal System
• Anatomy and Physiology of the Gastrointestinal System
• Anatomy and Physiology of the Renal and Urological System
• Conditions Affecting the Renal and Urological Systems

Pharmacy Technician Module 8
Therapeutic Agents for Reproductive, Immune, Eyes, Ears, Nose and Throat 

• Female Reproductive System
• Male Reproductive System
• Sexually Transmitted Diseases
• Autoimmune Disorders
• Transplant Rejection
• Immunizations
• Conditions that Affect the Eye
• Nose and Sinuses
• The Throat

Pharmacy Technician Module 9
Dermatological, Hematological and Complementary and Alternative Medicine

• Anatomy and Physiology of the Dermatological System
• Anatomy and Physiology of the Hematological System
• Food and Drug Administration Regulations
• Restricted Over-the-Counter Products
• Urinary Incontinence
• Complementary and Alternative Medicine

**Outlines are subject to change, as courses and materials are updated.**

Pharmacology

Pharmacology Module 1
Drug History, Regulations and Interactions

• The History of Medicines and Their Uses
• Drug Legislation
• Pharmacokinetic Phases
• Concepts of Drug Bioavailability and Bioequivalence
• Drug-Response Relationships
• Agonists, Antagonists, and Partial Agonists
• The Relationship Between Drug Effectiveness and Potency
• Patient’s Adherence to Drug Therapy
• Methods Technicians Use to Avoid Errors
• Preventing Undesired Drug Interactions

Pharmacology Module 2
Treatment of Psychological and Neurological Disorders

• Primary Types of Depressive Orders
• Classes of Medication to treat Anxiety Disorders
• Medications to Treat Schizophrenia and Psychoses
• Balancing a Drug’s Side Effect Against Desired Response
• Medications Used to Treat Parkinson’s and Huntington’s Disease
• Role of Dopamine and Acetylcholine in Parkinson’s Disease
• Drug Interactions of Patient’s with Seizures
• Significant Drug Look-Alike/Sound-Alike Issues
• The Etiology of Pain and Migraine Headache
• Treatment of Nociceptive Pain and Neuropathic Pain

Pharmacology Module 3
Alzheimer’s Disease, Sleep Disorders and Neuromuscular Diseases

• The Neurochemistry of Alzheimer’s Disease
• Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors
• Sleep Disorders and Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
• Symptoms Associated with Sleep Deprivation
• Neuromuscular Blockade and Skeletal Muscle Relaxants
• Safe Management of Neuromuscular Blocking Drugs in the Pharmacy
• The Signs and Symptoms of Spasticity
• Mechanisms of Action for Each Class of Drugs Used in the Treatment of Spasticity
• Autoimmune Diseases that Affect the Musculoskeletal System
• Categories of Medications Used in the Treatment of Autoimmune Disease

Pharmacology Module 4
Diseases of the Bone, Eye and Ear

• Signs and Symptoms of Paget’s Disease and Osteoporosis
• Significant Drug Look-Alike and Sound-Alike Issues
• Medical Conditions Associated with Hyperuricemia and Gout
• Drugs in Each Class, Mechanism of Action and Adverse Reactions
• Categories of Medications Used with the Treatment of Gout
• The Use of Laser Surgery in the Treatment of Glaucoma
• Treatment of Disorders of the Ear
• Ostosclerosis and Sensorineural Hearing Loss
• The Treatment of Eye Infections
• The Treatment of Ear Infections

Pharmacology Module 5
Conditions of the Heart

• The Symptoms and Risk Factors for Angina
• Medications Used to Treat Angina
• Complications Associated with Untreated or Uncontrolled Hypertension
• Drugs Used to Treat Hypertension
• The Mechanism of Action for Each Class of Drugs Used to Treat Heart Failure
• The Prevalence, Mortality Rate, and Risk Factors for Heart Disease
• The Symptoms of Myocardial Infarction and Stroke
• Common Drug Classes Used in the Treatment of Myocardial Infarction and Stroke
• The Nonmodifiable and Modifiable Risk Factors of MI and Stroke
• Medications Used to Treat Arrhythmias

Pharmacology Module 6
Gastrointestinal and Pulmonary Diseases and Allergies

• Medications Used to Treat GERD, LPR, and PUD
• Common Endings For Drug Classes Used in the Treatment of GERD, LPR, and PUD
• Significant Drug Look-Alike and Sound-Alike Issues
• Warning Labels and Precautionary Messages Associated with Medications
• Rick Factors for COPD and Asthma
• Medications Used in the Treatment of Asthma and COPD
• Common Endings for Drug Classes Used in the Treatment of Asthma and COPD
• Symptoms of Allergic Reactions
• The Prevalence, Costs, and Triggers for Allergies
• The Classes of Drugs Used to Treat Allergies

Pharmacology Module 7
Prostate Disease, Electrolyte Disorders, Thyroid Disorders, Diabetes

• Prostate Disease and Erectile Dysfunction
• Medications and Drug Classes for Prostate Disease
• Warning Labels and Precautionary Messages
• Significant Drug Look-Alike/Sound-Alike Issues
• Concept of Homeostasis and the Locations of Fluids in the Body
• Functions of Thyroid Hormones
• Hormone Replacement Therapies Used with Hypothyroidism
• Categories of Medication Used to Treat Hyperthyroidism and Hypothyroidism
• Four Types of Diabetes
• Adverse Reactions for All Medications

Pharmacology Module 8
Bacterial and Viral Infection and Cancer and Immunizations

• Contraceptive Medications and Devices
• Treatment of Infertility, Hypogonadism, Androgen Deficiency and Endometriosis
• The Mechanisms of Resistance Bacteria that Develops
• Antibiotic Misuse in Creating Microbial Resistance
• The Structure and Function of Viruses
• Four Categories of Antivirals
• Nine Categories of Drugs Used to Treat Cancer
• Methods of Screening for Specific Cancers
• The Uses of Immunosuppressants
• The Principle of Underlying Vaccination

Pharmacology Module 9
Fungal and Skin Infections

• Common Types of Fungi
• Treatments for Fungal and Yeast Infections
• Treatments of Wounds, Ulcers, and Burns
• Nonpharmaceutical Treatments for Wounds
• Various Forms of Acne and Their Causes
• Treatments for Different Types of Acne
• Pharmaceutical Treatments for Eczema and Psoriasis
• Medications that Suppress the Immune System
• At-Risk Populations for Lice and Scabies
• Medications Used to Treat Lice and Scabies

**Outlines are subject to change, as courses and materials are updated.**

Pharmacy Calculations

Pharmacy Calculations Module 1
Review of Mathematics 

• Fractions
• Decimals
• Percents
• Ratios
• Proportions

Pharmacy Calculations Module 2
Units and Measurement

• Metric and Household Measurements
• Dimensional Analysis
• Proportion
• Household Measurements
• Calculations Used in Patient Assessments
• Calculating Intake and Output
• Calculating Patient Weight
• Calculating Patient Lengths

Pharmacy Calculations Module 3
Preparation for Calculation of Drug Dosages

• Safety in Medication Administration
• Quality and Safety Education for Nurses
• Methods to Promote Safety in Medical Administration
• Interpretation of the Physician’s Orders
• Written and Verbal Orders
• Introduction to Drug Dosages
• How to Read Medication Labels
• Parts of a Drug Label

Pharmacy Calculations Module 4
Oral Dosages

• Capsules and Tablets
• Liquids
• Milliequivalents
• Oral Drug Dosage Calculation

Pharmacy Calculations Module 5
Parenteral Dosages

• Syringes
• Calculation of Parenteral Drug Dosages: Dimensional Analysis Method
• Calculation of Parental Drug Dosages: Proportion Method
• Parental Drug Dosage Calculation: Alternative Formula Method

Pharmacy Calculations Module 6
Dosages and Reconstitution of Medications

• Insulin
• Insulin Syringes and Pens
• Dosages Involving Oral Medications
• Dosages Involving Parenteral Medications
• Mixed Insulin Administration
• Powder Reconstitution

Pharmacy Calculations Module 7
Flow Rates 

• IV Administration of Fluids and Medications by Gravity
• Infusion of IV Fluids and Medications by an IV Pump
• Saline and Herapin Locks
• Central Venous Catheters
• Patient-Controlled Analgesia
• Intravenous Flow Rates
• Critical Care Intravenous Flow Rates

Pharmacy Calculations Module 8
Pediatric and Obstetric Dosages

• Pediatric Dosage Calculations
• Calculate the 4 Hour Dosage
• Calculate the Individual Dose or Single Dose
• Body Surface Area Calculations
• IV Administration of Medications by Milliunits/Minute
• IV Administration of Medications by Milligrams/Minute

**Outlines are subject to change, as courses and materials are updated.**

Better Interpersonal Communication

Better Interpersonal Communication Module 1
Introduction to Communication

Because it’s such a commonplace activity, we usually don’t think about how we communicate too much. However, the power of effective, persuasive communication should never be underestimated. Your success in any number of settings—in your relationships, in school, on the job, and as a member of society— hinges on your ability to master the full communication process. Our first module discusses the basics of verbal and nonverbal communication, as well as uses and misuses.

• Why We Communicate
• Verbal Communication
• Nonverbal Communication
• Uses and Misuses
• Cultural Differences and Language

Better Interpersonal Communication Module 2
Listening, Self-Esteem, and Self-Disclosure

Listening is the learned process of hearing, attending, evaluating, retaining, and responding to verbal and nonverbal messages. In this module we will learn more about each stage of the listening process: review both the benefits to listening, as well as the challenges to effective listening; and explore the ways in which you can improve your listening skills. We’ll also discuss the principles behind self-concepts and self-disclosure.

• Listening Process
• Benefits to Listening
• Steps for Improving Your Listening Skills
• Self-Concepts
• Self-Disclosure

Better Interpersonal Communication Module 3
Personality Styles and Perception

Do you notice that you act in different ways around certain people? Perhaps you act inhibited around your supervisor, but you wish you could act confident like you do around your co-workers and other colleagues. In other situations, you act polite and deferential around acquaintances, but may wish you could act more sociable like you do around your friends. In this module, we’ll discuss how personality styles effect communication as well as the perception process. Finally, we’ll explore the basics behind defense mechanisms.

• How Does Personality Style Effect Communication?
• Physiological and Psychological Factors of Perception
• Challenges to the Perception Process
• What is Defensiveness?
• Defense Mechanisms

Better Interpersonal Communication Module 4  
Conflict and Electronic Communication

Interpersonal conflict occurs in interactions where there are real or perceived incompatible goals, scarce resources, or opposing viewpoints. We’ll discuss types of conflict and conflict styles in our final module, as well as characteristics of electronic communication.

• What is Conflict and What Contributes to It?
• Types of Conflict
• Conflict Styles
• What is Electronic Communication?
• Characteristics and Misuses of Electronic Communication

Pharmacy Technician

Upon successful completion of our Pharmacy Technician course, students will be prepared for an entry-level position to sit for the PTCB national certification exam to become a Certified Pharmacy Technician (PTCE).

** Certification exams are not included in the cost of the course.**

Internet Connection

• Broadband or High-Speed - DSL, Cable, and Wireless Connections

*Dial-Up internet connections will result in a diminished online experience. Classroom pages may load slowly and viewing large audio and video files may not be possible.

Hardware Requirements

• Processor - 2GHz Processor or Higher
• Memory - 1 GB RAM Minimum Recommended

PC Software Requirements

• Operating Systems - Windows 7 or higher
• Microsoft Office 2013 or higher. Also, you could use a general Word Processing application to save and open Microsoft Office formats (.doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .ppt, .pptx)
• Internet Browsers - Google Chrome is highly recommended
  • Cookies MUST be enabled
  • Pop-ups MUST be allowed (Pop-up Blocker disabled)
• The Kindle Reader App or VitalSource Bookshelf App are needed for many of our courses (No special equipment needed. This can be downloaded for FREE onto your computer.)
• PowerPoint Viewer (if you do not have PowerPoint)

• Adobe PDF Reader

• QuickTime, Windows Media Player &/or Real Player

MAC Software Requirements

• Operating Systems - Mac OS x 10 or higher with Windows
• Mac office programs or a Word Processing application to save and open Microsoft Office formats (.doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .ppt, .pptx)
• Internet Browsers- Google Chrome is highly recommended
  • Cookies MUST be enabled
  • Pop-ups MUST be allowed (Pop-up Blocker disabled)
• The Kindle Reader App or VitalSource Bookshelf App are needed for many of our courses (No special equipment needed. This can be downloaded for FREE onto your computer.)
• PowerPoint Viewer (if you do not have PowerPoint)
• Adobe PDF Reader
• Apple QuickTime Media Player